Italian Surnames of Emilia-Romagna – Origins, Meanings and Heritage

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Emilia-Romagna is home to some of Italy’s most famous cities. Bologna, Parma, Ferrara, Modena — each one shaped European history. The surnames from this region carry that same weight of history.

If your family came from this part of northern Italy, you likely carry a name rooted in trade, land, or physical appearance. These surnames tell the story of merchants, farmers, and craftsmen. Many of them crossed the Atlantic in the late 1800s. This guide covers the most common Italian surnames from Emilia-Romagna. You will find their origins, meanings, and the towns and cities they came from. You will also find tips for tracing your own family roots in the region. ## The Region That Shaped Italian Culture Emilia-Romagna stretches from the Po River in the north to the Apennine mountains in the south. Bologna sits at its centre. The region has been a crossroads for trade since Roman times. The Via Emilia — a Roman road built in 187 BC — ran through the heart of the region. Towns grew up along it. Farmers, traders, and craftsmen settled there over centuries. Their surnames often reflected what they did or where they came from. The region’s wealth came from its land. The Po Valley is one of the most fertile plains in Europe. Families who worked that land carried surnames tied to farming, animals, and the soil. Many Emilia-Romagna families emigrated to America in the late 1800s. They settled in cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago. If your family has a northern Italian surname, this guide may help you trace it back to its source. For a full introduction to Italian ancestry research, read our guide on [how to trace your Italian ancestry](https://lovetovisititaly.com/how-to-trace-your-italian-ancestry-step-by-step-guide-for-americans/). ## The Most Common Surnames of Emilia-Romagna These are fifteen of the most widespread surnames from the region. Each one has a story behind it. — ### Ferrari Ferrari means “blacksmith” or “ironworker”. It comes from the Latin word *ferrarius*, meaning iron. Ferrari families were found across Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. Many Ferraris emigrated to Argentina and the United States. — — ### Rossi Rossi means “red-haired”. It comes from the Latin word for red. Rossi is one of the most common surnames in all of Italy. Many Rossi families came from Bologna and the surrounding towns. — — ### Ferretti Ferretti means “little blacksmith”. It is a smaller form of Ferrari. Ferretti families lived mainly in Emilia-Romagna and Marche. Many Ferrettis moved to New York and New Jersey in the early 1900s. — — ### Montanari Montanari means “mountain people”. It comes from the Italian word for mountain, *montagna*. Montanari families lived in the Apennine foothills of Emilia-Romagna. Many Montanaris settled in the industrial cities of New England. — — ### Casali Casali means “farm dwellers”. It comes from *casale*, an Italian word for a rural farmhouse. Casali families farmed the Po Valley for generations. Many Casalis emigrated to Brazil and Argentina. — — ### Fantini Fantini means “farm servants” or “young workers”. It comes from an old word for a servant or foot soldier. Fantini families worked the land across Emilia and Romagna. Many Fantinis settled in the industrial north of the United States. — — ### Neri Neri means “dark” or “black-haired”. It comes from the Latin *niger*, meaning dark. Neri families were common across central and northern Italy. The surname appears frequently in Bologna and Ferrara records. — — ### Tosi Tosi means “shearer” or “barber”. It comes from an old Italian word for cutting or clipping. Tosi families were common in Emilia and Venetia. Many Tosis emigrated to the United States in the early twentieth century. — — ### Rizzi Rizzi means “curly-haired”. It comes from *riccio*, the Italian word for curly. Rizzi families were widespread across northern Italy. Many Rizzis settled in New York, where the name became Ricci or Rizzi. — — ### Bellini Bellini means “beautiful” or “handsome”. It comes from *bello*, the Italian word for beautiful. Bellini families were found across Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. The composer Vincenzo Bellini made the name famous worldwide. — — ### Zanotti Zanotti means “son of Giovanni”. It is a northern Italian form of the name John. Zanotti families were common in Bologna and the Emilian plain. Many Zanottis settled in New York and Pennsylvania. — — ### Brunetti Brunetti means “dark-haired” or “brunette”. It comes from *bruno*, the Italian word for brown or dark. Brunetti families lived across northern and central Italy. The name is common in the civil records of Ferrara and Modena. — — ### Poli Poli means “people” or “citizens”. It may also come from the Greek name *Apollonia*. Poli families were common in Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. Many Polis emigrated to South America in the early 1900s. — — ### Mingozzi Mingozzi means “son of Domenico”. It is a local Emilian form of the name Dominic. Mingozzi families came mainly from Bologna and Forlì. Many Mingozzis settled in the United States between 1880 and 1920. — — ### Casanova Casanova means “new house”. It comes from *casa nuova*, Italian for a newly built home. Casanova families were common across northern Italy. The most famous bearer of the name came from Venice, but many Casanovas had roots in Emilia-Romagna. —

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How These Surnames Spread Across the World

Emilia-Romagna saw heavy emigration between 1880 and 1920. Most emigrants were sharecroppers and farm workers. They left the Po Valley for the ports of Genoa and Naples.

Many crossed to New York. Others went south to Argentina and Brazil. The Italian-Argentine community in Buenos Aires has strong Emilian roots. The Italian-American communities of New Jersey and Massachusetts have many families with Emilia-Romagna origins.

The most common destinations for Emilian emigrants were:

• New York City — especially the Lower East Side and Brooklyn
• New Jersey — Trenton, Newark, and the industrial towns of the north
• Massachusetts — Boston and the mill towns of the Merrimack Valley
• Argentina — Buenos Aires, Rosario, and the Pampas
• Brazil — São Paulo and the coffee-growing interior of São Paulo state

If your family came from this region, the Ellis Island records are a good first step. Many names were simplified at the border. Ferrari became “Ferry”. Montanari became “Montana”. Zanotti became “Zanotti” or sometimes “Johnson”.

Explore our guide to Italian heritage travel to start planning your roots trip.

Notable Families with Emilia-Romagna Surnames

Several well-known families carry surnames from this region.

The Ferrari name is now globally associated with the car company founded by Enzo Ferrari. He was born in Modena in 1898. His father was a metalworker — the surname could not have been more fitting.

The Bellini name is linked to Giovanni Bellini, the Renaissance painter, and Vincenzo Bellini, the composer of Norma and La Sonnambula.

The Zanotti family produced notable merchants and scholars in Bologna during the medieval period. Bologna’s university — the oldest in the world — was surrounded by families like the Zanottis for centuries.

The Rossi surname is so common it has been called the Italian equivalent of Smith. If you have Rossi in your family tree, you will find records across every province of Italy.

You can find surnames from neighbouring regions in our guide to Italian surnames of Tuscany and Italian surnames of Lombardy.

How to Trace Your Emilia-Romagna Family Roots

Civil registration in Italy began in 1866. Before that, the Catholic Church kept records of births, marriages, and deaths. Both sets of records survive for most towns in Emilia-Romagna.

The Antenati portal (antenati.cultura.gov.it) gives free access to millions of Italian civil records. Many records from Emilia-Romagna have been digitised. You can search by town and year from home.

For records before 1866, you will need to contact the relevant diocesan archive. The Diocese of Bologna, Ferrara, Parma, and Modena all hold extensive parish records going back to the 1500s.

The Stato Civile (civil registry) at each comune holds birth, marriage, and death records from 1866. Write to the relevant comune with your ancestor’s name and approximate birth year. Many comuni reply within a few weeks.

Here are the steps to start:

1. Find your ancestor’s comune (village or city). Use family documents, census records, or Ellis Island records.

2. Search the Antenati portal for digitised records from that comune.

3. Write to the comune if records are not online.

4. Contact the diocesan archive for pre-1866 parish records.

5. Consider hiring a local genealogist for complex searches.

Our full step-by-step guide to tracing Italian ancestry covers all of these steps in detail.

Where to Visit in Emilia-Romagna Today

This region rewards a visit. Each city has its own character and history.

Bologna is Italy’s food capital. The old university, the covered porticos, and the medieval towers make it one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The city archive (Archivio di Stato di Bologna) holds records going back centuries.

Ferrara is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Este Castle dominates the city centre. The streets inside the old walls are largely unchanged from the Renaissance. The state archive here holds extensive records.

Parma gave the world Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Parma ham. It is also home to one of Italy’s finest opera houses. If your family came from Parma, the local archive is well organised and accessible.

Modena is the birthplace of Ferrari and Pavarotti. The white marble cathedral is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The city’s archives are a good starting point for families with Modenese roots.

Our 7-day Italian ancestry itinerary covers how to plan a heritage trip across the whole country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common surnames in Emilia-Romagna?

Ferrari, Rossi, Montanari, and Ferretti are among the most common surnames in the region. Ferrari is particularly concentrated around Modena and Bologna, reflecting the region’s long history of metalworking and craft.

What does the surname Ferrari mean in Italian?

Ferrari means “blacksmith” or “ironworker”. It comes from the Latin word ferrarius, meaning a worker in iron. The name was common wherever metalworking trades were established, and Emilia-Romagna had a strong tradition of craftsmen and smiths.

How do I find civil records from Emilia-Romagna?

The Antenati portal (antenati.cultura.gov.it) holds digitised civil records from many Emilian towns. Records start from 1866. For older records, contact the local diocesan archive. Each comune also holds its own Stato Civile records.

Did many families from Emilia-Romagna emigrate to America?

Yes. Emilia-Romagna saw heavy emigration between 1880 and 1920. Most emigrants were farm workers and sharecroppers from the Po Valley. They settled in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and the industrial cities of the Midwest.

Is the surname Rossi from Emilia-Romagna?

Rossi is found across all of Italy, not just Emilia-Romagna. However, it is one of the most common surnames in the region. It means “red-haired” and comes from the Latin word for red. It is the Italian equivalent of the English surname “Russell”.

You Might Also Enjoy

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

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Plan Your Italy Trip

Ready to visit the places behind these surnames? Our Ultimate Italy Travel Guide covers everything you need to plan your trip. From the cities of Emilia-Romagna to the hills of Tuscany, you will find practical advice, itinerary ideas, and everything you need to make the most of your time in Italy.

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