Page 22 - Italian-American Herald - February 2024

22 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | FEBRUARY2024 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD ITALIAN MADE FUN & SIMPLE
You can research your surname on these two websites:
• surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/italian/ • cognomix.it/mappe-dei-cognomi-italiani.
Italian surnames reflect the passion of love on Valentine’s Day.
“Artists and Models.” In Italian, the word innamorata means “to be in love.” The biggest selling recording of the song was sung by Dean Martin in the same year. On the Cash Box magazine Best-Selling Records chart, which combined all versions of the song, it reached position No. 17. As an Italian surname it doesn’t rank anywhere close to the recognition or popularity of the song title. There is little documentation on the evolution of Innamorata as a surname and this is evident by the fact that there are only two regions in Italy that have a very small number of families registered with this surname, Campania and Friuli Venezia-Giulia.
VALENTINO – Finally we come to the surname that shares its name with the “holiday for lovers.” Of the surnames that we can associate with this day, none is as widespread as the surname Valentino. It is a surname registered in all 20 regions. In fact, who hasn’t heard of the 20th Century silver screen’s best known actor/lover Rudolph Valentino? It is found most frequently in Campania and least noted in Val D’Aosta. Its evolution into a surname is attributed to ancestors that were devoted to Saint Valentine or to an ancestor born on Valentine’s Day.
Next month it’s back to our regular format as we start with the letters U and V.
This month’s lesson is the traditional lesson dedicated to an Italian-style Valentine’s Day.
Italian lovers are famous throughout history: Paolo and Francesca, the ill-fated pair described in Dante's “La Divina Commedia;” Romeo e Giulietta (Romeo and Juliet), the two young lovers from Verona immortalized by Shakespeare; and Renzo and Lucia in “I Promessi Sposi,” written by Alessandro Manzoni from 1825-27, who succeeded in marrying each other only after overcoming many difficulties and obstacles.
In classical history, the Roman holiday Lupercalia was a pagan spring celebration. Priests called luperci participated in ritual sacrifices and fertility rites during the wild and chaotic festivities.
With all this history of love and romance, it would only seem natural that Italy, the purported land of romance, would celebrate Valentine's Day with great passion and joy. Truth is that although Italy may be the country of love and lovers, the holiday as it is
celebrated today in Italy has taken on an American flavor, much like Halloween or Mother's Day. The big difference is that in Italy it is exclusively a celebration for couples or lovers. Children, family members, and friends do not exchange cards or presents.
However, for those who are in love, Valentine's Day in Italy is an important day to show their beloved how much they care. Depending on the age of the pair, gifts could include red roses or perfume, diamonds, or the traditional box of ciccolatini.
The Italian language is rich in a vocabulary of expressions and idioms, and frasi d'amore on Valentine's Day are especially endearing. In English, the expression "I love you" is ubiquitous; while in Italian "Ti amo" is used only between lovers, never with friends, family, or inanimate objects. Instead, the expression "Ti voglio bene" are preferred.
Here are some words and key phrases to impress your “tesoro” this Valentine’s Day. gli abbracci – hugs
affettuoso – affectionate
l'amante – lover
i baci – kisses
la cartolina d'auguri per San Valentino – Valentine's Day card i cioccolatini – chocolates
il diamante – diamond
la festa di San Valentino – the festival of St. Valentine
il/la fidanzato/a – fiancé/fiancée
i fiori – flowers
gli innamorati – lovers
le smancerie – over-wrought, cloying sentiments
il mio tesoro – my darling
Ti penso sempre – I always think of you.
Mi manchi – I miss you.
Come sei bella – How beautiful you are.
Voglio vederti stasera – I want to see you tonight.
Tu sei una stella ... la mia stella – You are a star ... my star. Cara mia, ti voglio bene – My darling, I love you.
This month’s proverb
Italiano:“Il bacio e la più alta poesia dell’amore”.
English: The kiss is the greatest poem of love.
This month’s falso amico
It is stormo. It means flock as in a flock of geese. Storm in Italian is best reflected by the
word temporale.
Because many Italian Americans are inquisitive about how their surnames came to be, particularly their historic derivation, or a possible translation or meaning of their surname in English, we continue to run this column each month to provide this information. Many readers have commented on how much they enjoy this column and find it interesting. As some readers may recollect from reading earlier columns, it was the fall of Rome and the subsequent foreign invasions and occupations that gave way to modern Italian names. Today an Italian surname can be traced back not only to Old Latin, but to French, Spanish, Portuguese German, Greek, Arabic, and even biblical Hebrew. Examples are Sicilian surnames starting with “calta” from Arabic Qal`at, meaning fortress or Nazzari which derives from nazzareno, an inhabitant of Nazareth.
In this issue we are skipping our regular monthly surname alphabetical sequence to highlight a few common Italian surnames which relate to Valentine’s Day and terms of love and endearment, for which Italians are well known.
AMATO – This surname is from the Latin amatus, meaning loved by God. It ranks among the most common of Italian surnames and is registered in all 20 regions, most heavily in Sicily and least common in the Aosta Valley. Variations: AMATA, AMATUCCI, AMATULLI.
AMORETTI – One possible derivation is from the nickname given at times to children born out of wedlock: child of love. This surname is found in 16 of Italy’s 20 regions, mostly in Liguria and least
in Sardinia. Variations: AMORELLI, AMORESE, AMORI.
AMOROSO – This word as most might know in English translates to the adjective “loving” or as a noun beau or sweetheart. It can also translate to amorous, though
in Italian this meaning is mildly erotic. However, before people with this surname get to thinking they descend from a line of “Casanovas,” the probability is more likely that they had ancestors who were simply known for their acts of loving kindness.
ANELLO – In English this translates to “ring.” The origin of this as a surname is clear, which accounts for the fact that it is not among the most common of surnames. At best the name is connected to the jewelry trade. It is most found in Sicily and least found in the Marche region.
CARO – In English this translates to “dear.” Italian letters as English letters always start out with “caro.” As a surname, it is not common. Once again Sicily is where it is most found and least found on the other famous Italian island of Sardinia.
D’AMORE – This Italian surname
is fairly common throughout Italy. It translates to “of love.” Ancestors of these present-day families were probably known to be born to parents that demonstrated strong love and affection toward each other, hence D’Amore, out of love. It
is most heard in the Campania region
and least heard in the region of Emilia- Romagna.
DOLCI – This surname comes from the Italian word for sweet “dolce.” In
the form”dolci,” it means sweets. Does this mean that past relatives had sweet personalities? Not necessarily. The ancestors of these present-day families were probably in the candy or some sort of dessert business. The highest number of Dolci families is recorded in the Lazio region, the lowest number is recorded in the neighboring Umbria region.
INNAMORATA – For most this word brings to mind a song title rather than
an Italian surname In fact “Innamorata” was a song written in 1955. It was written for the 1955 Martin and Lewis film,