Pisano
A surname meaning “from Pisa” or “Pisan,” originally marking someone’s place of origin.
The #7,331 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 67,841 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Pisano is the Italian ethnonym for someone from Pisa, the Tuscan city. It ultimately comes from the place name Pisa, with the surname formed in the common Italian pattern meaning “a person from X.” In effect, it began as an identifying label for a newcomer or family associated with Pisa.
History
The name appears in Italian records as a straightforward regional surname, and it is especially associated with Italy and Italian diaspora communities. In modern times it is also found among descendants of Italian emigrants in the Americas and elsewhere. The excerpted source does not discuss the surname’s origin directly, but it does confirm the Latinized form 'Pisano' as an Italian identifier.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Pisan(o) surnames are common examples of Italian names that began as simple geographic labels, not family nicknames or occupations.
From the historical record
“Votum Diva? Virgini Sanlucianaj. Bonon. 1623, 8vo. Thomsa Dempsteri a Muresk Scoti Pandectarum in Pisano Lyceo Professoris Ordinarii de Etruria Regali libri Septem, opus posthumum, in duas partes divisum, nunc primum editi. curante Tho. Coke. A very elaborate and learned work, with many copperplates. -'Florence…”
— The Scottish Nation, vol. 2