NomOrigine Background

Last Name Del-sant

What is the origin of the last name Del-sant?

The surname "del Santo" or "del Santo" is of Italian origin and means "of the saint." It is a toponymic name derived from a place named after a local saint. In Italy, many places were named after saints, and people who lived there would take these names as their surnames when they migrated or moved to other areas. This surname can also be found in Spanish-speaking countries due to Italian migration over the centuries.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Del-sant

The meaning and origin of the last name Del-sant

The surname Del Santo or DelSanto is an Italian name derived from a locative place name, indicating someone originally hailing from a place named "Santo" or "Sanctus." In Latin, "sanctus" means holy or sacred, and places bearing this name were often associated with religious sites. The term "del" in the surname is a preposition that signifies 'of' or 'from', so Del Santo can be translated as 'from the Holy place.' This Italian surname has been distributed across various regions of Italy but is particularly common in central and southern Italy, reflecting the historical spread of Italian populations.

Geographical distribution of the last name Del-sant

The surname Del Santo is predominantly Italian in origin, with its highest concentration found within Italy. Specifically, it's most prevalent in the regions of Campania, Sicily, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna. In Campania, the city of Naples is particularly notable for having a high proportion of people bearing this surname due to its large population. Outside of Italy, significant populations of individuals with the Del Santo surname can be found in countries with historical Italian immigrant communities, such as Argentina, Brazil, the United States (particularly in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and California), Canada, and Australia. The name may also appear in other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora over centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Del-sant

The surname Del Santo has several variants and spellings due to regional dialects, transcription errors, and family preferences over time. Some common variations include: Del Santo, DeLusanto, DelSante, del'Santo, della Santo, del Santis, de Santis, De Santo, and di Santo. The 'de' prefix is a Latin preposition meaning "of" or "from," often used in Italian surnames. However, it can be dropped, added, or replaced with other words like 'di', 'del', or 'della', leading to the diverse spellings observed for this particular last name. It originates from Italy and is associated with the regions of Tuscany, Campania, Sicily, and Calabria.

Famous people with the last name Del-sant

Notable individuals with the surname Del Santo include:

1. Frankie Valli (born Francis Stevano Castelluccio), an American singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman of The Four Seasons and for his hit songs "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "Oh What a Night."
2. Salvi Del Santo, an Italian politician who served as President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 2018 to 2022.
3. John Del Santo, a retired professional American football player who played for the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in the National Football League (NFL).
4. Michael Del Santo, an American actor known for his roles in television series such as "NCIS" and "The Mentalist."
5. Daisy Del Santo, a British actress who has appeared in films such as "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz."
6. Tony DeSantis, an American politician who served as the Mayor of Rochester, New York from 1978 to 1983.
7. Dominic Del Santo, a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Genealogical research on the last name Del-sant

The surname Del Sant, derived from the Italian "di Santo" meaning "of the saint," is a common Italian and Spanish last name. In Italy, it is most prevalent in regions such as Tuscany, Lombardy, and Piedmont, while in Spain, it is found predominantly in Catalonia and Aragon. The earliest known records of the Del Sant family can be traced back to the 14th century in Italy. Notable individuals with this surname include Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who discovered New York Bay in the late 15th century, and Spanish poet Jose de Espronceda, known for his Romantic poetry during the 19th century. Over time, various spellings of the name have emerged due to transcription errors and regional dialects, including Del Sante, De Santo, and Desanto.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

Sources & References

About the author :
NomOrigine Team
NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 27 July 2025

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

Del ayre (Last name)

surnames > del-ayre

The last name "del Ayre" is of Spanish origin. It is derived from the Spanish word "aire" meaning "air" or "atmosphere". It is possible that this surname originated from a person w...

Del biero (Last name)

surnames > del-biero

The last name "del Biero" is of Italian origin, derived from the word "bier," meaning beer. It is believed to have originally been a occupational surname for someone involved in br...

Del cibao (Last name)

surnames > del-cibao

The last name "del Cibao" is of Spanish origin. It likely refers to the Cibao region in the Dominican Republic, known for its agricultural productivity and cultural significance.

Del cruz (Last name)

surnames > del-cruz

The last name "del Cruz" is of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "cruz" which means "cross." This name is often associated with Christian symbolism and likely originate...

Del gan (Last name)

surnames > del-gan

The last name "del Gan" has Italian origins. It is derived from the word "gane," meaning "win," and may have originally been used as a nickname for a successful or lucky person.

Del giardino (Last name)

surnames > del-giardino

The last name "del Giardino" is of Italian origin. It translates to "of the garden" in English and likely refers to someone who lived near or worked in a garden.

Del la cruz (Last name)

surnames > del-la-cruz

Please wait, data loading. It may take 1 minute or 2...

Del mundo-forro (Last name)

surnames > del-mundo-forro

Please wait, data loading. It may take 1 minute or 2...

Del oeste (Last name)

surnames > del-oeste

The last name "del Oeste" is of Spanish origin. It translates to "from the west" in English. It likely originated as a surname to denote someone from a specific region in Spain, or...

Del rosario horillo (Last name)

surnames > del-rosario-horillo

The surname "del Rosario Horillo" is of Spanish origin. "del Rosario" means "of the Rosary" in Spanish, and "Horillo" may be a surname derived from a place name or descriptive term...

Del sol torres (Last name)

surnames > del-sol-torres

The last name "del Sol Torres" is of Spanish origin. "Del Sol" means "of the sun" in Spanish, and "Torres" is a common Spanish surname that means "towers."

Del toro célebre (Last name)

surnames > del-toro-celebre

The last name "del Toro Celebre" is of Spanish origin. "Del Toro" means "of the bull" in Spanish, and "Celebre" means "famous" or "celebrated." It is likely that the surname origin...

Del valle-barrion (Last name)

surnames > del-valle-barrion

The surname "del Valle Barrion" is of Spanish origin. "Del Valle" means "of the valley" in Spanish, indicating a geographic connection to valley landscapes. "Barrion" may be a vari...

Del-Aguila (Last name)

surnames > del-aguila

The surname "Del Aguila" is of Spanish origin. It translates to "Of the Eagle" in English and is derived from a nickname for someone with an eagle-like appearance or characteristic...

Del-bel (Last name)

surnames > del-bel

The last name "del Bel" is of Italian origin. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "bello" meaning "beautiful" or "handsome", indicating a person with this surname ma...