Genovese

Genovese is an Italian surname and demonym meaning “from Genoa.” In Italian, Genovese is used as the masculine singular adjective for something related to Genoa, a port city in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. The name is common among Italian families and their descendants around the world.

The Genovese crime family, also known as the Genovese Family, is one of the Five Families that dominate organized crime activities in New York City. The group traces much of its leadership to Vito Genovese, a prominent boss in the 1950s and 1960s, and the family acquired its name from him. While the precise origins of the modern organization extend back to earlier mob networks, the Genovese Family has long been regarded as one of the most powerful and enduring criminal enterprises in the United States.

Traditionally, the Genovese Family has been involved in a range of illegal activities, including racketeering, extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling, and labor union influence. Its structure typically includes a boss, an underboss, capos, and soldiers, with outbreaks of violence or internal disputes occurring at times. Law enforcement has pursued the organization for decades, resulting in numerous prosecutions and periods of leadership turnover.

Beyond its crime-linked usage, Genovese as a surname appears in various contexts worldwide, from individuals who bear the name to references to Genoa-related culture and history. The term remains primarily associated with Italian heritage and to the mob history linked to Vito Genovese in the United States.