Sicilian Surnames

    Unlike many parts of Europe where almost all surnames come from either the occupation of the person or the place where he or she lived, in Sicily surnames may come from the personal traits or nicknames of people.  Here are just a few examples:

• Bevilacqua = water drinker
• Mangiapane = bread eater
• Bianco = grey-haired
• Bellomo = handsome man
• Rizzo = curly-haired

I'll be exploring this topic for a few days because I find that most people are interested in the origin of their names, and because Sicily is unique in some of its naming customs and traditions.  Much of the information I will be sharing comes from an article by Luigi Mendola that appeared in the Best of Sicily magazine.  This is a great source for learning more about the customs and history of the island.