Surname Alfano - Meaning and Origin

Alfano: What does the surname Alfano mean?

Alfano is an Italian surname, derived from the Germanic personal name "Alfano" which was popular during the Middle Ages. It's composed of two elements: "ala," which means "all," and "funja," which means "ready" or "eager." Therefore, the surname can be interpreted to mean "all ready" or "always prepared." It is prevalent in Southern Italy, particularly in the regions of Campania, Calabria, and Sicily. Common variations of the surname include Alfani, Alfanetti, Alfarano, and Alfinito. Despite its Italian origins, there's a global presence of the surname, especially in countries like the United States, Argentina, and Canada due to Italian diaspora. Like many surnames, it's used to establish identity in terms of lineage and ancestry.

Alfano: Where does the name Alfano come from?

The surname Alfano is of Italian origins. Specifically, it is derived from "Alfano", a personal name of Longobardic (a Germanic language once spoken by the Lombards, a Germanic people) origins, which means "ready for battle". Also, it might be habitational, from a few places named with this word in Italy. This includes a small town in the Salerno province, Campania, in southern Italy called Alfano.

Today, the surname Alfano is quite common in Italy, and especially prevalent in the regions of Campania and Sicily. Outside Italy, the surname can be found in countries where Italian immigrants have settled, such as the United States, Argentina, Canada, and Australia, among others. Despite its dispersion, it still remains closely tied to its Italian roots.

Variations of the surname Alfano

The surname Alfano is of Italian origin, derived from the first name Alfano that was popular during the Middle Ages, particularly in Southern Italy. Variations of this surname include Alfanetti, Alfanito, Alfani, and Alfonso, which is common in Hispanic countries as both a first name and a surname.

The surname can be found to a lesser extent in spellings such as della Alfa, di Alfano, de Alfani, and lo Alfano. There are also regional variations seen in surnames like Alifana, Alifani, Alifanio, and Alifanis.

Alfano is also frequently combined with other elements to form compound surnames such as Alfano-Rosati. In the Northern Italian regions, especially Lombardy and Piedmont, the surname takes on suffixes like -ini, -oni, and -etti, which give rise to Alfanini, Alfanoni, and Alfanoetti.

When it was carried by Italian immigrants to English-speaking countries, the original spelling of "Alfano" may have been altered to align more with native pronunciation, leading to versions like Alfman, Alfane, and Alphin.

However, Alfano is the most widely recognized and used spelling of this surname.

Famous people with the name Alfano

• Angelino Alfano: An Italian politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
• Franco Alfano: An Italian composer best known for completing Puccini's unfinished opera "Turandot."
• John Alfano: A professional American football player who played for the New England Patriots in the late 1980s.
• Carmine Alfano: An Italian footballer who played as a defender for several teams including SSC Napoli, Frosinone Calcio, and Paganese Calcio 1926.
• Rosario Alfano: A former Italian football player who competed in the 1976 Olympics.
• Joseph Alfano: An Italian-American member of the Genovese crime family.
• Sal Alfano: A home improvement expert and editor of prominent home improvement publications.
• Chris Alfano: A software developer and open source contributor, known for his role in helping to develop the initial versions of the Firefox web browser.
• Phil Alfano: An educator and superintendent for the Patterson Joint Unified School District in California.
• Mike Alfano: An accomplished sculptor known for his realistic and intricate designs in bronze and marble.

Other surnames

Alfänger