Di Giovanni Surname in Italy

The surname Di Giovanni originates from the given name Giovanni used patronymically, with the particle 'Di' commonly meaning 'son of' in Central and Southern Italy. Its distribution spans the entire Italian peninsula, with a higher prevalence south of Lazio, notably in Abruzzo, northern Campania, Sicily, and Lazio. Important concentrations also exist in Salento, the province of Cosenza, Naples, Rome, Bologna, Ravenna, Milan, and Turin. Related variants have distinct regional roots: for example, Degiovanni is mainly Piedmontese, while the rare Digiovanni appears chiefly from Bari with a secondary branch near Turin. Historically, families named De Giovanni attained noble titles in Lombardy and Piedmont, including the Counts of Gualtieri. In Terra d'Otranto during the 17th century, the Di Giovanni were established as feudal lords and Greek Orthodox clergy in Corsano. In Sicily, princely branches such as those in Trecastagni and Precacore are recorded. The Apulian and Sicilian De Giovanni families likely descend from Don Giovanni Centelles, an illegitimate son of the Marquis of Catanzaro, who connected through marriage to the noble Del Balzo Orsini line.