This list includes 33 Italian last names that start with U, from “Ubaldi” to “Utzeri”. These surnames often come from given names, occupations, nicknames, or local places across Italy. You can use the list for genealogy, regional research, or finding authentic names for stories.
Italian last names that start with U are family names found in Italy that begin with the letter U. Some, like “Ubaldi”, trace to medieval personal names and show strong regional clusters in Tuscany and Umbria.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning/Origin, Region, and Notable people.
Surname: The family name as spelled; use it to search records, match variants, and identify ancestral lines.
Meaning/Origin: Short etymology explaining where the name comes from and what it originally meant for families.
Region: Typical geographic distribution in Italy and regional concentrations to help you narrow genealogical searches.
Notable people: Lists individuals who bear the surname with brief roles and dates to help contextualize its history.
Italian last names that start with U
| Surname | Meaning | Region | Notable people | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uberti | Descendants of Uberto, Germanic personal name | Tuscany, Nationwide | Farinata degli Uberti — Florentine leader — 1212–1264 | Medieval Florentine noble family name; famous in Dante and Florentine history. Now uncommon but still attested across Italy, especially Tuscany. |
| Ubertini | Diminutive of Uberto, Germanic personal name | Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna | Variant of Uberti found in central Italy. Historically tied to small noble lineages and rural communities. | |
| Ubertazzi | Patronymic of Uberto, augmentative form | Lombardy, Nationwide | Northern Italian surname variant of Ubert- families. Relatively rare, found in historical records and modern directories. | |
| Ubaldi | From Ubaldo, Germanic personal name meaning bold or rule | Marche, Lazio | Traditional surname across central Italy. Moderately rare but present in legal and ecclesiastical records. | |
| Ubaldini | Patronymic of Ubaldus, medieval family name | Tuscany, Lazio | Historic family name with medieval roots. Appears in Tuscan and Roman archives and occasional modern bearers. | |
| Uboldi | Variant of Ubaldo, Germanic origin | Lombardy | Northern surname concentrated in Lombardy. Often spelled Uboldi in Milanese records and phone books. | |
| Uccello | Little bird or bird; from Latin avicella | Tuscany, Nationwide | Paolo Uccello — Painter — 1397–1475 | Famous as the name of Renaissance painter Paolo Uccello. Means bird; found across Italy but stronger records in Tuscany. |
| Uccelli | Birds, plural of uccello | Nationwide | Plural form of Uccello; found in many regions. Moderate frequency in phone directories and genealogical indexes. | |
| Uccellini | Diminutive plural of uccello, little birds | Veneto, Nationwide | Regional northern form, often Venetian. Less common but attested in civil records and parish registers. | |
| Ucciero | Likely from local nickname or dialectal form of uccello | Campania | Southern surname, especially around Naples. Typical of Campanian dialectal surname formation. | |
| Uccellato | Derived from uccello, possibly nickname | Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Northeast Italian surname. Often occupational or nickname origin and present in small communities. | |
| Uggeri | Possibly from personal name Uggero or Germanic roots | Lombardy, Piedmont | Northern Italian surname recorded in Lombard archives. Relatively uncommon but historically attested. | |
| Ughi | From Ugo, patronymic form; short and distinctive | Lombardy, Nationwide | Uto Ughi — Violinist — 1944– | Short northern surname; borne by famous violinist Uto Ughi. Moderately rare nationally but recognizable. |
| Ugolini | Diminutive/patronymic of Ugolino or Ugo | Tuscany, Marche | Common in central Italy, especially Tuscany and surrounding areas. Often seen in parish and civil records. | |
| Ugoletto | Diminutive of Ugo, small Ugo | Veneto | Venetian and northeastern surname. Classic diminutive patronymic structure, locally concentrated and uncommon nationally. | |
| Ulivieri | From ulivo, olive tree; occupational or locative | Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna | Name linked to olive cultivation or places with olives. Found in central and northern Italy, moderate rarity. | |
| Ulivi | Plural of ulivo, olive trees | Tuscany, Lazio | Surname evoking olive groves. Present in rural areas and towns; moderately common in central Italy. | |
| Ulivo | Olive tree | Marche, Liguria | Direct botanical surname. Less common than Ulivi but attested in coastal and hill communities. | |
| Ulisse | From the mythic name Ulysses, used as surname | Campania, Nationwide | Surname derived from the given name Ulisse. Attested in southern Italy and modern records as a family name. | |
| Umbertini | Diminutive/patronymic of Umberto | Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany | Local patronymic found in central northern Italy. Reflects use of Umberto as ancestral personal name. | |
| Umbri | From Umbria region or Umbrian people | Umbria, Nationwide | Toponymic or ethnonymic surname suggesting Umbrian origins. Present though not widespread. | |
| Umili | From Latin humilis meaning humble, nickname-derived | Lazio, Marche | Historic surname with medieval roots; found in central Italian church and tax records. | |
| Urbani | From urbano, urban or from the name Urbano | Nationwide | Carlo Urbani — Physician — 1956–2003; Giovanni Urbani — Cardinal — 1900–1969 | Widespread surname meaning urban or from Urbano. Notable bearers include doctor Carlo Urbani and Cardinal Giovanni Urbani. Common across Italy. |
| Urbano | From the given name Urbano or urbanus meaning city dweller | Nationwide | Variant of Urbani, also a surname in its own right. Found nationwide with moderate frequency. | |
| Urbinati | From Urbino or inhabitants of Urbino area | Marche | Toponymic surname indicating ties to Urbino region. Less common but clearly regional. | |
| Urbini | Variant of Urbino/Urbini, toponymic | Marche, Tuscany | Regional form linked to Urbino and surrounding areas. Present in historical registers. | |
| Urso | From Latin ursus meaning bear or nickname Ursus | Sicily, Campania | Francesco Urso — Footballer — 1994– | Common southern surname meaning bear. Frequencies higher in Sicily and Campania; several modern bearers in sports and arts. |
| Urru | Sardinian surname, likely pre-Latin or Sardinian origin | Sardinia | Very common Sardinian surname with local roots. Frequent in island records and phone books. | |
| Usai | Sardinian surname, possibly of ancient or pre-Latin origin | Sardinia | Among the most common surnames in Sardinia. Strong regional concentration and numerous family branches. | |
| Uras | Sardinian surname, also a local place name used as family name | Sardinia | Surname and toponym in Sardinia. Present in many island parish registers and modern directories. | |
| Usseglio | Piedmontese surname from a place name or family estate | Piedmont | Typical Piedmont surname derived from a locality. Found in provincial records around Turin. | |
| Uslenghi | Lombardy-Piedmont surname of likely Jewish-Italian origin | Lombardy, Piedmont | Recognized northern surname born in Jewish-Italian communities. Uncommon but attested in civil and cultural histories. | |
| Utzeri | Sardinian surname of local origin | Sardinia | Regional Sardinian name. Appears in island civil records and genealogies, moderately common locally. |