Here you’ll find 25 Italian last names that start with P, organized from “Pacelli” to “Puccini”. These surnames often reflect occupations, places, or personal traits rooted in Italy’s regional histories.
Italian last names that start with P are family names beginning with the letter P and tied to Italian language and history. Many trace to occupations, locations, or nicknames and include famous examples like Pacelli and Puccini.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning & origin, Region, Notable people, and Variants.
Surname: The family name itself, which you can use to search records, indexes, and biographies.
Meaning & origin: A concise etymology showing root words and probable original meaning, helping you understand the name’s origin.
Region: Notes where the surname is most common in Italy, which helps you narrow geographic research quickly.
Notable people: One to three well-known individuals provide context and points for further biographical research.
Variants: Alternative spellings and dialectal forms show how the name changed and expand your search options.
Italian last names that start with P
| Surname | Meaning | Etymology (type/root) | Notable bearers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacelli | Little peace | Patronymic/diminutive — pax (peace) | Eugenio Pacelli — Pope Pius XII, 1876–1958 |
| Pacinotti | Son/diminutive of Pacino | Patronymic — Pacino (personal name) | Antonio Pacinotti — physicist & inventor, 1841–1912 |
| Paciotti | Little Paci; shoemaker family | Patronymic/diminutive — Paci (from ‘pace’) | Cesare Paciotti — shoe designer, b.1958 |
| Padoan | From Padua (Padova) | Toponymic — Padova (Padua) | Pier Carlo Padoan — economist & politician, b.1950 |
| Pagani | Countryman; “pagan” | Nickname/patronymic — paganus (Latin) | Mauro Pagani — musician, b.1946 |
| Paggi | Page, attendant | Occupational — paggio (page) | Giovanni Battista Paggi — painter, 1554–1627 |
| Panini | Bakers or bread sellers | Occupational — pane (bread) | Giovanni Paolo Panini — painter, 1691–1765 |
| Panetta | Little bread; baker’s family | Occupational/diminutive — panetta (small bread) | Leon Panetta — politician, b.1938 |
| Pannella | Cloth worker or dealer | Occupational — panno (cloth) | Marco Pannella — politician & activist, 1930–2016 |
| Parini | Regional/personal-name origin | Toponymic/patronymic — Parino (place/name) | Giuseppe Parini — poet, 1729–1799 |
| Parisi | From Paris (toponymic) | Toponymic — Parigi (Paris) | Giovanni Parisi — boxer, 1967–2009 |
| Pasolini | From Pasquale (Easter name) | Patronymic — Pasquale (given name) | Pier Paolo Pasolini — writer & director, 1922–1975 |
| Pasquini | Descendant of Pasqua/Pasquale | Patronymic — Pasquale (given name) | Bernardo Pasquini — composer, 1637–1710 |
| Pellegrini | Pilgrim, descendant of pilgrims | Nickname/toponymic — pellegrino (pilgrim) | Federica Pellegrini — swimmer, b.1988 |
| Peruzzi | Descendants of Piero/Pero | Patronymic — Piero (Peter) | Angelo Peruzzi — football goalkeeper, b.1970 |
| Pessina | Local or diminutive family name | Toponymic/patronymic — Pessina (local name) | Matteo Pessina — footballer, b.1997 |
| Petrarca | Son of Pietro (Peter) | Patronymic — Petrus (Peter) | Francesco Petrarca — poet, 1304–1374 |
| Pisano | From Pisa | Toponymic — Pisa | Niccolò Pisano — sculptor, c.1220–c.1284 |
| Poggiali | From “poggio”, a small hill | Toponymic — poggio (hill) | Marco Poggiali — motorcycle racer, b.1978 |
| Piacentini | From Piacenza | Toponymic — Piacenza | Marcello Piacentini — architect, 1881–1960 |
| Pirandello | Sicilian family name | Patronymic/nickname — Sicilian roots | Luigi Pirandello — playwright, 1867–1936 |
| Prandelli | From personal name Prando | Patronymic — Prando (personal name) | Cesare Prandelli — football coach, b.1957 |
| Proietti | From given name Proietto | Patronymic — Proietto (personal name) | Gigi Proietti — actor, 1940–2020 |
| Puccini | Diminutive of Puccio, pet name | Patronymic/diminutive — Puccio (pet name) | Giacomo Puccini — composer, 1858–1924 |
| Pavarotti | Diminutive/nickname from dialectal root | Nickname — dialectal ‘Pavaro’ root | Luciano Pavarotti — tenor, 1935–2007 |
Descriptions
Pacelli
Origin in Lazio and Campania; noble clerical family; variants Pacella, Pacello; important in church history and papal diplomacy.
Pacinotti
Tuscan origins (Pisa); linked to electrical engineering; variants Pacinotto; noted in 19th-century science.
Paciotti
Common in Marche and central Italy; associated with footwear artisans; variants Paciotta, Paciotto; modern fashion recognition.
Padoan
Frequent in Veneto and Friuli; toponymic for migrants from Padua; variants Padovano, Padovani.
Pagani
Widespread pan-Italian; common in Lombardy and Campania; variants Pagano, De Pagani; also a place name in Campania.
Paggi
Attested in Liguria and Tuscany; variants Paggio; historically linked to court service and the arts.
Panini
Strongly attested in Lazio (Rome); variants Panino; family noted among 17th–18th century artists.
Panetta
Found in Sicily, Abruzzo, Campania; variants Panetto, Panetti; present among Italian diaspora.
Pannella
Concentrated in Lazio and Campania; variants Pannelli; known for modern political activism.
Parini
Typical of Lombardy; literary family; variants Parino, Parin; celebrated 18th-century poet from Bosisio.
Parisi
Common in Campania and southern Italy; variants De Parisi, Parisio; may indicate medieval foreign links or pilgrims.
Pasolini
Found in Emilia‑Romagna and Friuli; variants Pasolin; strong literary and cinematic associations.
Pasquini
Widespread in central Italy (Tuscany, Lazio); variants Pasqua, Pasquino; common patronymic from Easter name.
Pellegrini
Pan‑Italian but frequent in Veneto and Tuscany; variants Pellegrino, Pellegrin; historically tied to pilgrimage.
Peruzzi
Common in Tuscany and Lazio; variants Peruzzi, Peruzzo; linked to medieval mercantile families.
Pessina
Concentrated in Lombardy; variants Pessini; modern sporting visibility.
Petrarca
Tuscan origins (Arezzo area); variants Petrarch; iconic medieval humanist surname.
Pisano
Associated with Tuscany and Emilia‑Romagna; variants Pisani; indicates origin from Pisa.
Poggiali
Found in Tuscany and Emilia‑Romagna; variants Poggiale, Poggi; rural/hilltop origin.
Piacentini
Emilia‑Romagna origin; variants Piacenti, Piacenza; notable in 20th‑century architecture.
Pirandello
Strongly Sicilian (Agrigento); variants Pirandello; Nobel laureate, major literary figure.
Prandelli
Common in Lombardy and Emilia; variants Prandi; associated with football management.
Proietti
Concentrated in Lazio (Rome); variants Proietto, Proietti; theatrical and performance associations.
Puccini
Typical of Tuscany (Lucca); variants Puccio, Puccinelli; famous musical dynasty.
Pavarotti
Origin in Emilia‑Romagna (Modena); variants Pavarotto, Pavarotti; internationally known opera family.