Evangelista Surname in Italy

The surname Evangelista is common in central and southern Italy, particularly in Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Puglia, and Basilicata. It originates directly from the medieval given name Evangelista, documented since the 1400s in places such as Foligno and Milan. Variants like Evangelisti are more prevalent in the central-northern regions including Emilia, Tuscany, Marche, Umbria, and Lazio. The forms Vangelista and Vangelisti have more localized origins: Vangelista is typical of Veneto, especially around Chioggia, Verona, and Bassano del Grappa, while Vangelisti is characteristic of Tuscany, found in provinces like Lucca, Pistoia, Florence, and Arezzo. All these surnames stem from the name Evangelista and sometimes result from aphesis. Historical records highlight the name's medieval use, as seen with the Jewish merchant Evangelista Angelini from Trevi and the artistic collaboration involving Evangelista De Predis and Leonardo da Vinci in Milan.