Origin and Etymology of Italian Surnames: P‑
The list includes a possible, or accepted, etymology of many Italian surnames, beginning with "P-", 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 ]
Pace, Paci, Pasi, Pase, Pasio, Pacelli, Pacilli, Pacetti, Pacitti, Pacinotti, Paciotti, Paciullo, Pacenti, Pasello, Pasetti, Pasini, Pasolini, Pasotti, Pasinatti
From the word "pace" = peace. Also abbreviation of the medieval first name Bonapace and Paccio
Pacino, Pacini
Padula, Paduli, Padulano, Paduano, Parule
From the name of the towns of Padula, province of Salerno and Teramo, and of Paduli, province of Benevento. Padula derives from the Latin "palude" in neapolitan "parule" = marsh
Paglia, Paglione, Pagli, Paggia, Paglietta, Paglicci, Pagliazzi, Pagliali, Pagliaro, Pagliarolo, Pagliarani, Paglieri
From the word "paglia" = straw. To indicate someone that works with the straw. Also derived from name of places: Paglieta
Palazzese, Palazzesi, Palazzeschi, Palazzoli, Palazzotto
From the word "palazzo" = palace; who works or lives in a palace
Palermo, Palermi, Palermitti
From the city of Palermo, Sicily region
Palladino, Paladini, Paladin, Palatini, Palladini
From the first name "Paladino" = paladin (knight of Carlo Magno)
Pallini, Pallino
From the word "palla" = ball, also with the meaning of small cartridges
Pallotta, Pallotti, Pallotto
From the word "palla" = ball, used as a nickname for fat person
Palma, Palmas, Palmucci, Palmese
From the first name Palma, symbol of peace or from a name of a place
Palmieri, Palmero, Palmiero, Palmerino, Palmarino, Palmerucci
From the old French first name Palmiere, derived from Palma; nickname given, during the Middle Ages, to the pilgrims to the Holy Land
Palumbo, Palombo, Palomba, Palombi, Palombella, Palombino, Plumbieri, Palumberi<
From the dialect "palumbo" = dove, used as a nickname for a quite person
Paolo, Paolucci
From the first name Paolo, derived from the Latin word "paulus" = small
Pancrazio
From the first name Pancrazio, derived from the Greek "Pankrates"
Panella, Panelli, Panello, Panetti, Panetta, Panozzo, Pani, Panebianco, Pancotto
From the word "pane" = bread, to indicate the job of someone (ej: baker); also derived from the medieval nickname pane meaning good person
Pantaleo, Pantalone, Pantaleone, Pantaleoni, Pantaloni, Patalei
From the first name Pantaleone of Greek origin, consisting of "panta" = all and "leone" = lion
Panzera, Panza, Pansa, Pancia, Panzetti, Pansini, Pancini, Panzarella, Panzacchi, Panzarino, Pansera, Pansardi, Pancera, Panzuti
From the word "panza" = belly
Paolo
from the first name Paolo
Papa
From the word "papa" that has, according the local traditions, different meanings = father, bishop, priest
Pardi
Derived from the abbreviation of "Longobardi" = Lombards
Parente, Parenti
From the word "parente" = relative
Paris, Parigi, Parisi, Parise, Parissi, Parisini, Parisotti, Parisani
From the name of the city of Paris, to indicate someone from France or from Paris; also someone who used to go there as a merchant
Pasquale, Pasquali, Pascale, Pasqualetti, Pasqualini, Pasquarelli, Pascarella, Pascarelli
From the first name Pasquale, derived from the word "pasqua" = Easter
Passarelli, Passarello
From the surname of a noble family from France. Also derived from a dialect word meaning strainer
Passeri, Passerini
From the word "passero" = sparrow
Pastore, Pastori, Pastorelli, Pastrello, Pastorini
From the word "pastore" = shepherd
Patricelli, Patricello, Patricella
From the first name Patrizio, derived from the Latin "patricius" = of elevated social level
Pavone, Pavoni, Paone, Pavonessa, Paonessa
From the word "pavone" = peacock, vain person
Pedicone
It has the same root of the word "piede" = foot. The dialect word "pedencaune" means the part of the cut tree left
Peligni
From the name of the pre-roman population of Peligni that lived in the Sulmona area
Pellegrini, Pellegrino, Pellerino, Pellerini, Pellegrinelli, Pellegrinetti, Pellegrineschi
From the "word" pellegrino = pilgrim
Pelliccia, Pellicciotta, Pellicci, Pellizza, Pellizza, Pelizzi, Pelliccioni, Pellicciari, Pellizzoni, Pellizzari, Pelisseri
From the word "pelliccia" = fur; used to indicate the job of the person
Pelosi, Pelusi, Pelos, Pelosini, Pelosin, Peluso
From the nickname "peloso" = someone who has long hair or barb
Pendenza
From the word "pendenza" = slope, to indicate the place where a family used to live
Penna
From the nickname given to someone that works as a writer. Also from the word "penna" meaning pick, rock: there are many names of places that include this word
Pentri, Penta, Pentone, Pende
From the name of the pre-roman population of Pentri that lived in the Matese area, Molise region
Peracchia, Perilli, Perillo, Perelli, Perello, Perella, Perillio
From the first name Pietro
Perla, Perna
From the word "perla" = pearl
Perrella, Perelli, Perello, Petruzzelli, Pedretti, Pedrocchi, Perazzolo, Perrone
From the first name Pietro
Peracchia, Perilli, Pietri, Pietrobon, Pietricola, Piersanti, Pedrazzoli, Pieralli, Perrotti, Perotta, Perrone
From the first name Pietro
Persia
From the name of the country of Persia, the today Iran. Also derived from the dialect word "persia, persa", la maggiorana = sweet majoram
Petaccia, Petaccio, Petacci
From the dialect word "petacce" = piece, rag. Also from the name of the town of Petacciato, Molise region
Petrarca, Petrarchi, Petracca, Petacca, Petracchi, Petrachi, Petrocelli, Petrucci, Petroselli
From the first name Pietro
Petti
From the word "petto" = breast, or originary of a place called Petto (like Pettorano in Abruzzo or Pettoranello in Molise)
Picciano, Picciani, Picciana
From the name of the town of Picciano, province of Pescara
Piccinini, Piccirilli, Piccini
From the word "piccino" = little, little baby etc, used as a nickname for a short person
Piccioni, Piccione
From the word "piccione" = pigeon
Pierdomenico, Pierdomenici, Pierdominici
Consisting of two first names: Pietro and Domenico
Pierfelice, Pierfelici, Pierfeliciano
Consisting of two first names: Pietro and Felice
Piersanti
Consisting of two first names: Pietro and Santo
Pietrantoni
Consisting of two first names: Pietro and Antonio
Pietraroia
From the Latin "petra rubea" = red stone, to indicate a place the family is originated from
Pietro
From the first name Pietro
Pinelli, Pino, Pinello, Pin, Pinato, Pinat
From the first name Pino, diminutive of Giuseppe
Pinto, Pintus
Derived from the adjective "dipinto" = painted, already used as a nickname in the Middle Ages
Pirocchi
From the Abruzzo and Moise dialect word "peroccha" = stick; also derived from the Calabria and Sicily dialect word "pirocchio" = common louse, mean
Pisano, Pisa, Pisani, PisanÒ, Pisanello, Pisaniello
From the town of Pisa, Tuscany region
Pisciella, Pesci, Pescio, Piscitelli, Pescetto, Pescini, Pescione, Pesciolini
From the word "pesce" = fish
Pisegna, Pisegni, Pisegno
From the Geek word "pisos" = irrigated place
Pistilli
From the word "pistillo" = pistil
Pizzoferrato, Pizzo, Pizzi
From the name of the town of Pizzoferrato, province of Chieti, derived from the word "pizzo" meaning high summit, peak
Pizzuto
From the South Italy adjective "pizzuto" meaning pointed, sharp
Plescia
From the Latin word "plexa" = twisted or from the Albania word "plesht" = flea
Polidoro, Polidori
From the first name Polidoro derived from the Greek first name Polydoros, consisting of "polys" = a lot and "doron" = gift
Politi, Politano, PolitanÒ, Pulitano
From the greek word "polites" = citizens. Sometimes derives from the name of the town of Polito, province of Cosenza
Pomante, Pomanti
From the Latin words "pomum" = fruit and "pomus" = fruit tree. Probably used as a nickname for the families that owned many fruit trees
Pompei, Pompeo, Pompea
From the roman family name "Pompeius"
Pompilii, Pompilio, Pompilia
From the roman family name "Pompilius"
Pomponio, Pomponia, Pomponii
From the roman family name "Pomponius"
Pontarelli, Ponte, Ponti, Ponticelli, Pontillo, Pontini, Pontoni, Pontiroli, Pontalti
Porcelli, Porciello, Porcella, Porcellini, Porcelluzzi
From the word "porco" = pig, probably connected to a job as pig raiser.
Porreca
Probably from the Latin "porrectum" = plateau, extension, to indicate someone coming from this kind of place
Potalivo, Potalivi, Potamio, Potamione
Consisting of the verb "potare" = to prune and the word "olivo" = olive tree. To indicate a job.
Presenza, Presenzio, Presenzi
From the Latin first name "Praesentius" meaning ready, powerful
Presutti, Presutto, Presutte
A suggested ethimology may be from the dialect word "presutte", prosciutto = ham. But a more competent origin may be derived from a change of consonants in the ancient name of the Praetutii peoples that inhabited the area of teramo in pre-Roman times.
Prete, Preti, Preite, Previte, Preve
From the word "prete" = priest, derived from the Greek "presbyteros" = the eldest
Primavera, Primavere
From the word "primavera" = spring
Prinzi, Prinzio
From the word "principe" = prince
Profeta
From the Greek word "prophetis" = prophet
Proietti
From the Latin adjective "proiectus" = abandoned, given to the children of unknown parents
Properzi, Propersi
Prosperi, Prospero, Prosperini
From the first name Prospero
Puglielli, Pugliese, Puglisi, Pugliano, Puglianello, Pugliarello, Pugliatti
From the name of the Puglia Region. To indicate someone coming from this locality
Pulcini, Pulcino
From the Latin adjective "pullicenus", derived from "pullus" = small, little, young
Pulsoni
From the medieval Latin "pulsone" = big blow.
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