Surnames and Their Origins – May 2023

In this issue, we look at Italian surnames that begin with the letter S.

SANTANGELO – This surname derives from the name of a place dedicated to the Archangel Michael, or a fusion of the two names Santo and Angelo. It is a surname present in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Sicily and least in Val d’Aosta. SANTUCCI – This surname derives from the fi rst name Santo. Possibly connected to someone acting as a saint, or who has connection with religious things such as a sacristan, it is a surname present in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Lazio and least in Basilicata. Variations: SANTE, SANTO, SANTI, SANTARELLI, SANTILLI, SANTELLA, SANTINI, SANTONE.

SANTARIGA – This surname consists of two words Santa, meaning saint, and Riga, meaning line. However, it is unknown if Riga derives from a female fi rst name. The surname is not very widespread. It is only present
in fi ve regions: Lazio, Abruzzo, Marche, Campania and Calabria.

SANTAVENERE – This surname is the combination of two words; Venere, meaning Venus and santa, meaning saint. Its origins probably are from the old Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, in the Abruzzo region, or from the cult of Saint Venerio, transformed into a female name. It is very sparsely present and only found in eight regions.

SANTOIANNI – This surname also consists of two words, santo, meaning saint and Ianni, which derives from Giovanni. It is very sparsely present and only present in 13 regions.

SANTORI – This surname derives from the medieval fi rst name Santoro, taken from the Latin word Sanctus meaning saint. The genitive plural form is “Sanctorum,” used also to indicate the All Saints feast. Possibly connected to someone acting as a saint, or who has a connection with religious things such as a sacristan. It is present in 17 regions. The exceptions are Trentino-Alto Adige, Molise and Basilicata. Variations: SANTORIO, SANTORELLI, SANTORIELLI, SANTORINI, SANTORUM.

SARACINO – This surname derives from the word “saracino,” meaning Saracen, used in the Middle Ages to indicate the populace of Arabs and Muslims. It is sometimes used as a nickname for a destructive person. It is a surname present in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Puglia and least found in Val d’Aosta. Variations: SARACENI, SARACINI, SARRACINO, SARACENO, SARAINO, SERACINI, SARCINI, SARCÌ, SARCINELLI.

SASSANO – This surname is from the name of the town of Sassano in the Campania province of Salerno. It also derived from
the Latin fi rst name “Sassius” or “sassano,” meaning property of Sassius. It is a surname present in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Basilicata and least found in Val d’Aosta.

SASSO – This surname derives from the name of a place that includes the word “sasso,” meaning stone, rock. It possibly also derives from the fi rst name Sasso or Sassone, of German origin, to indicate someone from Saxony, a population that lived in Italy with the Lombards. It is a surname present in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Campania and least found in Molise. Variations: SASSI, SASSONE, SASSOLI, SASSOLA, SASSETTI.

SAVERIO – This surname derives from the fi rst name Saverio, derived from the Spanish family name “Xavier.” It is present in only 13 regions in sparse numbers. Variation: SAVERIA.