Origin and Etymology of Italian Surnames: G‑
The list includes a possible, or accepted, etymology of many Italian surnames, beginning with "G-", 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 ]
Gabriele, Gabrieli, Gabrielli
From the first name Gabriele, derived from the Hebrew "Gabri'el", consisting of "gabar" = to be strong or "gheber"= man and "Elhoim" = God
Gaetani
From the first name Gaetano
Gagliardi, Gagliardini, Gagliardo, Gagliardone
From the adjective "gagliardo" = strong, brave, courageous
Galante, Galanti
From the ancient french word "galant" = someone in love or who has fun
Galasso
From the pre-Latin word "cala" = steep side of the mountain, that gave name to many localities
Galeffi, Galiffa, Galiffo, Galifi
From the Arab word "halaf" from which "caliph" derives
Gallo, Galletti, Galli, Gallini, Galloni, Gallucci
Either an ethnic adjective, from the Gauls, a celtic population already present in Italy in Roman times, or a nickname from the animal, to point to an attitude of showing off, being vain, or a lover of too many women.
Gamberini
Some scholars derive this surname from "gambero" (=crab) but a more possible etymology is from the German god "Gambrinus" - also considered the inventor of beer - possibly through a medieval first name Gambrino or Gamberino.
Gargano
Family from the area of Gargano, Puglia region
Garin
From the first name Guarino, derived from the German name "Warino", consisting of "warin" = to protect
Garofalo, Garofano, Garoffolo, Garofoli, Garofolo
From the name and nickname Garofalo; also name of the carnation flower
Gasbarro, Gaspari
From the first name Gaspare, derived from an Iranian word meaning shining
Gatti, Gatto, Lo Gatto, Gattini, Gattullo, Gattuso, Gatteschi
From the word gatto = cat, as someone agile, astute like a cat or simply a lover of this animal.
Gavrilli
From the first name Gabriele, derived from the Hebrew "Gabri'el", consisting of "gabar" = to be strong or "gheber"= man and "Elhoim" = God
Gelmetti, Gelmi, Gelmini
From the first name Guglielmo, derived from the German name consisting of "wilian" = will and "hëlma-" = helmet
Genovese
From the name of the town of Genova. To indicate the place the family is originated from
Gentile, Gentileschi, Gentili, Gentilini, Gentilotti, Gentilucci
From the adjective gentile = gentle. In origin with the meaning of noble or to indicate someone that belongs to the same family (Latin gens)
Gerbasi, Gervasi, Gervasio, Gervasoni, Gervasutti
From the French name Gervais
Gessani, Gessaroli, Gessi
From the name of a place where there is a lot of gypsum; ej: Gessopalena, province of Chieti
Ghielmi
From the first name Guglielmo, derived from the German name consisting of "wilian" = will and "hëlma-" = helmet
Giacalone, Giacaz, Giaccagli, Giaccaglia, Giaccari, Giacchero, Giacchetti, Giacchi, Giacchin, Giacchini, Giacco, Giaccone, Giacconi, Giachero, Giachetti, Giachi, Giachin, Giachini, Giachino, Giacinto, Giaco, Giacobazzi, Giacobbe, Giacobbi, Giacobelli, Giacobini, Giacobo, Giacobone, Giacoboni, Giacolone, Giacomazzi, Giacomazzo, Giacomelli, Giacomello, Giacometti, Giacomi, Giacomin, Giacomini, Giacomino, Giacomo, Giacomoni, Giacomozzi, Giacomucci, Giacomuzzi, Giacon, Giaconi, Giacopazzi, Giacopelli, Giacopetti, Giacopini, Giacopino, Giacopo, Giacoppo, Giacovani, Giacovazzo, Giacovelli
From the first name Giacomo, Giacobo, Giacopo, Giacobbe, derived from the Hebrew "Yaaquob" = God has protected
Giammarchi, Giammarco
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Marco
Giammarinaro, Giammarino
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Marino
Giampiero, Giampietri, Giampietro
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Piero or Pietro
Giancaterini, Giancaterino
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Caterino, The name Caterino derives from the female name Caterina, from the Greek adjective "katharos" = puro
Giancola, Giancoli
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Cola, abbreviation of Nicola
Giancristofari, Giancristofaro, Giancriatoforo
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Cristofaro or Cristoforo
Gianella, Gianelli, Gianetti, Gianetto
From the first name Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, derived from the Hebrew meaning merciful God.
Gianfagna, Gianfagno
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and another name derived from the Latin name "Ofinius"
Giani, Gianini, Gianino
From the first name Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, derived from the Hebrew meaning "Merciful God".
Gianmarco
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Marco
Gianmarinaro, Gianmarino
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Marino
Giannachi, Giannagi, Giannarelli, Giannassi, Giannazzi, Giannella, Giannelli, Giannerini, Gianneschi, Giannese, Giannesi, Giannetti, Giannetto, Gianni, Gianniello, Giannillo, Giannini, Giannino, Gianniti, Giannitto, Giannola, Giannoli, Giannone, Giannoni, Giannotti, Giannuzzi, Gianoglio, Gianola, Gianoli, Gianolio, Gianotti, Gianuzzi
From the first name Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, derived from the Hebrew meaning "Merciful God"
Giansante
Consisting of two first names: Gianni, abbreviation of the first name Giovanni, and Sante
Giarrizzo, Giarruso
Based on the first name Gianni and Rizzo (curly) or ruso, susso (red)
Gigante, Giganti, Gigantini, Gigantino
From the word "gigante" = giant. Used as a nickname, given to a tall person
Gilelmi
From the first name Guglielmo, derived from the German name consisting of "wilian" = will and "hëlma-" = helmet
Gioia, Gioiella, Gioiosa
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
Giordani, Giordano
From the first name Giordano, derived from the name of the Jordan river
Giorgeschi, Giorgetti, Giorgi, Giorgianni, Giorgielli, Giorgini, Giorgino, Giorgio, Giorgione, Giorgioni, Giorgiulli, Giori, Gioriello, Giorio
From the first name Giorgio, deriving from the Greek word "gheorgos" = farmer
Giovanni
From the first name Giovanni, derived from the Hebrew "Yohanan", consisting of "Yahwè" = God and "hanan" = to be merciful
Giovinazzo, Giovinetti, Giovino
From the ancient name Giovine or Iovine used as nickname or to indicate a young (in italian giovane) person
Gismondi
From the first name Sigismondo, of German origin, consisting of "sigis" = victory and "munda" = protection
Giuiusa
From the word "gioia" = happiness. Used also with the meaning of jewel. Sometimes derived from the name of a place, fro the Latin "iovia" = sacred rock
Giuliana, Giulianelli, Giuliani, Giulianini, Giuliano
From the first name Giuliano, derived from the Latin "Iulius" = sacred to Jupiter
Giuressi, Giurgevich, Giurgiovich, Giuri, Giuriali, Giurin, Giurini, Giurissi, Giuriulo, Giurovich
From the first name Giorgio, derived from the Greek word "gheorgos" = farmer
Giuse, Giuseppe, Giusi
From the first name Giuseppe, derived from the Hebrew "Yoseph"
Giusta, Giustarini, Giustetti, Giusti, Giustini, Giustiniano, Giusto
From the Latin name "Iustus", derived from the adjective "iustus", giusto = just, fair, lawful
Gizzi, Gizzio, Gizzo
From the Latin adjective "aegyptius" = black, stranger: probably to indicate descendants of Arab slaves. Also Dr. Masciotta, a historian of Molise, says: "The gypsies that most anciently settled in central Italy, around the year 1000, came from the East and had as their capital the town of Ielsi (in the province of Campobasso) - they were called "Egiptii" meaning they came from the east, and the town was called Gittia or Gyptia. Then they moved from this town and settled in other places in central-southern Italy."
Glave
From the word "glave" = swordfish, derived from the Latin "gladius" = sword
Granata, Granati
From the word melograno = pomegranate
Granchelli, Granchello
Composed of two words: "gran" (big) amd "chelli" short name for Rustichelli deriving from the Latin "rusticus" = who lives in the country, farmer
Grande, Grandese, Grandesso, Grandi, Grandinetti, Grandini, Grando, Grandoni, Grandotto
From the word "grande" = big. It derives from a nickname given to a big person
Grassi, Grassani, Grassato, Grassetti, Grassellini, Grasselli, Grassigli, Grassilli, Grassini
From the adjective "grasso" = fat
Grazia, Graziani, Grazioli, Graziosi, Graziotti, Graziuso, Grazzini
From the first name "Grazia" = Grace nad its male counterpart, Graziano
Grechi, Greci, Greco, Grego
From the adjective Greek, to indicate someone from Greece or even a smart person
Gregori, Gregorio
From the first name Gregorio, deriving from the Greek verb "ghregorein" = to be smart, intelligent
Grieco
From the adjective Greek, to indicate someone from Greece or even a smart person
Grigoli, Grigolo, Griguoli, Griguolo
From the first name Gregorio, deriving from the Greek verb "ghregorein" = to be smart, intelligent
Grilletti, Grilli, Grillini, Grillo, Grillone
From the medieval nickname Grillo = cricket, to indicate someone that has the same characteristics of the insect
Grossi, Grosso
From the adjective "grosso" = fat, big
Gualdiero, Gualtieri, Gualtiero, Gualtierotti
From the German first name Gualtiero, derived from "Waldhari", consisting of "waldaz" = boss, powerful and "harja" = army
Guarini, Guariniello, Guarinoni
From the first name Guarino, derived from the German name "Warino", consisting of "warin" = to protect
Guercini, Guercio, Guercioni
From the adjective "guercio" = blind, used as a nickname
Guerini
From the first name Guarino, derived from the German name "Warino", consisting of "warin" = to protect
Guerra, Guerranti, Guerrasio, Guerrato, Guerrazzi, Guerrera, Guerreschi, Guerri, Guerrieri, Guerrisi
From the word "guerra" = war. Nickname used for someone that worked in the army or to indicate a warlike people
Guerzi, Guerzoni
From the adjective "guercio" = blind, used as a nickname
Guglielmetti, Guglielmi, Guglielmini
From the first name Guglielmo, derived from the German name consisting of "wilian" = will and "hëlma-" = helmet.
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