Italian surnames — the oldest continuous tradition in Europe — fall into familiar groups: descriptive nicknames (Rossi, “red-haired”; Ricci, “curly”), occupational names (Ferrari, “blacksmith”; Marino, “sailor”), toponymic names (Romano, “from Rome”; Costa, “coast”) and patronymics often marked by Di- or De- (“son of”).

Regional patterns

Endings hint at region: -i is typical of the north (Rossi, Bianchi), while the south favours -o (Russo, Romano). The surname Esposito, once given to foundlings, is especially common around Naples.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common Italian surname?

Rossi is the most common Italian surname, meaning u201cred-haired.u201d

What do Italian surname endings mean?

Endings hint at region u2014 -i is common in the north (Rossi, Bianchi) and -o in the south (Russo, Romano).

What does Esposito mean?

Esposito comes from u201cexposedu201d and was traditionally given to foundling children, especially in Naples.

All last names A–Z