Surname Sciarra - Meaning and Origin
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Sciarra: What does the surname Sciarra mean?
The surname Sciarra is of Italian origin and has been traced back mainly to the central and southern regions of Italy. The word "sciarra" translates to "quarrel" or "fight" in English. It is believed to be derived from the Italian medieval term, hinting that the ancestors bearing this name might have been known for being argumentative or fighters. Another theory is that it might be a topographic name for someone who lived by a boundary mark, from the word "sciarra", an alteration of "schiera" meaning 'row', 'boundary' or 'mark'. Like many surnames, the exact origin and the initial meaning can be multifaceted and are often subject to various interpretations. Over time, the name Sciarra may have found numerous spelling variations due to regional dialects and phonetic spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisSciarra: Where does the name Sciarra come from?
The surname Sciarra is primarily found among Italian-speaking populations around the world, and is especially popular in the country of Italy. It is the 63rd most common last name in the city of Rome and the 43rd most common in the Province of Messina, located on the northeastern coast of Sicily.
The surname is also found in the populations of countries that experienced significant Italian immigration over the last two centuries, such as the United States, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Australia. In the United States, the surname is most common in the Northeastern region, specifically New York and New Jersey. In Argentina, the family name is concentrated mainly in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires.
It has been speculated that the surname Sciarra is of Italian origin, but its exact origin is uncertain. Other sources suggest it is derived from Sicilian dialect and may be related to the word “sciarrà”, meaning “scared”.
The Sciarra family has produced notable figures in several areas, ranging from business and politics to theatre and filmmaking. The most well-known member of the family is probably Don Ciccio Sciarra, a powerful and influential Mafia figure who operated in northern Italy in the 1800s.
In general, the last name Sciarra is common among present-day Italian-speaking populations all over the world.
Variations of the surname Sciarra
The surname Sciarra has many variants that are used in different languages. In Italian, Sciarra may be spelled Scaramacci, Sciarrassi, Scarassa, Scaragi, Scarligizzi, Scarrà, Scarati, Scardi and Scaricci. This variant of the surname is found in countries such as Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg and France.
In Spain, Sciarra is often spelled as Siarra or Ciarra. This variant of the surname is also found in other countries such as Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines and Venezuela.
In Germany, the surname is usually spelled as Scharra or Scharrau. This variant is also common in Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.
In the English-speaking countries, the surname is almost always spelled as Scara, Scarra, Scare or Scarr. It can also sometimes be spelled as Skerra or Sharra.
In Ireland, the surname Sciarra is often spelled as Kearry, Sherry, O'Sharry, Sharry, Skeer, Skerry or Skire. This variant of the surname is also found in Scotland, Wales and England.
No matter the variant, all spellings and surnames of Sciarra share a common origin. It likely originated in the town in Italy by the same name as the surname. The name itself has no precise meaning, but it is thought to be derived from the Latin word meaning "priest".
Famous people with the name Sciarra
- Joanna Sciarra, an artist and cultural heritage activist
- Gloria Sciarra, an Italian actress and director
- Joseph A. Sciarra, an American lawyer and attorney
- Richard Sciarra, an American lawyer and legal historian
- Richard P. Sciarra, an American lawyer and environmental activist
- Carlo Sciarra, an Italian engineer and corporate executive
- Joseph P. Sciarra, an American lawyer and legal scholar
- Gregory Sciarra, an American financier and philanthropist
- Michael Sciarra, an American political scientist and author
- Kenneth M. Sciarra, an American lawyer and judge