Savino

sah-VEE-noh

An Italian surname from the ancient Sabines: originally a name for someone from that central Italian people or region.

The #6,866 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 63,022 Americans shares it.

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Etymology

Savino is an Italian surname connected with Sabino, the name of the ancient Sabines of central Italy. The excerpt glosses it as an old patronymic/ethnic label meaning a man or woman from the land of the Sabines, also called Sabelli. In practice, the surname likely developed as a regional or ethnic identifier rather than from a personal occupation or nickname.

History

The name is most strongly associated with Italy, where forms like Sabino and Savino have long existed as both given names and surnames. Because the underlying ethnonym is ancient, the surname carries a classical historical flavor, though its surname use is later and more local in origin. It is also found in Italian diaspora communities, including the United States.

Origin

ethnic or regionalItalianLatin

Regions

ItalySouthern ItalyItalian diaspora

Variant spellings

SabinoSavinaSabinus

Fun fact

The Sabines were an ancient people of central Italy who feature prominently in early Roman legend, including the famous story of the Sabine women.

From the historical record

“{alcem.—^neis, vii. 178-9. Sabino,-a, Savino,-a. — Antico pat- ronimico, che voleva dire I'Uomo o la Donna del paese dei Sabini, o Sabelli, nella Italia centrale. — Fumagalli, Diz. Nomi Propriltal, p. 233.”

— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)
Confidence: mixed. Sources: Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1).

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