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Surnames and Their Origins – June 2023

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In this issue, we continue with Italian surnames beginning with the letter S.

SASSANO – This surname derives from the name of the town of Sassano, province of Salerno. It also originates from the Latin first names “Sassius” and “sassano,” meaning property of Sassius. It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in all of Italy’s 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Basilicata and least in Val d’Aosta. The only region not having that surname registered with the vital statistics bureau is Le Marche.

SASSONE – This surname derives from the name of a place that includes the word “sasso,” meaning stone or rock. It possibly also originated from the first name Sasso or Sassone, of German origin, to indicate someone from Saxony, a population that came to Italy with the Lombards. It is most prevalent in Piemonte probably because of its proximity to Germany. It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in 19 of Italy’s 20 regions. Le Marche is the only region that currently has no record of this surname registered with vital statistics. Variations: SASSI, SASSO, SASSOLI, SASSOLA, SASSETTI.

SAVERIO – This surname derives from the first name Saverio, derived from the Spanish family name “Xavier.” It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in only 13 of Italy’s 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Lombardia. Variation: SAVERIA.

SABINO – This surname derives from the first name Savino or Sabino, originating from the name of a pre-Roman population, the Sabines. It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in 18 of Italy’s 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Campania. It is not present in Val d’Aosta and Molise. Variations: SAVINI, SAVINO, SAVINIO, SAVINA, SABINI, SAVINELLI.

SBARAGLIA – This surname derives from the verb “sbaragliare,” meaning to rout or to beat. It was probably used as a nickname for a courageous person. It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in only 10 of Italy’s 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Campania and least in Sicily. Variation: SBARAGLIO.

SBORGIA – This surname derives from the noble surname “Borgia,” or from the Latin word “burgus,” meaning castle or fortress. It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in only eight of Italy’s 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Abruzzo and least in Sicily.

SCAFA – This surname derives from the name of the town of Scafa, province of Pescara, derived from the Latin word “scapha,” meaning valley. It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in only 13 of Italy’s 20 regions, and sparsely at that. The region with the most families with this surname is found in Campania. Variations: SCAFATI, SCAFATO, SCAFATA.

SCANNELLA – This surname derives from the dialect word “scanna,” meaning non arable land. It also derives from the Latin word “scamnum,” meaning land between two valleys. The name of the town of Scanno, province of L’Aquila originates from that. The surname would also be given to those originally from that town. It is most prevalent in Sicily and least in Emilia-Romagna. Variations: SCANNO, SCANNELLO.

SCARANO – This surname derives from the old Italian “Scarano,” meaning bandit, used as a nickname. It is a surname that is registered with the bureaus of vital statistics in all of Italy’s 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Campania and least in Val d’Aosta. Variation: SCARANI.

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