🔥 200+ Italian Last Names With Meanings (2026 Updated)

Italian last names have historical and cultural significance; they demonstrate centuries of tradition and regional influences, and some even represent a profession or family heritage.

From the noble surnames of medieval Italy to those named after geographical landmarks or personal traits, every name tells its own unique story.

Whether you are trying to find your ancestry, understand the meaning of popular Italian surnames, or appreciate Italian culture, the appreciation of these names opens a new window to Italy’s past.

In this blog post, we will explore the roots, meanings, and significance of the Italian last names, so let’s begin!

Italian last names

Rossi – “Red,” often referring to someone with red hair.

Russo – “Red-haired” or “red-skinned,” common in Southern Italy.

Ferrari – Derived from “ferraro,” meaning “blacksmith.”

Bianchi – “White,” possibly referring to someone with fair hair or complexion.

Romano – “From Rome” or “Roman.”

Colombo – “Dove,” symbolizing peace.

Conti – “Counts” or nobility, often associated with aristocratic families.

Esposito – “Exposed” or “abandoned,” historically given to foundlings.

Ricci – “Curly-haired.”

De Luca – “Son of Luca.”

Moretti – “Dark-skinned” or “Moorish.”

Gallo – “Rooster,” possibly signifying vigilance or strength.

Mancini – “Left-handed.”

Caruso – “Boy” or “young apprentice.”

Rizzo – “Curly-haired,” similar to Ricci.

Lombardi – “From Lombardy,” a northern region of Italy.

Barbieri – “Barber.”

Pellegrini – “Pilgrim” or “traveler.”

Longo – “Tall” or “long.”

Greco – “Greek,” indicating Greek ancestry.

Benedetti – “Blessed.”

Mariani – “Descendant of Mario.”

De Santis – “Of the saints.”

Fiore – “Flower.”

Gentile – “Kind” or “noble.”

Sorrentino – “From Sorrento,” a coastal town in southern Italy.

Marchetti – “From the Marche region.”

Valentini – “Strong” or “healthy,” from the Latin “valens.”

Martino – “Of Mars,” the Roman god of war.

Caputo – “Large-headed” or “chief.”

Orlando – “Famous land” or “heroic.”

Parisi – “From Paris,” or possibly of French descent.

De Angelis – “Of the angels.”

Fabbri – “Smith” or “metalworker.”

Ferraro – Another variation meaning “blacksmith.”

D’Agostino – “Son of Agostino (Augustus).”

Monti – “Mountains.”

Piras – “Pear tree,” common in Sardinia.

De Laurentiis – “Descendant of Laurentius” (meaning “from Laurentum”).

Pugliese – “From Puglia,” a region in southern Italy.

Alfieri – “Standard-bearer” or “flag-bearer.”

Sartori – “Tailor.”

Vivaldi – “Lively” or “full of life.”

Basile – “Royal” or “kingly,” from the Greek “Basileus.”

Bellini – “Little beautiful one.”

D’Amico – “Friend” or “from a friend’s lineage.”

Cattaneo – “Captain” or “leader.”

Lazzari – “From Lazarus,” meaning “God has helped.”

Fontana – “Fountain” or “spring,” possibly indicating a location near water.

Serafini – “Seraphim” or “angelic beings.”

Amato – “Beloved” or “dear.”

Baldi – “Bold” or “courageous.”

Barone – “Baron,” indicating noble ancestry.

Bernardi – “Son of Bernardo,” meaning “strong as a bear.”

Boccia – “Round” or “plump,” possibly referring to a physical trait.

Bruno – “Brown,” referring to hair or complexion.

Cappello – “Hat” or “cap,” possibly linked to a hatmaker.

Casella – “Little house” or “cottage.”

Castelli – “Castles,” possibly indicating noble origins.

Cavalli – “Horses,” likely linked to horse traders or breeders.

Celeste – “Heavenly” or “blue.”

Cervi – “Deer,” possibly signifying agility or grace.

Coppola – “Cap,” possibly linked to the famous Sicilian hat.

Costantini – “Descendant of Costantino,” meaning “constant” or “steadfast.”

D’Amore – “Of love,” symbolizing affection or devotion.

D’Angelo – “Son of Angelo,” meaning “angelic.”

De Rosa – “Of the rose,” possibly linked to beauty or nobility.

De Simone – “Son of Simone,” meaning “God has heard.”

Di Benedetto – “Of Benedetto,” meaning “blessed.”

Di Francesco – “Of Francesco,” meaning “free man.”

Di Marco – “Of Marco,” meaning “warlike.”

Di Pietro – “Of Pietro,” meaning “rock” or “stone.”

Donati – “Given” or “gifted,” possibly referring to an adopted child.

Ferri – “Iron,” similar to Ferrari and Ferraro.

Fiorentino – “From Florence.”

Galante – “Gallant” or “chivalrous.”

Garibaldi – “Brave spear,” famously linked to the Italian revolutionary leader.

Grassi – “Fat” or “plump,” possibly a nickname.

Guerrini – “Little warrior” or “fighter.”

Iannelli – “Little John,” a diminutive of Giovanni.

Landi – “From the land” or “rural.”

Lazzaro – “God has helped,” linked to the biblical Lazarus.

Lorenzi – “Son of Lorenzo,” meaning “crowned with laurel.”

Maggi – “May” or “Magus,” referring to the wise men.

Mazza – “Mace” or “club,” possibly linked to a warrior.

Messina – “From Messina,” a city in Sicily.

Montanari – “Mountain dwellers.”

Napolitano – “From Naples.”

Neri – “Black,” referring to dark hair or complexion.

Orsini – “Little bear,” linked to a powerful noble family.

Pagano – “Pagan” or “rustic,” once used to distinguish non-Christians.

Palumbo – “Pigeon” or “dove.”

Pastore – “Shepherd.”

Rinaldi – “Son of Rinaldo,” meaning “wise power.”

Rossetti – “Little red one,” referring to red hair or a rosy complexion.

Salerno – “From Salerno,” a city in southern Italy.

Santoro – “Of the saints,” linked to religious devotion.

Siciliano – “From Sicily.”

Toscano – “From Tuscany.”

Veneziano – “From Venice.”

Accardi – From accardo, meaning stubborn or brave.

Adinolfi – Germanic origin meaning “noble wolf.”

Agostini – Patronymic from Agostino (Augustine), venerable.

Alberti – From Alberto, meaning bright or noble.

Alessi – From Alessio, meaning defender.

Amadori – From amare, meaning “beloved.”

Angelini – Derived from angelo, meaning “angel” or messenger.

Antinori – Patronymic from Antino, linked to ancient Roman name.

Arcangeli – Means “archangels,” often linked to religious devotion.

Argento – Means “silver,” possibly from occupational metal work.

Armani – From arma, meaning “armour,” possibly linked to soldiering.

Arnoldo – Germanic origin meaning “eagle ruler.”

Aureli – From Aurelio, meaning “golden.”

Azzolini – Diminutive of azzurro (blue), possibly descriptive.

Baldi – From baldo, meaning bold or daring.

Baldini – Patronymic variant of Baldi (bold).

Ballarini – From ballare, meaning “dancer” or joyful.

Barbieri – Occupational, meaning “barber.”

Baroni – Title-derived, meaning “baron” or noble rank.

Bassi – From basso, meaning “short” or descriptive.

Benedetti – From benedetto, meaning “blessed.”

Benvenuti – Means “welcome,” expression of hospitality.

Bernasconi – Northern Italian surname meaning “son of Bernardo.”

Bertelli – Diminutive of Berto, meaning bright.

Bianchi – From bianco, meaning “white,” descriptive.

Bianco – Means “white,” often describing hair or complexion.

Biondi – From biondo, meaning “blonde.”

Biondo – Means “blonde.”

Bocchieri – Possibly from bocca (mouth), descriptive.

Bonanni – From buono (good), meaning good-hearted.

Bonfanti – From buono + fanti (infantrymen), meaning “good soldier.”

Bonucci – Diminutive from buono (good).

Borromeo – Ancient noble family name from Lombardy.

Brambilla – From brambana, meaning thorny place.

Brandi – From Germanic root meaning “sword.”

Brunetti – From bruno, meaning “brown.”

Bruna – Feminine of Bruno, meaning “brown.”

Bruno – Means “brown.”

Buccellati – From a type of sweet pastry, possibly descriptive or occupational.

Buonarroti – From buono (good) + arrotare (to sharpen), originally smiths.

Cacciatori – Occupational, meaning “hunters.”

Calabrese – Locational, from Calabria region.

Calderoni – From calderone (large pot), possibly occupational.

Campana – From campana, meaning “bell,” possibly occupational.

Campanella – Diminutive of campana (bell).

Capaldi – From capo, meaning “head” or chief.

Capello – From capello, meaning “hat” or “head covering.”

Capone – From capo, meaning “big head” or chief.

Capriotti – Locational from Capri area.

Caruso – Sicilian surname meaning “boy” or young lad.

Casalino – From casale (small house), locational.

Casati – From casa (house), locational.

Casanova – From casa nuova, meaning “new house.”

Castellani – From castello, meaning “castle.”

Castelli – Plural of castello (castle).

Cattaneo – From Lombard term meaning “head of household.”

Cavalli – From cavallo, meaning “horse.”

Cavallini – Diminutive of Cavalli (little horses).

Cecchi – From Cecco, diminutive of Francesco.

Celentano – Locational surname meaning “from Celento.”

Cerasoli – From cerasa, meaning “cherry orchard.”

Ceroni – From cerro, meaning a sturdier oak.

Ceschi – From Cesco (Francis variant).

Chiarini – From chiaro (clear or bright).

Chiari – From chiaro (clear).

Chiappini – Possibly from chiappo (cliff), locational.

Cicconi – From cicco, meaning handsome or elegant.

Cipollini – From cipolla (onion), possibly occupational.

Colletti – From colle (hill).

Colombo – From colombo, meaning “dove.”

Conti – From conte, meaning “count” (noble title).

Corbella – From cor bella, meaning “beautiful heart.”

Cornelio – From Cornelius, a Roman clan name.

Corsini – Locational, originally meaning “from Corse.”

Cortesi – From cortese, meaning “courteous.”

Costantini – From Constantino, meaning steadfast.

Cuccia – From cuccia (doghouse), descriptive.

D’Angelo – Means “of the angel.”

D’Isa – Patronymic form meaning “of Isa.”

Damiani – From Damiano, meaning “to tame.”

De Luca – Patronymic meaning “son of Luca.”

De Santis – Religious surname meaning “of the saints.”

De Simone – Patronymic meaning “son of Simone.”

Del Vecchio – From vecchio, meaning “the old one.”

Della Rovere – Noble surname meaning “of the oak.”

Donati – From Donato, meaning “given.”

Dotto – From dotto, meaning learned or educated.

Fabbri – Occupational, meaning “blacksmiths.”

Fabbrini – Diminutive of Fabbri.

Fabrizi – Patronymic from Fabrizio (craftsman).

Fagnani – From faggio, meaning “beech tree.”

Falciani – From falco, meaning “falcon.”

Falaschi – Possibly from fala (cliff), locational.

Faustini – From Fausto, meaning fortunate or lucky.

Ferrari – Occupational, meaning “blacksmith.”

Fiorentino – Locational, meaning “from Florence.”

Fiorini – From fiore, meaning “flower.”

Fontana – From fontana, meaning “fountain.”

Fortunati – From fortuna, meaning “fortunate.”

Franchi – From franco, meaning “free man.”