Surnames and Their Origins

Italian-American Herald

COSENZA — This surname derives from the name of the city of Cosenza in the Calabria region. From Calabria it spread to 18 other regions, the only one without this surname presence being Val D’Aosta. As one might suspect it is most common in Calabria. The region where it is found the least is Molise.

COSTANTINO — This surname derives from the first name Costante. It is a very prevalent surname present in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Sicily and least common in the Aosta Valley. Variations: CONSTANTINI, COSTANZA, COSTANTANAPOLI.

CRESCENZO — This surname derives from the first name Crescenzo, deriving from the Latin verb crescere, meaning to grow up. It is not among the most common of surnames, but does have a presence in 14 of Italy’s regions. It has its largest presence in Campania, and is least common on Italy’s two large island regions, Sicily and Sardinia. Variations: CRESCENTINO, CRESCENZA.

CRISANTI — This surname derives from the first name Grisanto or Crisanto, deriving from the Greek word chrysanthos, meaning gold flower. Like Crescenzo, the name is sparse, but present nonetheless in 14 regions. Campania is home to most families with that surname. Trentino Alto-Adige and Marche are at the bottom. Variations: CRISANTE, CRISANTO.

CRISCI — This surname is another one that derives from the first name Crescenzo, as indicated previously comes from the Latin verb crescere, meaning to grow up. It is present in 19 Italian regions. It is most prevalent in Campania and least found in Trentino Alto-Adige. It is not present in the Aosta Valley. Variations: CRISCIO.

CRISTOFARO — This surname derives from the first name Cristoforo, deriving from the Latin Christoforus, meaning who carries Christ. It is a surname present in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Calabria and least found in the vital statistics in Umbria. Variations: CRISTOFANI, CRISTOFERI, CRISTOFOLI, CRISTOFORI.

CROCETTI — Its origin is believed to have been as a first name given to the people belonging to the Christian religion. As a surname today it appears in 17 regions with Tuscany having the most families with that surname and the regions of The Aosta Valley and Molise at the bottom of the list. It is not present in Sicily, Sardinia, and Basilicata. Diehard Dean Martin fans probably know that Dino’s real name was Dino Paul Crocetti. Variations: CROCE CROCI, CROCIANI.

CROGNALE — This is a surname from the Latin word corneolus, which is the name of cornel plant. There were few ancestors of present-day families with this surname who were involved with the raising or selling cornel plant derivatives because the surname appears only sparsely. It appears in only eight regions; in small numbers at that. Variations: CROGNALI.

CROGNALETO — This surname is originally of Crognaleto, a town in the Abruzzi province of Teramo. Neither the ancestors of present-day Crognaleto families or present-day individuals with this surname have moved on into other areas outside of Teramo province because this surname is currently present only in an around the town of Crognaleto.

CURRADI — This surname derives from the first name Corrado, which in some Italian dialects is pronounced Currado.  It is not a common Italian surname, but is present in six regions starting in Lazio and going north as far as Lombardia. Variations: CURRADO.