Origin and Etymology of Italian Surnames: S‑
The list includes a possible, or accepted, etymology of many Italian surnames, beginning with "S-", as well as, where data is available, their geographical or historical origin and current distribution.
Alphabetical Index
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Sabato, Sabatini, Sabatacci, Sabatino, Sabatella
From the first name Sabato, Sabatino = Saturday, given at times to children born on said day of the week
Sabelli, Savellini, Savelli
From the name of the italic population of Sabellians
Sablone, Sabloni
From the Latin word "sabulo, sabulonis" = sand. To indicate a family that lives or comes from that kind of place
Sacchetti, Sacchetto, Sacchini, Saccucci, Saccone, Saccani, Sacchieri, Sacchi
From the word "sacco" = sack, bag. To indicate someone that makes, transports or loads sacks.
Saccomanni, Saccomandi, Saccomando, Saccomanno, Saccomano, Saccomani
From the word "sackman" of the old German. To indicate someone that makes, transports or loads sacks. The nickname saccomanno was also used with the meaning of "sacker"
Salemme
Salemi
Sallustio
From the Roman name "Sallustius", famous Latin historian born in Amiternum, today San Vittorino degli Abruzzi
Salucci
From the Latin word "sal, salis" = salt
Salustri
Probably from the Greek surname "Sallustros". This surname is present in the Lucania area
Salvatore, Salvatori, Salvadori, Salvatorelli
From the first name Salvatore meaning Saviour
Salvi
From the first name Salvo or Salvio, a good wishes name meaning "saved through Faith"
Santangelo
From the name of a place dedicated to the Archangel Michael, or a fusion of the two names Sante and Angelo
Sante, Santo, Santi, Santarelli, Santilli, Santella, Santini, Santone, Santucci
From the first name Santo. Possibly connected to someone acting as a saint, or who has connection with religious things (a sacristan)
Santariga
Consisting of two words Santa = Saint and Riga = line, but it is unknown if Riga derives from a female first name.
Santavenere
Consisting of two words Santa = Saint and Venere = Venus. Probably from the old Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, in Abruzzo region, or from the cult of Saint Venerio, transformed into a female name
Sandrelli, Sandri, Sandrone, Sandrucci
From Sandro, short fornm of the name Alessandro (Alexander)
Santoianni
Consisting of two words Santo= Saint and Ianni, derived from Giovanni.
Santori, Santorio, Santorelli, Santorielli, Santorini, Santorum
Saracino, Saraceni, Saracini, Sarracino, Saraceno, Saraino, Seracini, Sarcini, SarcÌ, Sarcinelli
From the word "Saracino" = Saracen, used in the Middle Age to indicate Arabs and Muslims. Sometimes used as a nickname for a destructive person
Sarapo
Sassano
From the name of the town of Sassano, province of Salerno. Also derived from the Latin first name "Sassius", sassano = property of Sassius
Sassi, Sasso, Sassone, Sassoli, Sassola, Sassetti
From the name of a place that includes the word "sasso" = stone, rock. Possibly also derived from the first name Sasso or Sassone, of German origin, to indicate someone from Saxony, population that came in Italy with the Lombards
Saverio, Saveria
From the first name Saverio, derived from the Spanish family name "Xavier"
Savini, Savino, Savinio, Savina, Sabini, Sabino, Savinelli
From the first name Savino or Sabino, derived from the name of a pre-roman population: the Sabines
Sbaraglia, Sbaraglio
From the verb "sbaragliare" = to rout, to beat. Probably used as a nickname for a courageous person
Sborgia
From the noble surname "Borgia", or from the Latin word "burgus" = castle, fortress
Scafati, Scafato, Scafata
From the name of the town of Scafa, province of Pescara, derived from the Latin word "scapha" = valley
Scannella, Scanno, Scannello
From the dialect word "scanna" = non arable land. Also derived from the Latin word "scamnum" = land between two valleys. The name of the town of Scanno, province of L'Aquila derives from that. The surname may also be derived from the name of place.
Scarano, Scarani
From the old Italian "scarano" = bandit, used as a nickname
Scarpone, Scarpitti, Scarpa
From the word "scarpa" = shoe, used as a nickname for a shoemaker
Scarsella, Scarsello, Scarselli, Scarcello, Scarciello, Scarcella, Scarzello, Scarzella, Scarzelli
From the word "scarsella" = bag for documents, letters, money and objects
Scatena
Probably from the verb "scatenare" = to unleash, to cause.
Schiavone
Schiazza
From the word "chiazza" = stein, blotch. In different dialects the word "schiazza" takes different meanings: to throw, a square, a stone used to wash the clothes in the river,
Sciarra, Sciarino, Sciarrone, Sciarratta, Sciarretta
From the Sicilian word "sciarra" = quarrel, used as a nickname, derived from the Arab "sarra"
Scimia, Scimie
From the word "scimmia" = monkey, probably used as a nickname
Scime'
From the Arab word "sham's" = sun. Widespread in Sicily
Scipioni, Scipione
From the Latin family name "Scipio, Scipionis"
Sciullo, Sciulli
Possibly from the German "schul"
Scorrano
From the name of the town of Scorrano, Salento area, Puglia region
Scurti, Scurto
Probably from the adjective "corto" = short, to indicate a short person. Also derived from the dialect verb "scurtà" = to finish
Scutti, Scutto, Scuti, Scuto
From the dialect word "scutu" = shield
Sebastiani, Sebastianelli, Sebastianutti
From the Latin first name Sebastiano
Serafini
From the first name Serafino, derived from the Hebrew "Serafim", from "seraf" = to burn
Sette
From the word "sette" = seven, used as a nickname given to the seventh child born in a family
Sguerzo
From the adjective "guercio" = blind, used as a nickname
Sigismondi, Sigismondo, Sismondi, Sismonda, Sismondo, Simondini, Simondi
From the first name Sigismondo, of German origin, consisting of "sigis" = victory and "munda" = protection
Silvestri, Silvestre, Silveri
From the first name "Silvestro", derived from the Latin "silvester" = who lives in the wood, not educated, wild
Simone, Simoni, Simeone
From the first name Simone, derived from the Hebrew name "Sim'on", from the verb "sama" = to listen
Slongo
From the nickname "longo, lungo" given to someone tall and thin
Sorella
From the word "sorella" = sister
Sorgentone
From the word "sorgente" = spring, to indicate a family that lives near a big spring. Also probably from the root "sorg" that in dialect means mouse, or from "sergente" (sergeant)
Spadaccini, Spadaccino, Spadini, Spadelli, Spadotto, Spadoni, Spadazzi, Spadaro, Spadarino
From the word "spada" = sword, to indicate someone that works or makes swords, also someone that works in the army or is able to use that
Spallone
From the word "spalla" = shoulder; spallone = who has big shoulders
Speca
From the dialect word "speca", spiga = spike, ear
Spera, Speranza, Speranzi, Speranzon, Speranzoni, Speranzin, Speranzini
From the verb "sperare" = to hope and the name "Speranza" = Hope
Spina, Spinozzi, Spinosi, Spini
From the word "spina" = thorn. It might alsobe even the abbreviation of the name Malaspina, used in the Middle Agea
Spinelli, Spinello
There may have been different origins. From the medieval name Hospinello, or the short form of Crispino, or the fish spinello, or the spinello which is a precious stone, or from the towns of Spinello (one in the Province of Foggia and another in the Province of Cosenza) or Spinelli (one in the Province of Pisa and another in the Province of Salerno).
Staffieri, Staffiere, Staffieri
From the word "staffiere" = the servant that used to help the lord to get on a horse, derived from staffa = stirrup
Stampone, Stamponi
From the Germanic word "stampjan" = to crush, to stamp. It is a surname deriving probably from a tool used to reproduce forms
Staniscia
Probably from the locality of the Peloponneso named "Stanitza". Also could be connected with the Calabria surname "Stanizzi"
Stati, Stato
From the Latin family name "Statius" or "Stazio"
Stefani
From the first name Stefano, derived from the Greek word "stèphanos" = crown
Stella, Stelli, Stellini, Stellati, Stellari, Stellano, Stellacci, Stelloni, Stellon
From the word "stella" = star, used also as a female first name
Sticca
From the dialect word "sticca" = long shovel, derived from the gothic word "stika" = stick
Stornelli, Stornello, Storniolo, Stornaiuolo, Strurniolo, Stornaiulo
From the word "storno" = sparrow, bird, used as a nickname. The "stornelli" are rhymes invented while singing.
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