Sicilian last names – Italian sicilian last names

The Origins of Italian Sicilian last names: A Melting Pot of Cultures and Languages

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with its numerous smaller islands, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Over the centuries, the island has been a crossroads of cultures and languages, and its surnames reflect this rich historical tapestry.

Intersecting Cultures: Greek, Greek-Albanian, Latin, Arabic, Norman, and Spanish

In Sicily, one can find surnames with diverse origins, including Greek, Greek-Albanian, Latin, Arabic, Norman, and Spanish. The island’s onomastics is closely tied to the broader southern Italian onomastic tradition, with each province boasting its own characteristic surnames.

Sicilian last names: A Blend of Italian and Dialect

An interesting aspect of Sicilian surnames is that they often originate from nicknames, so much so that both the Italian and dialect forms coexist to this day. In other words, the same surname is used in both languages simultaneously.

Suffixes and Prefixes: Tracing the Origins

Italian surnames are known for their variety of suffixes and prefixes, which provide clues to their origins. Sicilian surnames frequently feature suffixes of Greek origin. Examples include -èol, -èi (e.g., Messineo from Messina, Candeo from Candia, Crotoneo from Crotone, Cataneo from Catania, Raguseo from Ragusa) and -itol, -iti (e.g., Messinití, Palermiti, Catanzariti). Some surnames end in -itanil, while others derive from the Greek suffix -os (e.g., Romanó).

As for prefixes, the most common in Sicily is «In,» indicating «belonging to the family of.» However, it can also refer to a personal name, a toponym, and more. Examples include Incalcaterra, Incarbone, Ingallina, Indelicato, Infruttuoso, Incaprera, Incorvaia, Inserra, Ingastone, and Ingrassia (from the Spanish surname «García»).

Southern Italian Traditions: Surnames with Articles

Surnames preceded by an article are a distinctive feature of Southern Italy, especially in regions like Sicily, Puglia, and Campania. In Sicily, the exclusive form is «Li + name» (e.g., Licalzi, Li Muli, Li Noce).

Sicily: A Land of Ancient Heritage

Sicily is a region in insular Italy, being the seventh-largest European island in terms of size. It is the principal Italian island and the largest in the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by several smaller islands, with Palermo as its capital.

With a population of over five million people, it is the most populous island in the Mediterranean, second only to Malta. Sicily is the region in Italy with the highest number of native inhabitants, and nearly 90% of the island’s surnames are names of Sicilian families. Many surnames have Greek etymology, a testament to the numerous colonies established by the Dorians in Sicily.

During the Roman Empire, Sicily continued to attract Greek settlers, as well as Greek-Albanian communities, which further influenced the island’s language, culture, and topography.

Today, Sicilian surnames stand as a living legacy, reflecting the island’s fascinating historical journey through diverse cultures and languages