Cimino

Cimino is an Italian surname. It is borne by families in Italy and among Italian diaspora communities, particularly in the United States and Canada. The name is typically considered to be toponymic, linked with the Cimini Hills in Lazio, central Italy, and thus associated with that region; alternative theories connect it with a given name or family lineage.

Notable people with the surname include Michael Cimino (1939–2016), American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He directed The Deer Hunter, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, leading to widespread recognition of the surname in popular culture. Cimino’s later work, including the controversial film Heaven’s Gate, contributed to a complex and debated legacy in American cinema.

Beyond Michael Cimino, the surname is found among individuals in various professions, reflecting Italian heritage and diaspora. While he remains the most prominent public figure associated with the name, Cimino as a surname continues to appear in different contexts without a single defining lineage.