Surnames Mosca, Moschetto, Moscardo, Moscato, Moscone and variations

Etymology

• Mosca = fly, probably starting as a a nickname for an ancestor, to describe a small, minute constitution or an insistent, annoying behaviour.
• Moschetto, Moschetta have a possible alternative etymology form a kind of a muzzle-loaded long gun (musket).
• Moscardo is also another name for the "moschetto" gun, and for a variety of hawk with small spots on the plumage similar to flies.
• Moscato may be derived also from the Italian word "muschio" (=moss) as a celebrated Italian wine with with a typical mossy, sweet aroma.
• Moscone refers to a variety of insects larger than a fly. Metaphorically, it is used in Italian to refer to a man insistently courting a woman, and is also the name of a small boat - also called pattíno - used near the seaside.

Most common Variations

Mosca

• Italian White Pages: in 2020 there are 2225 listings of individuals.
• Ellis Island: 1711 arrivals for Mosca immigrants are recorded, coming mostly from Italy (1090) but also from Argentina, since it is also a Spanish word for the insect.

Moscone, Mosconi, Moscoloni

• Listings in the 2020 Italian White Pages: Moscone 61, Mosconi with 746, Moscoloni 37
• Records on Ellis Island: Mosconi 123, mostly from Northern Italy.

Moschino, Moschini, Moschin

• Listings in the 2020 Italian White Pages: Moschino 30, Moschini 542, Moschin 46.
• Records on Ellis Island: Moschino 15 (Northern Italy), Moschini 144 (from Northern and central Italy).

Moschetta, Moschetto

• Listings in the 2020 Italian White Pages: Moschetta 207, Moschetto 120
• Records on Ellis Island: Moschetta 75, Moschetto 69 mostly from Southern Italy.

Moscardo, Moscardi, Moscardini

• Listings in the 2020 Italian White Pages: Moscardo 57, Moscardi 132, Moscardini 147
• Records on Ellis Island: Moscardo 1, Moscardi 3, Moscardini 112 (Northern Italy).

Moscatello, Moscatelli, Moscati, Moscato

• Listings in the 2020 Italian White Pages: Moscatello 65, Moscatell1 827, Moscati 77, Moscato 546
• Records on Ellis Island: Moscatello 49 and Moscato 499 mostly from Southern Italy); Moscatelli 216 (mostly from Northern Italy), Moscati 43.

Alphabetical Index