Italian Surnames of Basilicata – Origins, Meanings and Heritage

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Basilicata sits in the heart of southern Italy. Most people have never heard of it. Yet millions of Italian-Americans trace their roots here. If your surname is Grieco, Pace, Lauria, or Loperfido, your family may have come from this region. This guide covers the most common Italian surnames from Basilicata, their meanings, and where they came from. It also shows you how to search for your own family records.

Where Did Basilicata’s Surnames Come From?

Basilicata is one of Italy’s smallest and least-known regions. It has two provinces: Potenza and Matera. Over thousands of years, many different peoples settled here. Each left their mark on local surnames.

The ancient Greeks were the first to have a lasting influence. They built towns across southern Italy, an area they called Magna Graecia. Surnames like Grieco and Greco come directly from this era.

The Romans came next. They introduced Latin names and words that survive today in surnames like Pace (peace) and Palumbo (dove). The Byzantines followed and kept the Greek tradition alive for centuries.

The Normans arrived in the eleventh century. They built castles and brought Germanic names. Later, the Spanish ruled the south for over two hundred years. Each wave added new surnames to the mix.

Arabic influence was less strong here than in Sicily. But the coastal towns of Basilicata still have some Arabic-origin surnames. Cifarelli is one example.

Italian Surnames from Basilicata: Origins and Meanings

Below are fifteen of the most common surnames from Basilicata. Each one has a story behind it. Many will be familiar to Italian-American families across the United States. If your family came from the Potenza or Matera provinces, you may recognise your own name here.

Grieco

Grieco means “Greek”. It comes from the Latin word Graecus for a Greek person.
Grieco families lived mainly in Basilicata, Calabria, and Campania. Many Griecos moved to New York and New Jersey in the early 1900s.

Pace

Pace means “peace”. It comes from the Latin word pax.
Pace families lived across southern Italy, including Basilicata. Many Pace families settled in Brooklyn, New York, and New Jersey.

Loperfido

Loperfido means “treacherous wolf”. It joins lupo (wolf) and perfido (treacherous).
Loperfido is found almost entirely in Basilicata and the border areas of Puglia. Many Loperfido families emigrated to the United States after 1880.

Pepe

Pepe means “pepper”. It was a nickname for someone who sold spices or had a fiery character.
Pepe families lived across southern Italy, including Basilicata. Many Pepes settled in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Lauria

Lauria comes from the town of Lauria in Potenza province. It means “from Lauria”.
The name spread across Basilicata and into neighbouring regions. Many Lauria families moved to the United States in the early 1900s.

Falcone

Falcone means “falcon”. It was a nickname for someone swift or sharp-eyed.
Falcone families lived mainly in southern Italy. Many Falcones settled in New York and New Jersey. The name was also common in noble families who used the falcon as a heraldic symbol.

Ferrante

Ferrante means “iron-coloured” or “bearing iron”. It comes from the Latin word ferrum for iron.
Ferrante families lived across southern Italy, including Basilicata. Many Ferrante families moved to New York and Pennsylvania.

Palumbo

Palumbo means “dove” or “wood pigeon”. It comes from the Latin word palumbus.
Palumbo families were widespread across southern Italy and Basilicata. Many Palumbo families settled in the United States and Argentina after 1880.

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Cifarelli

Cifarelli has uncertain origins. It may come from an Arabic word for a type of craftsman or trader.
Cifarelli is a surname found mainly in Basilicata. It is rare elsewhere in Italy. Many Cifarelli families emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s.

Stigliano

Stigliano comes from the town of Stigliano in Matera province. It means “from Stigliano”.
The name is found mainly in Basilicata. Some Stigliano families moved to the United States in the early 1900s.

Paolicelli

Paolicelli means “little Paul”. It comes from Paolo (Paul) with a southern Italian ending.
Paolicelli families lived mainly in Basilicata. Several Paolicelli families settled in New York in the early 1900s.

Calvello

Calvello comes from the town of Calvello in Potenza province. It means “from Calvello”.
The name is found mainly in Basilicata. Some Calvello families moved to the United States in the 1900s.

Masi

Masi is a short form of Tommaso (Thomas). It comes from an Aramaic word meaning “twin”.
Masi families lived mainly in southern Italy, including Basilicata. Many Masis settled in the United States and South America.

Bisceglia

Bisceglia comes from the town of Bisceglie on the Adriatic coast. It means “from Bisceglie”.
Bisceglia families lived in Basilicata and the border areas of Puglia. Many Bisceglias emigrated to the United States after 1880.

Carlucci

Carlucci means “little Charles”. It comes from Carlo (Charles) with a southern Italian ending.
Carlucci families lived mainly in southern Italy, including Basilicata. Many Carlucci families settled in New York and Pennsylvania.

Basilicata’s Great Emigration

Between 1880 and 1924, Basilicata had one of the highest emigration rates in all of Italy. Life here was hard. The land was dry and poor. Landowners took most of what farmers grew. Many people had nothing.

Carlo Levi wrote about this in his famous book Christ Stopped at Eboli. He described the remote villages of Basilicata as forgotten by Italy and by God. His words gave the world a glimpse of what life was like here.

Most Basilicatan emigrants went to the United States. They settled in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Newark, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia had large Basilicatan communities. Others went to Argentina and Brazil.

If your Italian-American family came from the deep south of Italy, there is a good chance your roots lie in Basilicata. Many of the surnames listed above are still found today in the same towns where they first appeared centuries ago.

To learn more about Italian surnames from the neighbouring regions, read our guides to Italian surnames from Calabria, Italian surnames from Puglia, and Italian surnames from Campania.

How to Trace Your Basilicatan Roots

Tracing your Italian ancestry is easier than you might think. Italy has good records going back to the 1800s and earlier. Here is how to start.

Start with your family. Talk to older relatives. Find out the name of the town or village your ancestors came from. Even a province name helps. Basilicata has only two provinces: Potenza and Matera.

Search the Antenati portal. The Italian National Archives has digitised millions of records. You can search births, marriages, and deaths from the early 1800s at antenati.cultura.gov.it. It is free to use.

Check Ellis Island records. If your family came to the United States before 1924, they passed through Ellis Island. You can search the Ellis Island passenger records online. Ship manifests often list the home town in Italy.

Contact the comune. Every town in Italy keeps civil records. The Ufficio Anagrafe (registry office) can provide copies of birth and marriage certificates. Write to them directly in Italian.

For a full step-by-step guide, read our complete guide to tracing your Italian ancestry. It covers all the major record sources and how to use them.

Where to Visit in Basilicata Today

Basilicata is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. It has very few tourists. That makes it special.

Matera is the most famous town in Basilicata. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. People lived in its cave dwellings, the Sassi, for thousands of years. Today you can walk through them and stay in cave hotels. Matera was European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Potenza is the regional capital. It sits on a hilltop at 819 metres. It is one of the highest provincial capitals in Italy. The old town has narrow medieval streets and good local restaurants.

Venosa is worth visiting for its history. The Roman poet Horace was born here in 65 BC. The town has a beautiful castle, an abbey, and Roman ruins. It feels like time has stopped.

Maratea is Basilicata’s only coastal town. It sits on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Christ the Redeemer statue above the town is one of the largest in Europe. The sea here is crystal clear.

If your family came from Basilicata, a heritage trip here will be unforgettable. Our guide to planning an Italian heritage trip will help you prepare. We also have a 7-day Italian ancestry itinerary you can adapt to your own region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Italian surnames from Basilicata?

Some of the most common surnames from Basilicata include Grieco, Pace, Pepe, Loperfido, Lauria, Falcone, Ferrante, and Palumbo. Names like Cifarelli and Paolicelli are found almost exclusively in Basilicata. Many of these surnames are also common in Italian-American communities in the United States.

What does the surname Grieco mean?

Grieco means “Greek”. It comes from the Latin word Graecus. It was given to people of Greek origin or descent. Basilicata and Calabria both had strong Greek communities in ancient times, during the period known as Magna Graecia.

Did many people emigrate from Basilicata to the United States?

Yes. Basilicata had one of the highest emigration rates in Italy. Between 1880 and 1924, hundreds of thousands of people left the region. Most went to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Cities like Newark, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia had large Basilicatan communities. Some families also emigrated to Argentina and Brazil.

How do I find out if my family came from Basilicata?

Start by talking to older family members. Ask for the name of the town or village in Italy. Then search the free Antenati portal for Italian civil records. Ellis Island passenger records often list the home town. You can also contact the comune (town hall) directly for birth and marriage certificates.

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• Italian Surnames of Puglia – Origins, Meanings and Heritage
• How to Trace Your Italian Ancestry – Step-by-Step Guide for Americans

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