Licata
An Italian surname usually linked to the Sicilian town of Licata, making it a classic locational family name.
The #8,747 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 82,332 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Licata is most likely a locational surname taken from the town of Licata in southern Sicily. In this kind of name, the original bearer was identified as someone who came from, lived near, or had ties to that place. The place-name itself is ancient, but the surname’s meaning in modern use is straightforward: “from Licata.”
History
The surname is found chiefly among Italian and Italian-American families, especially those with roots in Sicily. Like many southern Italian surnames, it spread more widely through migration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the United States it remains relatively uncommon but is recognizable as a distinct Sicilian family name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is also a place-name surname, so it can point back to a very specific hometown rather than to an occupation or nickname.