Origin and Etymology of Italian Surnames: De‑
The list includes a possible, or accepted, etymology of many Italian surnames, beginning with "De-", as well as, where data is available, their geographical or historical origin and current distribution.
Alphabetical Index
[ Ab ] [ An ] [ B ] [ C ] [ Da ] [ De ] [ Dia ] [ Din ] [ Do ] [ E ] [ F ] [ G ] [ I ] [ J ] [ L ] [ M ] [ N ] [ O ] [ P ] [ Q ] [ R ] [ S ] [ T ] [ U ] [ V ] [ Z ]
De Alexandris
From the first name Alessandro (Alexander). It became popular because of the Romance (XII cent.) about Alexander Magnus
De Andreis
From the first name Andrea, derived from the Greek name Andreas, transformation of the Greek word "aner" = man
De Bastiani
From the Latin first name Sebastiano or its diminutive Bastiano. Patronymic surname
De Bellis
From the adjective "bello" = beautiful. Probably was a nickname to identify an hansom man
De Blasis
From the first name Biagio; it derives from the Greek word "blaisos" = to be bow-legged
De Carolis
From the first name Carlo; diffused after the king Carlo Magno
De Clemente
From the first name Clemente, derived from the Latin word "clemens" = clement, indulgent. Patronymic surname
De Costanzi
From the first name Costanzo. Patronymic surname
De Cristofalo, De Cristofaro
From the first name Cristoforo, derived from the Latin "Christoforus" = who has Christ. Patronymic surname
De Domenico, De Dominicis
From the first name Domenico, derived from the Latin word "dominus" = lord. Patronymic surname
De Dona, De Donato
From the first name Donato. Patronymic surname
De Fabritiis
From the first name Fabrizio, derived from the Latin word "faber" = blacksmith, craftman. Patronymic surname
De Felice
From the first name Felice, derived from Latin "felix" = happy. Patronymic surname
De Feo, De Feudis
From the first name Feo, short name for Maffeo derived from Matteo. Patronymic surname
De Filippis
From the first name Filippo. Patronymic surname
De Flaviiis
From the first name Flavio, derived from the Roman family name Flavius that comes from the Latin adjective "flavus" = blond
De Francesco
From the first name Francesco, derived from the Latin word "franciscus" = inhabitant of France. Patronymic surname
De Giorgi, De Giorgio, De Giorgis
From the first name Giorgio, derived from the Greek word "gheorgos" = farmer. Patronymic surname
De Grandi
From the word "grande" = big. It derives from a nickname given to a big person
De Grassi, Degrassi
From the adjective "grasso" = fat
De Gregorio
From the first name Gregorio, derived from the Greek verb "ghregorein" = to be smart, intelligent. Patronymic surname
De Iuliis
From the Latin first name Iulius, derived from "Iovis" = sacred to Iuppiter. Patronymic surname
De Laurentiis
From the first name Lorenzo. Patronymic surname
De Lelli, De Lellis, De Lello
From the first name Lello, diminutive of many names ending in -ello: Angiolello, Brunello, Raffaello etc
De Leonardi, De Leonardis
From the first name Leonardo. Patronymic surname
Del Carmine
From the first name Carmine
Del Monte
From the word "monte" = mountain. Coming from the mountain
De Luca
From the first name Luca; derives from the name of the father
De Marchi
From the first name Marco. Patronymic surname
De Marinis
From the first name Marino. Derived from the Latin adjective "marinus" = of the ocean, who lives and works there
De Martini, De Martino
From the first name Martino. Patronymic surname
De Matteis, De Mattia
From the first name Matteo or Mattia. Patronymic surname
De Micheli, De Michelis
From the first name Michele, derived from the Hebrew name "Micha'el" = who is as powerful as God. Patronymic surname
De Nardis
From the Germanic first name Leonardus, Lionardus, Lonardus, Lunardus that started to be used in 500 A.D
De Palma, De Palmas
From the first name Palma, symbol of peace or from a name of a place
De Paulis
From the first name Paolo, derived from the Latin adjective "paulus" = small, young. Patronymic surname
De Roggero, De Ruggero
From the first name Ruggiero, diffused in South Italy after the kingdom of the Normans. It comes from the first name Hrodger, consisting of "hroth" = glory and "gaira-" = lance
De Russi
From the nickname "rosso" = red, to indicate someone who has red hair
De Sanctis
From the first name Santo, derived from the Latin "sanctus" = sacred
De Simone
From the first name Simone, derived from the Hebrew name "Sim'on", from the verb "sama" = to listen. Patronymic surname
De Vecchi
From the adjective "vecchio" = old. To indicate an old person
De Vincentiis, De Vincenzo
From the first name Vincenzo, derived from the Latin "vincens" = the winner. Patronymic surname
D'Egidio
Meaning descendants of Egidio
D'Ercole
From the Latin first name Hercules or Herculanus (sacred to Hercules). It could be a nickname for a strong man. Patronymic surname
Degli Espositi
From the Latin "expositus", used for infants abandoned by parents
Del Conte
From the medieval noble title "Conte" = Count. Sometimes also to indicate a person that may work for the Count
Del Duca
From the medieval noble title "Duca" = Duke. Sometimes also to indicate a person that may work for the Duke
Del Fante
From the medieval word "fante" = infant, boy
Del Frate
From the word "frate", diminutive of "fratello" = brother, friar. To indicate the people that lived or worked in a convent
Del Gesso
From the name of a place where there is a lot of gypsum: Gessopalena, province of Chieti
Del Grande
From the word "grande" = big. It derives from a nickname given to a big or a fat person
Del Greco
From the adjective Greek, to indicate someone from Greece or even a smart person
Del Grosso
From the adjective "grosso" = fat, big
Del Lungo
From the nickname "longo, lungo" given to someone tall and thin
Del Monaco
From the word "monaco" = monk, derived from the Greek "monos" = unique, alone
Del Monte
From the word "monte" = mountain. Coming from the mountain, or from a place whose name begins with "Monte".
Del Papa
From the word "papa" that has, according the local traditions, different meanings = father, bishop, priest
Del Ponte
Del Prete
From the word "prete" = priest, derived from the Greek "presbyteros" = oldest
Del Rosso
From the nickname "rosso" = red, to indicate someone who has red hair
Del Signore
From the word "signore" = mister, princeps, someone important. Derived from the Latin "senior" = old
Del Vecchio
From the adjective "vecchio" = old. To indicate an old person
D'Elia
From the first name Elia, derived from the Hebrew "Eliyah" = God is Yahvè. Patronymic surname
Della Lena
From the female first name Lena, diminutive of Maddalena. Derived from the first name of the mother, the father is unknown
Della Monaca
From the word "monaco" = monk, derived from the Greek "monos" = unique, alone
Della Nella
From the first name Nella, nickname of the names ending in "nella", ej: Antonella, Donatella; derived from the first name of the mother, the father is unknown
Della Penna
From the nickname given to someone that works as a writer. Also from the word "penna" meaning pick, rock: there are many names of places that include this word
Della Rossa
From the nickname "rosso" = red, to indicate someone who has red hair
Della Rovere
From Rovere, to indicate a place with oaks
Della Vecchia
From the adjective "vecchio" = old. To indicate an old person
Dello Zorzu
From the first name Giorgio, derived from the Greek word "gheorgos" = farmer
Dell'Amore
It derives from the nickname given to the illegitimate children: son of the love (figlio dell'amore)
Delle Donne
From the word "donna", derived from the Latin "domina" = lady. Sometimes used also as a noble title
Delle Grazie
From the first name "Grazia" = Grace
Dell'Elce
From the poetic word "elce" that means "leccio" = holm oak
Dello Iavoco
From the first name Giacomo, Giacobo, Giacopo, Giacobbe, derived from the Hebrew "Yaaquob" = God protected. Patronymic surname
Dell'Orso
From the word "orso" = bear, used also as a nickname to indicate a strong person
D'Emilio
From the first name Emilio. Patronymic surname
Deodati, Deodato
From the first name Diodato or Deodato, derived from the Latin "Adeodatus" = given by God
D'Eramo, D'Erasmo
From the first name of Eramo or Erasmo; it derives from the Greek word "eros" = love
D'Ercole
From the Latin first name Hercules or Herculanus (sacred to Hercules). It could be a nickname for a strong man. Patronymic surname
D'Ettorre
From the first name Ettore of Greek origin. Patronymic surname
D'Eugenio
From the first name Eugenio, of Greek origin = noble. Patronymic surname.
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