Feliciano
A surname ultimately from the Latin name Felicianus, meaning “happy” or “fortunate.”
The #1,662 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,250 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Feliciano comes from the Roman personal name Felicianus, built on Latin felix, meaning “happy,” “fortunate,” or “blessed.” As a surname, it usually began as a hereditary form of a given name rather than as a place-name or job title. In Iberian and Italian usage it was carried forward from the Christian and classical name tradition.
History
The name spread through the Romance-speaking world through the continued use of Saint and Roman personal names in the Middle Ages and later. It is especially common in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities, and also appears in Italian form. In the Americas it became more visible through migration from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Southern Europe.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The root felix also survives in English words like “felicity,” which shares the same positive sense of happiness and good fortune.
Notable people named Feliciano
- José Feliciano (b. 1945)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.