dellacqua

Dellacqua is an Italian surname of toponymic origin, formed from the phrase dell'acqua, meaning "of the water." The root acqua denotes water, and the contracted form dell'acqua typically indicates a geographic association with a water source, such as a spring, river, or location near water. The surname likely arose to identify families based on their residence or origin in a place linked to water.

Variants of the surname include Dell'Acqua and Della Acqua, with Dellacqua or Dellacqua-like spellings common in English-speaking regions where the apostrophe is often dropped. In Italian records and modern usage, the apostrophe form Dell'Acqua is standard, while other spellings may appear due to transliteration or regional pronunciation.

Geographic distribution shows the name across Italy, with higher concentrations in southern regions, though it is found throughout the country. The surname has also spread internationally through Italian emigration, and today appears in diaspora communities in Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In these contexts, Dellacqua and its variants reflect historic migration patterns from Italy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as families established residences far from their origins.

Overall, Dellacqua exemplifies a common category of Italian surnames tied to natural features or landscape elements, preserving a link to geographic origin in its form and usage.