100 Most Common Italian Last Names

Top 3 Italian Surnames

The Full Top 100 List

1. 1
   RossiDescriptive: red-haired or ruddy; from 'rosso'.
2. 2
   RussoDescriptive: red-haired; or ethnic Russian.
3. 3
   FerrariOccupational: plural of Ferraro, blacksmith (from 'ferro', iron).
4. 4
   EspositoFrom Latin 'expositus', 'exposed'; given to foundlings.
5. 5
   BianchiWhite; originally a nickname for a fair/pale or white-haired person.
6. 6
   RomanoToponymic: from Rome.
7. 7
   ColomboDove/pigeon; nickname and medieval personal name.
8. 8
   RicciDescriptive: plural of Riccio, curly.
9. 9
   MarinoFrom Latin Marinus: 'of the sea'.
10. 10
    GrecoEthnic: a Greek, from Latin Graecus.
11. 11
    BrunoBrown/dark; traditionally a nickname for dark hair or complexion.
12. 12
    GalloNickname: rooster; proud or pugnacious person.
13. 13
    ContiCounts; title-based surname.
14. 14
    De LucaPatronymic of Luca (Luke).
15. 15
    CostaTopographic: coast, slope or hillside; also 'rib'.
16. 16
    GiordanoFrom Giordano: Jordan; river-baptized or pilgrim.
17. 17
    ManciniDescriptive: left-handed.
18. 18
    RizzoDescriptive: curly.
19. 19
    LombardiToponymic: Lombards, from Lombardy.
20. 20
    MorettiDescriptive: diminutive of Moro; dark-haired.
21. 21
    BarbieriBarbers; occupational.
22. 22
    FontanaTopographic: fountain, spring; lived near a well.
23. 23
    SantoroSouthern Italian: from a medieval personal name or 'santo' (saint).
24. 24
    MarianiPatronymic of Mariano (Marian).
25. 25
    RinaldiPatronymic of Rinaldo (Reynold), Germanic 'counsel-ruler'.
26. 26
    CarusoSicilian term associated with a boy/young man or close-cropped hair.
27. 27
    FerraraToponymic: from Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna.
28. 28
    GalliNickname: plural of Gallo, roosters.
29. 29
    MartiniPatronymic of Martino (Martin).
30. 30
    LeoneNickname: lion; brave person.
31. 31
    LongoDescriptive: long, tall.
32. 32
    GentileDescriptive: kind, gentle, noble.
33. 33
    MartinelliDiminutive of Martino (Martin).
34. 34
    VitaleFrom Latin Vitalis, 'vital'.
35. 35
    LombardoToponymic: a Lombard, from Lombardy.
36. 36
    SerraTopographic: mountain ridge; saw.
37. 37
    CoppolaTraditional cap/hat; occupational or nickname.
38. 38
    De SantisPatronymic: 'of the saints'; from Santo.
39. 39
    D'AngeloPatronymic: son of Angelo, 'angel, messenger'.
40. 40
    MarchettiDiminutive of Marco (Mark).
41. 41
    ParisiEthnic/toponymic: from Paris, or Parisii; also a Sicilian name.
42. 42
    VillaTopographic: country house, estate.
43. 43
    ConteCount; title-based surname.
44. 44
    FerraroOccupational: blacksmith, ironworker.
45. 45
    FerriFrom 'ferro' (iron); smith or strong man.
46. 46
    FabbriOccupational: plural of 'fabbro', smith.
47. 47
    BiancoWhite; descriptive nickname.
48. 48
    MariniDescriptive: of the sea, from Latin 'marinus'.
49. 49
    GrassoDescriptive: fat, plump, or well-fed.
50. 50
    ValentiniPatronymic of Valentino (Valentine).
51. 51
    MessinaToponymic: from Messina, Sicily.
52. 52
    SalaTopographic/occupational: hall, manor.
53. 53
    De AngelisPatronymic: 'of the angels'; from Angelo.
54. 54
    GattiNickname: cats.
55. 55
    PellegriniReligious/travel: pilgrims.
56. 56
    PalumboNickname: dove (southern).
57. 57
    SannaSardinian: specific etymology uncertain.
58. 58
    FarinaOccupational: flour; miller or flour seller.
59. 59
    RizziDescriptive: plural of Rizzo, curly.
60. 60
    MontiTopographic: mountains.
61. 61
    CattaneoCaptain; title/office, especially in Lombardy.
62. 62
    MorelliDescriptive: diminutive of Moro; dark-haired.
63. 63
    AmatoBeloved.
64. 64
    SilvestriPatronymic of Silvestro (Sylvester), 'of the woods'.
65. 65
    MazzaNickname/occupational: mace or club.
66. 66
    TestaNickname: head; stubborn person.
67. 67
    GrassiDescriptive: plural of Grasso, fat or well-fed.
68. 68
    PellegrinoReligious/travel: pilgrim.
69. 69
    CarboneCoal/charcoal; occupational or nickname.
70. 70
    GiulianiPatronymic of Giuliano (Julian).
71. 71
    BenedettiBlessed; from Benedetto.
72. 72
    BaroneBaron; title or nickname.
73. 73
    RossettiDiminutive of Rosso: red-haired.
74. 74
    CaputoLarge-headed; nickname.
75. 75
    MontanariTopographic: mountain dwellers.
76. 76
    GuerraNickname: war; warlike person.
77. 77
    PalmieriOccupational/religious: pilgrim bearing a palm.
78. 78
    BernardiPatronymic of Bernardo (Bernard), Germanic for 'brave as a bear'.
79. 79
    MartinoFrom Latin Martinus, 'of Mars'.
80. 80
    FioreFrom 'fiore': flower; nickname or personal name.
81. 81
    De RosaDescriptive: 'of Rosa'; possibly a gardener or a rosy complexion.
82. 82
    FerrettiDiminutive of Ferro; iron, smith.
83. 83
    BelliniPatronymic or diminutive family form; exact ancestral name varies by region.
84. 84
    BasileFrom the Greek Basileios, 'royal, kingly'; common in southern Italy.
85. 85
    RivaTopographic: shore, riverbank.
86. 86
    DonatiPatronymic of Donato, 'given' (by God).
87. 87
    PirasSardinian surname; likely from 'pira' (pear).
88. 88
    VitaliPatronymic of Vitale.
89. 89
    BattagliaBattle; nickname for a fighter or warrior.
90. 90
    SartoriOccupational: tailors.
91. 91
    NeriDescriptive: black, dark; or from Neri (Raineri).
92. 92
    CostantiniPatronymic of Costantino (Constantine).
93. 93
    MilaniToponymic: from Milan (Milano).
94. 94
    PaganoFrom 'pagano': pagan, or villager.
95. 95
    RuggieroFrom Germanic Roger, 'famous spear'.
96. 96
    SorrentinoToponymic: from Sorrento.
97. 97
    D'AmicoPatronymic: son of Amico, or 'of the friend'.
98. 98
    OrlandoFrom Germanic Roland, 'famous throughout the land'.
99. 99
    NegriDescriptive: dark-haired or dark-skinned.
100. 100
     De SimonePatronymic of Simone (Simon).

Rankings are approximate and vary between sources and over time.