Surname Sicily - Meaning and Origin

Sicily: What does the surname Sicily mean?

The last name Sicily does not have a specific meaning as a surname, but it is derived from the name of the island of Sicily, located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Italy. The island's name in turn is thought to have ancient origins dating back to the indigenous Siculi tribe, one of the earliest recorded groups to inhabit the region. The name Siculi itself possibly has roots in the term 'Sikeloi', given to the tribe by the Greeks, or could possibly derive from the Latin 'Siculus'. Regardless, the surname Sicily would typically denote a geographical or familial connection to this region. Please note, however, the use of Sicily as a last name is extremely rare.

Sicily: Where does the name Sicily come from?

The last name Sicily is most commonly found in the United States, Italy, and Canada today. It also appears in small numbers in other countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

In the United States, Sicily can be seen in states like California, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The surname originated from an area of southern Italy that was known as Sicily when the first settlers bearing the surname arrived. Though the area is now know as Sicilia, many of the Sicilian people moved away from the region over the centuries as a result of political and economic unrest. The United States is now home to the largest population of people with the Sicily last name.

In Italy, Sicily is popular in places like Rome, Milan, Palermo, and Catania. The actual origin of the surname Sicily in this region is disputed, but many believe it to be quite ancient. However, it is likely that the surname may have first emerged as an occupational name, such as a tavern owner or a fishmonger.

In both Canada and the United Kingdom, Sicily is a much less common surname. The last name is likely to have arrived in both countries with the waves of Sicilian immigrants who traveled to Britain and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Overall, the surname Sicily is seen most commonly in the United States, Italy, and Canada today, but can also be found in small numbers in other nations around the world.

Variations of the surname Sicily

The surname Sicily has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants include Sisilia, Sisily, Szilágyi, and Szilagy. In some parts of Europe, the letters "ly" instead of "lyi" are used, resulting in Sisily being the most common spelling. Older records may even list Sicily as Cecilie, Sycelie, or Zhilagy.

The origin of the surname Sicily is believed to be from Hungary. In Hungarian, the surname means ‘from Szilagy’, which was originally a place name or toponym. It is a habitational name derived from the personal name Szilagyi.

Other variants and spellings of the surname Sicily include Secelye, Secely, Szilagyi, Szilagye, Linkie, Seekie, and Sylkie. In Hungary, coats of arms belonging to different branches of the Sicily family have often varied from one another.

The various Sicily variants also have a number of different surnames that share the same origin. Surnames such as Secely, Lester, Szilagyi, Geraldi, Angeli, Zikan, and Sylky are related to the Sicily surname.

In summary, the surname Sicily has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which are primarily derived from the Hungarian place name Szilagy. Common variants include Sisilia, Sisily, Szilágyi, Szilagy, and Secelye, while other related surnames are Lester, Szilagyi, Geraldi, Angeli, Zikan, and Sylky.

Famous people with the name Sicily

• Chloe Sicily: Australian country singer
• Mia Sicily: Australian television and radio presenter
• Steve Sicily: British musician
• Chris Sicily: American actor
• Ron Sicily: American professional wrestler
• Maria Sicily: Russian figure skater
• Tony Sicily: American comedian and podcast host
• Andy Sicily: US golfer
• Al Sicily: American boxer
• Art Sicily: Italian motor racing driver

Other surnames