Origin and Etymology of Italian Surnames: L‑
The list includes a possible, or accepted, etymology of many Italian surnames, beginning with "L-", 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 ]
La Duca
From the medieval noble title "Duca" = Duke. Sometimes also to indicate a person that may work for the Duke
La Flora
From the word "fiore" = flower. Used as a name of good whishes
La Fratta
From the word "fratta"= hedge, to indicate a family that lives near a hedge
La Grassa
From the adjective "grasso" = fat
La Greca
From the adjective "greco" = Greek
La Guercia
From the adjective "guercio" = blind, used as a nickname
La Monaca
From the word "monaco" = monk, derived from the Greek "monos" = unique, alone
La Perla, La Perna
From the word "perla" = pearl
La Pinta
Derived from the adjective "dipinto" = painted, already used as a nickname in the Middle Ages
La Riccia, La Rizza
From the adjective "riccio" to indicate a person that has curly hair
La Rocca
From the word "rocca" = rock or fortress. Derived from the name of a place located all around Italy
La Rovere
From "rovere", to indicate a place with oaks
La Russa
From the nickname "rosso" = red, to indicate someone who has red hair
La Vecchia
From the adjective "vecchio" = old. To indicate an old person
La Verghetta
From the word "verga" = stick used by shepherds and farmers
Lafratta
From the word "fratta"= hedge, to indicate a family that lives near a hedge
Lagioia
From the word "gioia" = happiness. Used also with the meaning of jewel. Sometimes derived from the name of a place, from the Latin "iovia" = sacred rock
Lalla, Lalli, Lallo
From the female first name Lalla, nickname for the first names Angela, Italia, Gabriella, Laura
Lamonaca, Lamonica
From the word "monaco" = monk, derived from the Greek "monos" = unique, alone
Lancellotta, Lancellotto
From Lancellotti; it derives from the name of Lancelot, knight of the Round Table, name diffused in 13th century
Lanci, Lancia, Lancini, Lancione, Lancioni
Lancillotti, Lanciotti
From Lancellotti; it derives from the name of Lancelot, knight of the Round Table, name diffused in 13th century
Lanese
From the word "lana" = wool, but also from the Albania verb "lany" = to wash (imported in Italy by emigrated people)
Lanzerotto, Lanzilotto
From Lancellotti; it derives from the name of Lancelot, knight of the Round Table, name diffused in 13th century
Larizzu
From the adjective "riccio" to indicate a person that has curly hair
Lassandri
From the name Alessandro (Alexander). It became popular because of the Romance (XII cent) about Alexander Magnus
Lattanzi
From the first name Lattanzio, derived from the Latin "Lactantius" from an ancient vegetation goddess "Lactans"
Laurenzi
From the first name Lorenzo
Le Donne
From the word "donna", derived from the Latin "domina" = lady. Sometimes used also as a noble title
Lecce, Leccese, Leccesi, Leccisi
From the name of a town or a locality
Leinardi, Leinardo
From the first name Leonardo
Lelia, Lelii, Lelio
From the Latin family name "Laelius", of Greek origin meaning grat talker.
Lelli, Lella, Lello
From the first name Lello, diminutive of many names ending in -ello: Angiolello, Brunello, Raffaello etc
Lena
From the female first name Lena, diminutive of Maddalena. Surname derived from the first name of the mother, the father is unknown
Lenardi, Lenardon, Lenardoni, Lenarduzzi
From the first name Leonardo
Leo
From the first name Leone = Lion
Leonarda, Leonardelli, Leonardi, Leonardini, Leonardo, Leonarduzzi
From the first name Leonardo
Leoncino, Leone, Leonelli, Leoneschi, Leonetti, Leoni, Leonotti
From the first name Leone = Lion
Lepidi, Lepido
From the family Latin name "Lepidus" or from the adjective "lepido" = someone good to talk and write or very polite
Li Donni
From the word "donno", derived from the Latin "dominus" = sir. Sometimes used also as a noble title
Li Greci
From the adjective Greco = Greek, to indicate someone from Greece or even a smart person
Li Vecchi
From the adjective "vecchio" = old. To indicate an old person
Liberati
From the first name Liberti, probably abbreviation of Alberto, derived from the German "berth" = clear, shining and "ala" = all
Liburdi
Probably from the word "bordo" = border, to indicate a locality where someone is originated from. Or derived from the germanic first name "Burdo"
Liciardello
From the name Alessandro (Alexander). It became popular because of the Romance (XII cent) about Alexander Magnus
Licursi
From the Albania word "licures" = tanner. The emigration from that Country began long ago
Linardi, Linardo, Linardon
From the first name Leonardo
Linza
Roman, from Lentia
Lioni
From the first name Leone = Lion
Lippi
From the first name Filippo
Lisciandro
From the name Alessandro (Alexander). It became popular because of the Romance (XII cent) about Alexander Magnus
Lisi, Liso, Lisio
May be derived from the first name Luigi or Eliseo (Aloysius). Appears as Lisio in Guardiagrele, Pacentro, Roccamontepiano (derived from Guardiagrele). In Guardiagrele it evolved in Elisii. Recorded as Lisio in the preonciario of Guardiagrele, 1609. A son of painter Andrea de Litio (interesting!) died in Guardiagrele in the early 1500's.
Lissandri, Lissandrini, Lissandrone
From the name Alessandro (Alexander). It became popular because of the Romance (XII cent) about Alexander Magnus
Lisu
It is the name of old ditricts of the towns. Derived also from the first name Luigi or Eliseo
Liuni
From the first name Leone = Lion
Liverani, Livieri
From the first name Oliviero
Li Vecchi
From the adjective "vecchio" = old. To indicate an old person
Lo Duca
From the medieval noble title "Duca" = Duke. Sometimes also to indicate a person that may work for the Duke
Lo Forte
From the adjective "forte" = strong
Lo Grande
From the word "grande" = big. It derives from a nickname given to a big person
Lo Grasso
From the adjective "grasso" = fat
Lo Guercio
From the adjective "guercio" = blind, used as a nickname
Lo Mascio
From the surname Mastro, derived from the nickname "Mastro" = very good craftsman that knows all the traditional secrets of his job
Lombardi, Lombardo, Lombardini, Lombardelli
From the first name Lombardo, used as a nickname for someone coming from North Italy
Lomma
From a dialect word with different meanings: "lombo" = loim; "lomma" = bump; steep place
Lonardi, Lonardo
From the first name Leonardo
Longo, Longhi
From the nickname "longo, lungo" given to someone tall and thin
Lo Pane
From the word "pane" = bread, to indicate the job of someone (ej: baker); also derived from the medieval nickname "pane" meaning good person
Lo Pinto
Derived from the adjective "dipinto" = painted, already used as a nickname in the Middle Ages
Lo Prete
From the word "prete" = priest, derived from the Greek " presbyteros" = oldest
Lo Rizzo
From the adjective "riccio" to indicate a person that has curly hair
Lo Russo
From the nickname "rosso" = red, to indicate someone who has red hair
Lo Sacco
From the word "sacco" = sack, bag. To indicate someone that makes, transports or loads sacks. Also derived from the first name Isacco
Lo Schiavo
Lo Vecchio
From the adjective "vecchio" = old. To indicate an old person
Lunardelli, Lunardoni, Lunardon, Lunardi, Lunardo
From the first name Leonardo
Luongo, Lungo, Lunghi, Longhini, Longhetti, Longoni, Longato
From the nickname "longo, lungo" given to someone tall and thin
Lorenzi
From the first name Lorenzo
Lucarelli, Lucas, Luchi, Lucca, Lucchi, Lucchelli, Lucchetti, Lucchini, Lucarelli, Lucarini, Lucotti, Luconi, Lucatti
From the first name Luca; derives from the name of the father
Lucci, Luci, Luccio, Lucio, Lucia
From the first name Lucio,derived from the Latin word "lux" = light
Luciani, Luciano, Lucianaz
From first name Luciano; it belongs to the patronimic surnames = deriving frm thr name of the father
Ludovici, Ludovisi, Lodovisi, Lodovichi, Lodovichetti
From the first name Ludovico of German origin
Lupinetti, Lupi, Luppi, Lupelli, Lupetti, Lupini, Lupicini, Lupoli, Lupori, Luporini, Lupone, Lupieri, Lovelli, Lovini, Luvini, Lovotti, Luvotti, Lovatti, Lovari, Lovarini, Lovati, Lovato
From the word "lupo" = wolf, derived from a Latin name "Lupus"
Lusi, Lusio, Lusia
From the family Latin name "Lusius"
Luzio
From the first name Lucio,derived from the Latin word "lux" = light.
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