Scalise
A surname most likely of Italian origin, probably from a place-name or a descriptive nickname built on a word for “rock” or “escarpment.”
The #9,186 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 86,946 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Scalise is an Italian surname, and its exact origin is not fully settled. It is often explained as deriving from a place-name or from a local word related to "scala" or a similar root associated with steps, slopes, or rocky terrain, ultimately pointing to a person from a steep or rugged place. In some cases, surnames of this form may also reflect dialect spellings or later regional reshaping rather than a single transparent modern Italian word.
History
The surname is found in Italy, especially in southern areas, and was carried abroad through Italian emigration, especially to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the United States it remains relatively uncommon but is well established among Italian-American families. Spellings and pronunciations may vary by region and by family tradition.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name is uncommon enough that many bearers can trace it fairly directly to a specific family line or village in Italy.