Neri Surname in Italy

The surname Neri is widespread throughout Italy, with notable concentrations in Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Lazio. It originates from the Latin cognomen Niger and its medieval forms such as Nigrus, Negro, or Nigro, or from nicknames referring to dark hair or complexion. In southern Italy, it can also indicate Saracen ancestry. Related surnames show distinct geographical roots: Negrelli is typical of the areas around Sermide, Carbonara di Po, and Concordia sulla Secchia; Negrello comes from the Vicenza area, especially Valstagna and Rovigo; Negretti is mainly found in Lombardy (Como, Milan, Brescia) and parts of Lazio; Negretto is present in the Aosta Valley and Verona province; Nigrelli is concentrated in Sicily, notably Mussomeli, Santo Stefano di Camastra, and Palermo. Negri originates in northern Italy with a branch in Naples; Negrini is widespread particularly in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna; Negrino, quite rare, is typical of the northwest (Turin, Alessandria, Genoa); Negro is common in Piedmont and Liguria with a nucleus in Salento; Negroni has a strong presence in Bologna with branches in Lombardy; Neretti and Nerini are typical of the Bologna area and the region between Bologna, Florence, and Pistoia respectively. These surnames, although sharing roots linked to the Latin term for 'black', can be differentiated by their specific regional origins.