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  • Monegasque surnames
    • Main contributor: Paola Longa

    Monegasque surnames are found in the small but culturally rich Principality of Monaco. Despite its tiny size, Monaco has a distinct Mediterranean identity, shaped by Ligurian, French, Italian, and Occitan influences, as well as strong ties to the House of Grimaldi, Monaco’s ruling dynasty since 1297. Native Monegasques made up the majority of Monaco's population in the past; many of them can trace their origin to southern French families, Genoese settlers, and coastal Ligurians. Local pride and centuries of continuity are reflected in the surnames of native Monaco residents, even though the majority of the country's current population is foreign-born.

    History of Monegasque surnamesHistory of Monegasque surnames

    Liguria is the origin of several Monegasque surnames, particularly Genoa, Ventimiglia, and La Spezia. In Monegasque historical documents and nobility lists, several of these surnames—particularly noble ones—are heraldic. The structure of surnames reflects the Ligurian variation of the local Monegasque dialect, which has some French and Provençal influences. Many surnames have Ligurian origins, particularly those of Genoa, Ventimiglia, and La Spezia.

    Monegasque surnames naming conventionsMonegasque surnames naming conventions

    According to Monaco's surname legislation, a kid typically inherits their father's last name from birth.[1] There are clauses allowing for exceptions, though. A kid may adopt the mother's last name, so replacing the paternal one, if both parents consent. If all children under the age of 13 are involved, parents have a short window of time to make a decision and can change the child's surname within 18 months, as long as they all share the same surname. The official registration of "Monegasque origin" contains the native surnames of Monaco, and citizenship in Monaco is granted solely by ancestry rather than birth.[2] Due to the extensive French cultural influence, it is quite common to find individuals with French-language given names and Monegasque surnames.

    Type of Monegasque surnamesType of Monegasque surnames

    Monegasque surnames of toponymic originMonegasque surnames of toponymic origin

    Georges Franzi
    Grave of Georges Franzi. Monaco Cemetery

    These Monegasque surnames may originate from specific Ligurian villages, coastal features, or landholding names.

    • Barale – likely from Barale hamlet or related to the word bara (a small hut or store)
    • Bellando – may derive from a town or noble villa name
    • Campora – from campo, meaning field; also a place in Liguria
    • Gardella – perhaps from gardel, meaning “enclosure” or “garden”
    • Canavese – referring to the Canavese area of Piedmont
    • Langella – “from Langhe” in nearby Piedmont or from lancia (lance)
    • Balestra – “crossbow,” also a place in Liguria
    • Franzi - 'Frenchman"
    • Gastaldi – from gastaldo, a Lombard land administrator; could be topographic
    • Crovetto – possibly a diminutive of crova, Ligurian for “curve” or “bend in a road”

    Monegasque surnames of patronymic originMonegasque surnames of patronymic origin

    Tomb of Louis Aureglia
    Tomb of Louis Aureglia. Monaco Cemetery

    Some Monegasque surnames derive from personal names and are often adapted with Ligurian or Italian suffixes:

    • Bonafede – “good faith”
    • Clerissi – “descendant of the cleric” (chierico)
    • Boisson – “drink” in French; may reflect a nickname or innkeeper ancestor
    • Breschi – from Brescia or short for Bresciano, a given name
    • Caroli – “descendants of Carlo (Charles)”
    • Giovannelli – “of Giovanni” (John)
    • Vincenti – from Vincenzo
    • Molinari – “millers”
    • Peretti – from Piero or Piero’s son
    • Aureglia - from Aureglio, an Italian given name; its core meaning is "golden" or "of gold," stemming from the Latin word "aurum"

    Monegasque surnames of occupational originMonegasque surnames of occupational origin

    These refer to ancestral trades, especially in urban Monaco or seafaring Ligurian society:

    • Gaggino – possibly related to butchers or craftsmen
    • Ferrari – “blacksmiths,” a common Ligurian and Italian trade name
    • Tagliaferro – “iron cutter”
    • Carbonaro – “charcoal burner”
    • Marin – “sailor” or “of the sea”
    • Spitaleri – “hospital worker” or “healer”
    • Pastorelli – “shepherds”
    • Bacchetti – may derive from bacchetta (baton or stick), possibly linked to judiciary or artisans
    • Maurelli – may derive from Mauro or Moro, possibly linked to North African connections
    • Freschi – “fresh” (nickname, or possibly related to bakers or vendors)

    Monegasque surnames of descriptive originMonegasque surnames of descriptive origin

    Henri Biancheri
    Tombstone of Henri Biancheri.

    A few Monegasque people carry surnames that are based on a personal or physical trait:

    • Biancheri - "White"
    • Rosso – “red” but may refer to a district or old nickname
    • Rossi – “red-haired” or “ruddy”
    • Blanc - "White"; of French origin
    • Gaglio - "with grizzled hair or beard"; of Sicilian origin
    • Legrand - "the big one", of French origin
    • Gallo - "Rooster"

    Monegasque surnames of foreign originMonegasque surnames of foreign origin

    Given Monaco’s multilingual setting, some Monegasque surnames bear French, Corsican, Italian, or even Spanish elements.

    • Campana – “bell” (Italian origin, widespread in Monaco)
    • Reynaud – from Reinaldus (Frankish-Germanic origin)
    • Caruana – Sicilian or Maltese roots; possibly from merchants
    • Gastaldi – found across Liguria and Provence
    • Marquet – French surname of possible merchant roots
    • Anfosso – Ligurian surname, possibly from Anfossi
    • Valentini – Italianized name from Latin Valentinus
    • Matto – Ligurian dialect for “clever” or “mad”; possibly nickname
    • Dotta – “learned one” in Italian
    • Lanfranchi – Germanic root, common in Genoa and Tuscany, found in Monaco too

    Monegasque surnames of aristocratic originMonegasque surnames of aristocratic origin

    These surnames appear in Monaco’s early records, often tied to civic administration, court officials, or leading merchant families:

    • Grimaldi – the ruling family since the 13th century
    • Bosio – a leading noble family of Genoese origin
    • Arsiero – attested in early Monegasque parish records
    • Notari – “notary,” but also a distinguished intellectual family
    • Ravera – noble surname with historic influence
    • Casiraghi – the family by marriage of Princess Caroline (paternal line of current heirs)
    • De Bernardi – noble name derived from Bernard
    • Bellone – “warrior” or “belligerent”; also a family of some prominence
    • Pastorelli – both occupational and noble variants
    • Brignole - an illustrious patrician family of Genoa who were its sovereigns from 1592 to 1774

    Most common Monegasque surnamesMost common Monegasque surnames


    Celebrities with Monegasque surnamesCelebrities with Monegasque surnames

    Olivier Boscagli
    Olivier Boscagli.
    • Olivier Boscagli - Monegasque footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for PSV Eindhoven
    • Alexandra Coletti - Monégasque alpine skier who competed for Monaco in the 2006 Winter Olympics. She also received the silver medal in downhill skiing at the 2005 European Cup
    • Léo Ferré, Mongeasque singer and composer. Some of his songs have become classics of the French chanson repertoire, including "Avec le temps", "C'est extra", "Jolie Môme" and "Paris-Canaille".
    • Fabienne Diato-Pasetti - Monegasque rifle shooter, gold medal at the Games of the Small States of Europe and also the first woman to represent Monaco at the Olympics
    • Emmanuelle Gagliardi, Swiss tennis player, winner of 8 ITF titles
    • Olivier Jenot, Monegasque alpine skier, gold medal at the Winter Universiade 2013 in Trentino

    See alsoSee also

    Explore more about Monegasque surnamesExplore more about Monegasque surnames

    References

    1. ↑ The change of family name. CMS Legal
    2. ↑ Acquiring monegasque nationality. MonServicePublic


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