Surname Andrea - Meaning and Origin
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Andrea: What does the surname Andrea mean?
The surname Andrea is of Italian origin, derived from the personal name Andrea, the Italian form of Andrew. The name Andrew is of Greek origin and means 'manly' or 'brave'. It ultimately stems from the Greek word 'andreios', which translates to 'manly' or 'of a man'. Thus, the surname Andrea signifies a familial connection to a progenitor who was named Andrea, likely reflecting their qualities of bravery or masculinity. Surnames were often adopted based on the name of a patriarch, place of residence, profession, or any identifier that would have been significant during the time when surnames became hereditary. As a common Italian surname, Andrea is found both in Italy and in countries with significant populations of Italian descents.
Order DNA origin analysisAndrea: Where does the name Andrea come from?
The surname Andrea traces its origins to Mediterranean Europe, notably Italy and Greece. In Italy, the name is derived from the personal name Andrea, the Italian form of Andrew. It essentially means "son of Andrew" or "belonging to Andrew." In Greece, the surname Andrea typically denotes patronymic lineage and translates to "son of Andreas." The surname in both countries is often bestowed in honor of St. Andrew, a popular patron saint.
Today, the surname Andrea can be found distributed across the globe due to patterns of migration and diaspora, but it is still most common in Italy. Other regional concentrations can be found in European countries like Portugal, Spain, and Greece, as well as in countries with a significant Italian diaspora such as Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and Canada. In some nations, the surname may be spelled Andre, Andreau, Andreev, or Andrei, depending on the local linguistic variants. However, in global terms, it's not one of the most commonly found surnames, lending it a certain uniqueness.
Variations of the surname Andrea
The surname Andrea has various forms and is used in many different cultures. It derives from the Greek personal name Andreas, which means "manly". It's also a popular first name in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian cultures.
Possible variants and spellings could include: Andreea, Andrei, Andreou, Andre, Andreas, Andreason, Andreson, Ondrej, Andrijevic, Andrievska, Andrejevic, Andrejevich, Andrejevska, Andreae, Andreoli, Andreucci, Andriani, Andreozzi, Andrejic, Andrijasevic, etc.
Surnames derived from Andrea such as Andreassen, Andresen, Andrejevs, Andrejevska, Andrejevics, can be widely found in Scandinavian countries, East European countries and parts of Europe.
Moreover, surnames like De Andrea, D'Andrea, Di Andrea signify "son of Andrea" and are common in Italy. Other surnames derived from the first name Andrea are Andres and Andrews, popular in English-speaking countries. In the same vein, Andrzejewski, Andruszkiewicz, and Andrysiak are Polish surnames derived from the equivalent first name Andrzej.
Please note that cultural and regional variations can greatly affect these surname derivatives. The surname, its variants and spellings can change over time due to language evolution, immigration, and naturalization.
Famous people with the name Andrea
- Stefano Andrea: He is an Italian businessman known for his ventures in the fashion industry.
- Michel Andre: This popular French author, novelist, and screenwriter has received critical acclaim for his works.
- Joanna Andrea: An English artist known for her contemporary surrealist paintings.
- Victor Andrea: He was an American screenwriter and film producer in Hollywood during the 1920s.
- Andrea Bocelli: Although "Andrea" is his first name, he is a famous Italian opera singer, songwriter, and record producer, renowned worldwide.
- Charles Robert Andrea: A famous American football player known for his role as a wide receiver in the NFL during the 1970s.
- Andrea Mitchell: She is an iconic American television journalist, anchor, and commentator for NBC News.
- Lisa Andrea: This Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress achieved fame during the late 1980s and 1990s. Please note that some given names (such as Andrea Bocelli) have been listed because "Andrea" is commonly used as a last name. However, traditionally, the position of the name varies by culture and location.