Surname Calleia - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Calleia: What does the surname Calleia mean?
The last name Calleia is of Italian origin, and is believed to have derived from the Latin word Callus, meaning “a flat stone” or “boulder”. This roots the name in peasantry, as many in the Italian countryside lived and farmed near such stones. In more historical contexts, the last name is thought to have originally referred to people who resided in the area of the town of Calleia in the Italian Cilento region.
Beyond Italian origins, the surname is also found scattered throughout Portugal, Spain, and Brazil, where it may have arisen from other sources. Although it is believed the last name is of humble origins, many people have risen to great heights with it. For example, the popular American actor Joseph Calleia was born in Malta, of Italian heritage, and achieved success in Hollywood.
In more modern contexts, Calleia has evolved to represent an individual of resilient and persistent character, having persevered in times of adversity and risen to distinction. The name also carries a sense of tradition and loyalty to one’s own cultural roots.
Order DNA origin analysisCalleia: Where does the name Calleia come from?
Calleia is a common surname throughout the Italian speaking world, particularly in Italy, and Sicilian-American communities in the United States. The name is of Italian origin and is thought to be derived from the Italian word "calia" which means street. The likely theory is that the surname is derived from the locations of family farms on old streets or villages.
In Italy, the most common regions for the surname Calleia are Sicily, Campania, Calabria, Lombardy and Veneto. Across these regions, the surname is found in both urban and rural areas. In Sardinia, Calleia is especially common in the provinces of Carbonia, Cagliari and Medio Campidano.
In the United States, the leading states for the Calleia surname are New Jersey, New York, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Some of the largest cities for the name include New York City, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. The Calleia surname is also present in other parts of the Americas, such as Canada, Brazil and Argentina.
The Calleia surname is not restricted to Italy or the Americas. It is also found in various other countries, such as Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, and Switzerland. It is even found in the Philippines, given its connection to the Italian diaspora.
Overall, the Calleia surname is common throughout the Italian speaking world, particularly in Italy and Italian-American communities in the United States. It can also be found in many other countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Calleia
The surname Calleia is an Italian surname which is derived from the Latin word 'calle', meaning road. The variants of this surname include Calleo, Callia, Calleja, Calleggio, Callegarin, Callesio, Callera, Callosso, Càlleja, and Callés. This surname is particularly popular in other countries, such as the United States, Catalonia, Mexico, and even the Philippines, where it may be spelled as Kalleya, Kalleyah, Kalley, Kalleo, or Calleya.
In the United States, the surname is often anglicized as "Kalley" or "Calleo". The spelling "Kalley" is found mostly in German-speaking countries, while "Calleo" is more popular in Hispanic countries. In Mexico, the surname is typically spelled as "Callesio". The Catalan variant of the surname is "Càlleja".
The surname Calleia has also been associated with other spellings and surnames of Italian origin, such as Cellia, Celia, Callia, and even Callegari. The spelling of Callegari is a combination of two Italian words, "calle", meaning road, and "gari", meaning gardener. This suggests that people bearing this surname were most likely to have been gardeners or worked in agriculture.
In conclusion, the surname Calleia has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Although the name is of Italian origin, it has spread to other countries and cultures, resulting in different spellings and alternative surnames.
Famous people with the name Calleia
- Joseph Calleia: An actor born in Malta who was active in both American and European cinema through the 1930s-1960s.
- Maurycy Gottlieb: A renowned Polish painter who was born Moses Eliashevitch Gottlieb, but changed his name to Maurycy after his father Reuben Calleias.
- Pedro Carreras Calleia: An athlete from Puerto Rico who won two bronze medals in the 1948 Summer Olympic games.
- Ralph Calleia: A member of the Parliament of Malta from 1958 until1971.
- Andry Calleia: A musician born in Gozo, Malta who studied music in London.
- Joseph Calleia Jr.: An actor who often played mafia characters in films, and was the son of famous actor Joseph Calleia.
- Charles Calleia: A Maltese scholar and member of the Order of Saint John, active during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Marisa Calleia: A human rights lawyer from El Salvador who is the assistant director of the Social Communication Office of the Archdiocese of San Salvador.
- Fey Calleia: An artist and photographer born in the Dominican Republic whose work is part of several public collections.