cognome

Cognome is the Italian term for a person's surname or family name. It is the element of a personal name that indicates lineage and is usually inherited across generations. The word cognome comes from Latin cognomen, a term used in ancient Rome to denote a name by which a person or a family was known. Over time its usage evolved into the modern concept of a fixed family name.

In Italian usage today, the cognome is the last part of the full name and remains constant for a person throughout life. It can signal origin, lineage, or affinal connections and is often inherited from one's father, mother, or both in contemporary practice. Surnames may derive from occupations, places, nicknames, or ancestral names, and many Italian surnames show regional patterns of distribution, such as endings that hint at geography or historical roots.

Across cultures, naming conventions vary. In many Western countries, the cognome follows the given name; in several East Asian cultures the family name precedes the given name. Some languages use matronymic or patronymic systems, and others, such as Spain and Portugal, commonly employ two surnames from both parents. Accents, diacritics, and hyphenation can affect spelling and legal registration.

In modern contexts, the cognome is a key element for civil records, identity documents, and genealogical research. The study of surnames—onomastics—explores origins, diffusion, and changes over time, offering insights into migration, social structure, and cultural identity.