Massa Surname in Italy

Massa is a widespread Italian surname, with especially strong concentrations in Piedmont, Campania and Liguria. Its origin is largely toponymic and may refer to several places named Massa, such as Massa in the province of Benevento, Massa in Massa-Carrara, Massa e Cozzile in Pistoia, Massa della Lucania in Salerno, or Massa di Somma near Naples. In Sardinia, the surname is well documented in medieval records and local history, showing an old and established presence on the island. The word massa comes from Latin, where it originally meant a paste or lump of dough and later, in late Latin, also a multitude. In Italian and Sardinian usage it developed several meanings, including a landed estate or a group of properties, which may also have influenced some surname formations.