This list includes 35 Italian last names that start with F, from “Fabbri” to “Fusco”. Many of these surnames reflect occupations, physical traits, or place names and appear frequently in regional records and family trees.
Italian last names that start with F are family names of Italian origin beginning with the letter F. They often derive from occupations, descriptive nicknames, or place names, reflecting local history and dialects.
Below you’ll find the table with the columns Surname, Meaning / Origin, and Notable people.
Surname: The surname itself as written, so you can scan spellings and locate exact family names quickly.
Meaning / Origin: Concise etymology or literal meaning to help you understand whether the name comes from an occupation, place, or nickname.
Region / Variants: Common regional distribution and known spelling variants, so you can narrow your searches by province or dialect form.
Notable people: Short list of one to three notable individuals, with role and dates, so you can follow up on famous bearers.
Italian last names that start with F
| Surname | Meaning | Region | Notable people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabbri | From Latin ‘faber’ meaning smith | Emilia-Romagna | Luigi Fabbri (anarchist, 1877–1935) |
| Fabrizi | From Roman gens Fabricius | Lazio, Umbria | Aldo Fabrizi (actor/director, 1905–1990) |
| Falcone | From ‘falco’ (falcon); falconer nickname | Sicily, Campania | Giovanni Falcone (anti‑Mafia judge, 1939–1992) |
| Fanfani | Likely from medieval personal name ‘Fanfano’ | Tuscany, Marche | Amintore Fanfani (politician, 1908–1999) |
| Farina | From ‘farina’ meaning flour; miller association | Piedmont, Veneto | Carlo Farina (composer/violinist, c.1600–1639) |
| Fazio | From personal name Fazio (short for Bonifazio) | Sicily, Calabria | Fabio Fazio (TV host, b.1964) |
| Fermi | From Latin ‘firmus’ meaning strong, or from Fermo | Tuscany, Lazio | Enrico Fermi (physicist, 1901–1954) |
| Ferragamo | Likely occupational; family famed as shoemakers | Tuscany | Salvatore Ferragamo (shoemaker/designer, 1898–1960) |
| Ferrari | From ‘ferraro’/’faber’ meaning blacksmith (plural) | Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna | Enzo Ferrari (automotive entrepreneur, 1898–1988) |
| Ferrara | Toponymic from the city of Ferrara | Emilia-Romagna | Giuseppe Ferrara (film director, 1932–2016) |
| Ferrero | Piedmontese form of blacksmith ‘ferraro’ | Piedmont | Michele Ferrero (entrepreneur, 1925–2015) |
| Fellini | Possibly diminutive from ‘felice’ or local nickname | Emilia-Romagna | Federico Fellini (film director, 1920–1993) |
| Fontana | From ‘fontana’ meaning fountain; toponymic | Lombardy, Veneto | Lucio Fontana (artist, 1899–1968) |
| Foscolo | Venetian/Greek origin; Ionian island roots | Veneto, Ionian Islands | Ugo Foscolo (poet, 1778–1827) |
| Forzano | Possibly from ‘forza’ or a personal name | Lazio, Tuscany | Giovacchino Forzano (playwright, 1884–1970) |
| Fornaciari | From ‘fornace’ meaning furnace or kiln worker | Emilia-Romagna | Adelmo Fornaciari (singer “Zucchero”, b.1955) |
| Fiorelli | Diminutive of ‘fiore’ meaning little flower | Campania, Lazio | Giuseppe Fiorelli (archaeologist, 1823–1896) |
| Fiorello | Diminutive of ‘fiore’ meaning little flower | Sicily, Lazio | Rosario Fiorello (entertainer, b.1960) |
| Florio | From Latin ‘florus’ meaning flower; Sicilian entrepreneurs | Sicily | Ignazio Florio (entrepreneur, 1838–1891) |
| Furlanetto | Diminutive of Furlan, meaning Friulian (from Friuli) | Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Ferruccio Furlanetto (bass, b.1949) |
| Franchi | From ‘Franco’ meaning Frank or free man | Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna | Franco Franchi (comic actor, 1928–1992) |
| Franceschini | Patronymic from Francesco, diminutive form | Emilia-Romagna, Lazio | Dario Franceschini (politician, b.1958) |
| Frizzi | From ‘frizzo’ meaning jest or lively remark | Lazio, Emilia-Romagna | Fabrizio Frizzi (TV presenter, 1958–2018) |
| Fusco | From Latin ‘fuscus’ meaning dark or swarthy | Campania, Calabria | Giovanni Fusco (composer, 1906–1968) |
| Fieschi | Ancient Ligurian noble family name | Liguria | Sinibaldo Fieschi (Pope Innocent IV, c.1195–1254) |
| Facchinetti | Diminutive of ‘facchino’ meaning porter | Lombardy, Veneto | Roby Facchinetti (musician, b.1944); Francesco Facchinetti (presenter, b.1980) |
| Fano | Toponymic from town of Fano (Marche) | Marche | Guido Fano (composer, 1875–1961) |
| Feltri | From ‘feltro’ (felt) meaning felt‑maker | Lombardy | Vittorio Feltri (journalist, b.1943) |
| Ferrucci | Diminutive/patronymic linked to ‘Ferruccio’ or iron | Tuscany | Francesco Ferrucci (condottiero/captain, 1489–1530) |
| Fioravanti | From ‘fiore’ + ‘avanti’, meaning flower‑forward | Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna | Domenico Fioravanti (swimmer, b.1977) |
| Filangieri | Noble Neapolitan family, Norman origin | Campania | Gaetano Filangieri (jurist, 1752–1788) |
| Filippini | Patronymic from given name Filippo | Lombardy, Veneto | Francesco Filippini (painter, 1853–1895) |
| Faliero | Venetian noble name; Doge’s family | Veneto | Marino Faliero (Doge of Venice, c.1274–1355) |
| Ferrini | Diminutive of ‘ferro’ iron/blacksmith | Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany | Giorgio Ferrini (footballer, 1939–1976) |
| Ferraro | Southern Italian form of ‘blacksmith’ | Campania, Sicily | John Ferraro (Los Angeles politician, 1924–2001) |
Descriptions
Fabbri
Occupational surname for blacksmiths. Common in Emilia-Romagna; variants Fabbro, Fabbris. Often denotes artisan families from medieval guilds.
Fabrizi
Patronymic from Fabricius. Frequent around Rome; variants Fabrizio, Fabrizzi. Associated with artistic and civic families since the Middle Ages.
Falcone
Nickname or occupational name for falconers. Strong Sicilian presence; held by several notable legal figures and magistrates.
Fanfani
Old surname with regional roots in central Italy. Political and civic associations; variants include Fanfano and Fanfani.
Farina
Occupational name for millers or flour sellers. Widespread across Italy; several historic artisan families bore the name.
Fazio
Patronymic from a medieval given name. Common in southern Italy; variants Fazzio, Fazzi.
Fermi
Either toponymic (from Fermo) or from ‘firmus’. Notably associated with central Italy; world‑famous bearer Enrico Fermi.
Ferragamo
Distinctive surname tied to Florence shoemaking dynasty. Often denotes artisanal origins and 20th‑century luxury brand.
Ferrari
Italy’s most common surname; occupational origin for blacksmiths. Many regional branches and variants: Ferraro, Ferrante.
Ferrara
Originally denotes origin from Ferrara. Widespread due to migration; also a historic Jewish and noble surname.
Ferrero
Regional Piedmont form of Ferraro. Associated with industrial and entrepreneurial families (e.g., Ferrero chocolate dynasty).
Fellini
Rimini and Romagna roots. Relatively rare; became well known through Federico Fellini’s cinema.
Fontana
Toponymic for families living by a spring or fountain. Common in northern Italy; many variants like Fontani and Fontanelli.
Foscolo
Historic family of Venetian/Greek origin, noted in literature and diplomacy. Strongly associated with the Ionian–Venetian cultural area.
Forzano
Regional central Italian surname. Forzano rose in 20th century theatre and opera librettos.
Fornaciari
Occupational name for kiln/bakery workers. Notable modern bearers include singer Zucchero; common in Emilia and Tuscany.
Fiorelli
Becomes a patronymic or nickname for someone linked to ‘fiore’. Associated with central‑southern Italy; archaeological legacy in Pompeii.
Fiorello
Often a given name turned surname or nickname. Popular in performing arts; several entertainers bear it.
Florio
Prominent Sicilian industrial and shipping family. Name evokes 19th‑century Palermo entrepreneurship and culture.
Furlanetto
Originally denoted someone from Friuli. Diminutive form common in Veneto; notable in opera circles.
Franchi
Often indicates Frankish origin or nickname ‘the Frank’. Widespread across central Italy; many civic figures and entertainers.
Franceschini
Patronymic deriving from Francesco. Common and widespread; many regional branches and cultural figures.
Frizzi
Nickname‑based surname suggesting wit or liveliness. Associated with central Italy and showbiz through Fabrizio Frizzi.
Fusco
Descriptive surname for dark complexion or hair. Common in southern Italy; several artists and musicians bear it.
Fieschi
Medieval noble dynasty from Genoa/Liguria. Produced church leaders and statesmen; historically influential in Genoese politics.
Facchinetti
Occupational diminutive for porters or baggage handlers. Notable modern musicians and TV personalities from northern Italy.
Fano
Denotes origin from Fano. Present chiefly in central Italy; cultural associations with Marche artistic life.
Feltri
Occupational surname for felt‑makers or merchants. Strong presence in Lombardy; linked to journalism via Vittorio Feltri.
Ferrucci
Often a diminutive of an iron‑related name. Known in Florentine military history (Ferrucci) and Tuscan families.
Fioravanti
Patronymic or descriptive name combining ‘flower’ and ‘forward’. Found in central Italy; modern bearers in sports and arts.
Filangieri
Historic aristocratic surname of Norman origin in Naples. Produced jurists and statesmen; influential in Enlightenment Italy.
Filippini
Derived from Filippo; common in northern Italy. Many artists and clergy among bearers.
Faliero
Historic Venetian family; Marino Faliero famously executed after a failed coup. Strongly tied to Venice’s medieval politics.
Ferrini
Regional diminutive related to ironworking. Well known in Piedmont and Emilia football circles through Giorgio Ferrini.
Ferraro
Widespread in southern Italy and diaspora. Occupational origin; many bearers among emigrant communities.