Provenzano
An Italian surname meaning “from Provence,” pointing to a family connection with the Provence region of France.
The #8,822 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 83,175 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Provenzano is an Italian surname tied to the place name Provence, the historic region in southern France. The name ultimately comes from Latin Provincia, which became the basis for the French/Occitan regional name. In surname form, it likely began as a label for someone who came from Provence or had Provençal connections.
History
The surname is found chiefly in southern Italy, especially in Sicily and Calabria, where many surnames developed from regional or ethnic nicknames. Like many Italian family names in -ano, it can also reflect a place-based identifier that later became hereditary. In modern times it is especially associated with Italian-American families.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The related regional name Provence is one of the best-known medieval cultural regions of Europe, famous for troubadour poetry and courtly culture.