Last Name Notaro

The surname "Notaro" is of Italian origin. It comes from the word "notaio," which means notary in Italian. Over time, it has been spelled and pronounced in various ways depending on regional dialects, including Notari, Notara, Noterio, etc. This occupational name would have been given to someone who worked as a notary public.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Notaro

The meaning and origin of the last name Notaro

The surname Notaro originates from Italy, specifically from the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is a variation of the Italian name "Notara," which means notary or legal scribe. This surname likely belonged to someone who served as a public notary during the Middle Ages. Over time, variations in spelling such as Notaro, Notari, Notarile, and Nottaro emerged due to regional dialects and migration patterns. The name has since spread across various parts of the world, carried by Italian immigrants seeking new opportunities beyond their homeland. Today, individuals with the surname Notaro can be found in many countries, most notably in Italy, the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America.

Geographical distribution of the last name Notaro

The surname Notaro has its origins in Italy and is primarily concentrated in Southern regions such as Calabria, Campania, and Sicily. Its frequency significantly decreases moving northward, reflecting a historical pattern of migration from the south to the north of the Italian peninsula.

Emigration from Italy, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries, led to a diaspora of Notaros across various parts of the world. In the United States, notable concentrations can be found in areas with high Italian-American populations like New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. In Canada, Toronto and Montreal have significant numbers of individuals bearing the Notaro surname.

Outside Europe and North America, countries such as Argentina, Australia, and Brazil also host populations with the last name Notaro, a testament to the global reach of Italian migration over the past centuries. Overall, the geographical distribution of the Notaro surname reflects historical patterns of Italian immigration and settlement across the globe.

Variants and spellings of the last name Notaro

The surname Notaro has various spelling and pronunciation variations due to different translation methods from Italian to English and regional dialects. Here are some of the commonly found forms:

1. Notaro - The standard spelling, derived directly from Italian, pronounced as [noˈtaːro].
2. Nottaro - A variant spelling that can be heard in certain regions, still following the Italian pronunciation rules.
3. Nottero - Another slight variation of the original spelling, which may have been introduced by English-speaking individuals who misinterpreted the Italian pronunciation and chose a different spelling to fit their language's phonetic rules.
4. Nottarowicz - A Polish form of the surname, derived from the Italian Notaro but incorporating a Slavic patronymic suffix (-owicz). This version is pronounced as [nɔttaˈrɔvit͡ʂ].
5. Nottero-Witz - A possible combination of the Italian Nottero and a German patronymic suffix (-witz), resulting in a unique spelling found among families with mixed heritage or those who migrated from regions where German was spoken. This version is pronounced as [noˈtɛʁoʊvɪts].
6. Naturo - A less common English-language spelling that may have resulted from a phonetic transcription of the Italian pronunciation by non-native speakers or families who wanted to anglicize their name. This variation would be pronounced as [ˈneɪtʃəroʊ].

Famous people with the last name Notaro

Lisa Notoaro and Tig Notaro are two notable individuals with the last name Notaro. Lisa Notoaro, born in 1967, is an American author and television writer, best known for her work on sitcoms such as "The Simpsons" and "Dharma & Greg." She has written and produced over a hundred episodes of TV, earning multiple Emmy nominations.

On the other hand, Tig Notaro, born in 1970, is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Her career took off after her comedy album "Live" went viral due to its raw and emotional content about her battle with cancer and coming out as a lesbian. Notaro has since starred in several TV shows, including "One Mississippi," a semi-autobiographical series she created, wrote, and produced for Amazon Studios. Both women have made significant contributions to their respective fields.

Genealogical research on the last name Notaro

The surname Notaro originates from Italy and is predominantly found in regions such as Calabria, Campania, and Sicily. The name is a variant of Notari, which itself derives from the Latin "notarius," meaning notary or scribe. In feudal times, notaries played an important role in recording legal documents for land transactions, wills, and other official business. Over time, as surnames became more common in Italy, those with the occupation of notary began to use it as a family name. The Notaro family, like many Italian families, experienced migrations due to political instability and economic hardships. Many Notaros emigrated from Italy, particularly to the United States, Argentina, and Australia, where their descendants continue to reside today. Notable individuals with the surname include Giuseppe Notarbartolo, a former Prime Minister of Italy, and comedian Margaret Cho, who is of Italian-Korean descent and shares her family name in its Anglicized form.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Notaro"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

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 : 11 June 2025

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