Surnames in Sicily, Italy

Surnames in the Provinces of Sicily

Common Surnames

The most common surnames in Sicily are:
• over 5000: Russo;
• 3,000-4,000: Caruso, Lombardo, Marino, Messina, Rizzo;
• 2,000-3,000: Amato, Arena, Costa, Grasso, Greco, Romano, Parisi, Puglisi, La Rosa, Vitale;
• 1,500-2,000: Bruno, Catalano, Pappalardo, Randazzo.
• See also Wikipedia's page

Origin of Surnames

• The most common patronymics are Basile, Di Mauro, Di Salvo, Di Stefano, Giuffrida, Leonardi, Orlando, Vitale.
• Other surnames derive from medieval names, mostly augural, such as Bellomo, Bonaccorso, Bonanno, Bonfiglio, Bongiorno, Bonsignore.
• Among the surnames derived from crafts we have Balistreri (=crossbow makers), Cannizzaro (=thatched roof maker), Cammareri (=waiters), Cavallaro, Ferraro, Finocchiaro (=farmer of fennels), Impellizzeri (=fur makers), Maniscalco, Scuderi (=squires), Spadaro - Spataro (=sword maker), Vaccaro.
• Surnames derived from nicknames are Mancuso (=left-handed), Occhipinti (=painted eyes), Pappalardo (=lard eater), Quattrocchi (=four eyed).
• Common surnames related to the place of origin are Calabrese, Catalano, Cosentino, Genovese, Maltese, Provenzano, Puglisi, Toscano, Tarantino.
• Finally, there are surnames given to foundlings, such as Di Dio or Trovato, and matronymics (connected to an ancestress) such as Alessandra, Emma, Greca.

Updates

• Province of Agrigento: San Giovanni Gemini | Aragona
• Province of Caltanissetta: Mussomeli | Santa Caterina Villarmosa
• Province of Catania: Mascali | Randazzo | Pedara
• Province of Enna: Troina | Pietraperzia
• Province of Messina: Santo Stefano di Camastra | Alì Terme
• Province of Palermo: Altavilla Milicia | Lercara Friddi | Marineo | Petralia Soprana | Petralia Sottana | Prizzi
• Province of Ragusa: Pozzallo | Ispica
• Province of Siracusa: Carlentini | Francofonte | Priolo Gargallo
• Province of Trapani: Pantelleria | Calatafimi Segesta