Italian last names, or “cognomi,” are fascinating reflections of cultural heritage and family history. Last names that start with the letter “M” are particularly diverse, spanning ancient origins and rich meanings. These names not only signify familial ties but also often indicate geographic origins or professions. Exploring these names provides a unique insight into the socio-cultural fabric of Italy, revealing stories and traditions embedded within each surname. This article aims to enrich your understanding by presenting 100 Italian last names starting with ‘M’, along with their meanings, thus weaving a tapestry of Italian lineage.
100 Italian Last Names Starting with M
The surnames beginning with ‘M’ encompass a wide array of stories and origins. From occupational surnames to those derived from personal characteristics or geographical locations, each name carries a snippet of history and culture. Below, we explore a carefully curated list of 100 Italian last names starting with ‘M’. Each entry in our list not only presents the surname but also delves into the essence of its meaning, offering a glimpse into the past lives of its bearers.
| Last Name | Meaning of the Name |
|---|---|
| Moretti | Derived from “moretto,” referring to dark hair or a dark complexion |
| Marino | From “marinus,” meaning “of the sea” |
| Martini | Related to the god Mars, suggests a warrior or warlike attitude |
| Mazza | Means “club” or “mace,” possibly an occupational name for a soldier or armorer |
| Marchetti | Diminutive of Marco, referring to Mars, the god of war |
| Messina | Geographic origin name from the city of Messina in Sicily |
| Monti | Means “mountains,” could refer to someone from a mountainous area |
| Milano | Geographic name for someone from Milan |
| Morandi | Possibly from “morando,” meaning staying or dwelling |
| Mancini | Left-handed or awkward |
| Mattei | Derived from the given name Matteo, meaning “gift of God” |
| Montanari | Means “mountaineer” or “mountain dweller” |
| Manfredi | Combination of “man” (strength) and “fred” (peace), meaning “strength and peace” |
| Morelli | Diminutive of Moreno, indicating dark hair or complexion |
| Marinelli | Diminutive form of Marino, related to maritime |
| Mazzini | Little mace or club, potentially an occupational name |
| Mantovani | From Mantova, a city in Lombardy |
| Moscati | Derived from “moscato,” meaning musky or someone who deals with musk |
| Molinari | Means “miller,” an occupational name |
| Mastroianni | Means “master John,” indicating a skilled person or a craftsman |
| Maggiore | Means “major” or “greater” |
| Malatesta | From “mala testa,” meaning “bad head” or stubborn |
| Monaco | Means “monk” or someone monastic or solitary |
| Migliori | Means “the best” or “superior” |
| Mantegna | Possibly geographic, from Mantua |
| Mancuso | Derived from “manco,” meaning left-handed |
| Morabito | Means “hermit” or referring to a religious recluse |
| Mariani | Derived from Mario, meaning “related to Mars” |
| Mazzei | Variant of Mazza, referring to a club or mace |
| Merlo | Means “blackbird,” possibly a nickname for a small, dark person |
| Mussolini | Possibly from “musso,” meaning “snout,” nickname for someone with a prominent nose |
| Malerba | Means “bad grass,” a nickname for a troublesome person |
| Martelli | Means “hammers,” an occupational name for a smith |
| Meloni | Means “melons,” possibly a grower or seller of melons |
| Margheriti | From “margherita,” meaning daisy |
| Medici | Means “doctors,” an occupational name |
| Marasco | Diminutive of Amarasco, perhaps referring to a type of plant |
| Montalbano | From a place meaning “white mountain” |
| Manzoni | Diminutive of Manzo, meaning “bull,” indicating strength |
| Migliaccio | From “migliacciu,” a type of cake, possibly a baker |
| Marchesi | Means “marquis,” indicating nobility |
| Minniti | Possibly from “minniti,” meaning promised or vowed |
| Magrini | Possibly from “magro,” meaning thin or lean |
| Morello | Means “blackberry,” could also refer to complexion |
| Mastrangelo | Angelic master or master craftsman |
| Mazzola | Little mace or hammer, an occupational surname |
| Mercuri | Related to Mercury, the Roman god |
| Muratori | Means “mason” or “bricklayer,” an occupational name |
| Mondini | Possibly diminutive of “world” or “mundane” |
| Morricone | Possibly derived from “moro,” meaning Moor or dark-skinned |
| Marini | Related to Marino, means “of the sea” |
| Mastro | Means “master,” an occupational title |
| Marotta | Possibly derived from a place name or a patronymic form of Mario |
| Maresca | Refers to someone from the marsh |
| Malaparte | Possibly from “mala parte,” meaning bad part |
| Monaldi | Possibly a diminutive or variant form related to a personal name |
| Montorsi | Possibly geographic, from a place named Montorsi |
| Mattioli | Diminutive form of Matteo |
| Meneghini | From Meneghin, a diminutive of Domenico |
| Mozzanica | Possibly from a place name or from “mozzo,” meaning cut-off or docked |
| Monzani | Possibly from a place name or a personal characteristic |
| Morandi | Diminutive form related to mora, or a surname linked to a place |
| Marziani | Possibly relating to Mars or Martian, figuratively meaning warlike |
| Montanaro | Similar to Montanari, meaning mountain dweller |
| Mottola | From a place name possibly referring to a motte or mound |
| Merlino | Related to Merlin, perhaps a nickname for someone wise or mystical |
| Morganti | Possibly derived from “morning,” perhaps a nickname for an early riser |
| Marcelli | Derived from the given name Marcello |
| Masini | Possibly a variant of Mascini or from masina, meaning machine |
| Mantelli | Possibly from mantello, meaning cloak or mantle |
| Mandelli | Diminutive or variant form of a name derived from a personal name |
| Mezzadri | Means “sharecropper,” an occupational name |
| Minelli | Diminutive form of a name like Domenico or other personal names |
| Montefiore | Means “mountain of flowers,” possibly a locational name |
| Melis | Possibly derived from meli, meaning apples, a grower or seller of apples |
| Mondello | From a place name possibly related to the world or spherical |
| Malanotti | Possibly from mala (bad) and notti (nights), meaning troubled nights |
| Marelli | Possibly a variant of Marinelli, related to maritime |
| Melchiorri | Derived from the given name Melchior |
| Murgia | From a geographic region in Italy, referring to a dweller from there |
| Mussari | Possibly derived from mussare, meaning to mumble or mutter |
| Malaspina | From “mala spina,” meaning bad thorn, possibly a troublesome character |
| Malfatti | Means “poorly made,” possibly a humorous nickname |
| Masciarelli | Possibly a variant of Masciarello, related to masks or masquerade |
| Munari | Possibly derived from a place name or occupational name |
| Magliano | From a place name meaning surrounded by groves |
| Montesi | Derived from monte, meaning mountain, possibly a topographic name |
| Morini | Diminutive form of Moro, referring to a dark-skinned person |
| Melandri | Possibly from melandro, a type of plant |
| Martinelli | Diminutive form of Martini, linked to the god Mars |
Conclusion
Exploring Italian surnames beginning with ‘M’ unveils a mosaic of historical and cultural significances, illuminating the pathways of ancient Italian families. These last names serve as a gateway to understanding the evolution of communities, professions, and geographical connections within Italy. They reflect the diverse characteristics and values embedded within the Italian identity. By examining these names, we foster a deeper appreciation for the intricate history and rich cultural tapestry that shape today’s Italian society, offering insights not only into genealogy but also into the enduring legacy of Italian heritage.
