Surname Sanphilippo - Meaning and Origin

Sanphilippo: What does the surname Sanphilippo mean?

Sanphilippo is an Italian surname. The name is derived from the combination of three Italian words – "san," "filo," and "filippo." "San" means holy or saint, "filo" means friend or lover, and "Filippo" is a personal name, equivalent to Philip in English. Therefore, the combined meaning could be interpreted as 'Saint Philip' or 'Holy lover of Philip.' It could also imply the person is a devotee or a follower of Saint Philip. Surnames in Italy were often derived from a person's occupation, geographical location, or the name of a parent. The 'San' prefix suggests a religious or clerical background, indicating someone involved with the church or the service of a particular saint, here being Saint Philip. The spelling may vary, with some versions appearing as Sanfilippo. Like many surnames, specific interpretations can slightly differ based on regional usage and historical context.

Sanphilippo: Where does the name Sanphilippo come from?

The surname Sanphilippo primarily originates from Italy. It is a compound surname where "San" refers to “Saint” and "Philippo" comes from the personal name Philip or "Filippo" in Italian, meaning "friend of horses." The surname likely evolved either from an ancestor who was fondly designated as a friend of horses or from strong religious ties with St. Philip.

The Sanphilippo surname is most common in Sicily, specifically in the province of Agrigento, but it is found throughout Italy. Today, apart from Italy, it's also prevalent in countries with sizable Italian immigrant populations. This includes the United States, primarily in the states of New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California, and to a lesser extent in countries like Argentina, Australia, and Canada. Like other Italian surnames, its spread around the globe corresponds to patterns of Italian migration.

Variations of the surname Sanphilippo

The surname Sanphilippo is of Italian origin, specifically from Sicily. It's a patronymic or plural form of Sanfilippo, meaning 'Son of Philip'. Similar to many Italian surnames, there might be slight variations in spelling based on regional dialects, phonetic spellings, or possibly errors in documentation.

Variations of this surname might include: San Filippo, Sanfilippo, San Fillippo, Sanfillippo, SanPhillipo, or even St. Philippe in French-speaking areas. These variations still essentially have the same meaning, referencing Saint Philip.

Although it's not a direct variant, the surname Filippo (and its variants De Filippo, Di Filippo, Lo Filippo), which means simply 'Philip', can be somewhat related as they share a common root. Please note, however, that while they may share origins, these surnames have branched off into their unique identities and histories.

Lastly, it's worth noting that outside of Italy and other Romance language-speaking countries, the surname could also be anglicized upon immigration. For example, it might have been translated to 'Philips' or 'Phillipson' in English-speaking countries.

Famous people with the name Sanphilippo

• Fabrizio Sanphilippo: He is one of the most prominent Italian entrepreneurs in the real estate business. He is considered the pioneer of “third-generation investing” and is the author or creator of several educational programs to support real estate investors.
• Vincenzo Sanphilippo: A professional footballer from Italy, he has played at many different clubs in his career including A.S. Bari in the Serie B, where he was a part of the winning team in the 1996/97 season.
• David Sanphilippo: A fiddle player based in San Francisco, California, he has released several solo albums and is also part of the instrumental group “California Fiddlers.”
• Marco Sanphilippo: An Italian immobilier, he is the Vice President of the Automobile Club of Turin and has been involved in politics, notably serving as mayor of Flattingo in the 1970's.
• Terry Sanphilippo: A public health physician who is currently working in the United States, originally from Canada. He is a part of the NYC ABCD (Aging and Community Based Diabetes) Initiative, a organization dedicated to improving diabetes care in New York City.
• Antonio Sanphilippo: An Italian singer and composer, he has released several albums and is known for his traditional Italian songs.
• Felix Sanphilippo: A former Italian professional racing cyclist, he raced for the team Saronni-Milano and is best known for winning the Italian National Championship in 1983.
• Robert Sanphilippo: A California based sculptor who specializes in wood sculptures. His works are displayed in many large-scale collections, including those at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the Honolulu Museum of Art, and the San Diego Museum of Art.

Other surnames

Sanphilipo