DePalma
An Italian surname meaning “of the palm,” usually pointing to a place called Palma or to the palm tree as a symbolic name.
The #7,677 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 71,403 Americans shares it.
Etymology
DePalma is an Italian name built from the preposition de, meaning “of” or “from,” and palma, “palm.” In surname use, it most likely began as a locational byname for someone from a place named Palma or for someone identified with a home, estate, or landmark marked by palm trees. In some cases it may also have had a devotional or symbolic sense, since the palm is associated with victory and Christian martyrdom.
History
The surname is found in Italy, especially in southern regions where place-based bynames were common, and it later spread through Italian migration to the Americas. In English-language records it often appears as DePalma, but the spacing and capitalization can vary. Well-known bearers include the American filmmaker Brian De Palma, which helped make the name familiar outside Italian communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because palma can mean both “palm tree” and “palm branch,” the name can carry a natural and a symbolic layer at the same time.