Genovese
An Italian surname meaning “from Genoa,” originally used for someone who came from that city or region.
The #6,579 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 59,986 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Genovese is the Italian adjective and demonym meaning “from Genoa” or “Genoese.” It ultimately goes back to the Latin place-name Genua, the ancient name of Genoa in northwestern Italy. As a surname, it would have been used for someone identified by origin, especially a migrant from Genoa or its surrounding area.
History
This surname is especially common in Italy and among Italian diaspora communities abroad, including the United States, Argentina, and Australia. It is part of a large family of Italian surnames formed from place names and regional identities. A well-known bearer was the American mob figure Vito Genovese, whose notoriety made the name familiar outside Italian-language contexts.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Italian, the word genovese is also used as an adjective, so the surname looks exactly like the ordinary national/regional term for “Genoese.”