Surname distribution and origin notes
Toso Surname in Italy
Toso is very common among Italian surnames. It is held by 3,763 people across 510 Italian towns. The top towns are Venice (309), Turin (97), Udine (85). The strongest regional presence is in Veneto, Piemonte, Friuli V.G.. Related variants include TOSELLI, TOSELLO, TOSETTI, TOSETTO, TOSI.
Origin notes
Origin and meaning
The surname Toso is widely found in Northern Italy, particularly in Veneto, Piedmont, and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. It most likely originates from the dialect word 'toso', meaning 'boy', which in turn derives from the Latin 'tonsus' meaning 'shorn', referring to the tradition of cutting boys’ hair very short. In certain cases, the surname may have a toponymic origin, supported by a 1222 document from Bergamo mentioning a place called Tosilio. Another potential derivation is from the archaic nickname 'tosello', meaning canopy, possibly referring to a proud or pompous individual. Early records of the surname appear as early as the 13th century in Siena with an individual named Ugolinus de Toso de Montemasso. Related surnames like Toselli, Tosetto, Tosetti, Tosi, and Tosello represent distinct regional lineages sharing similar roots.
Surname map
Distribution in Italy
Highest presence: Venice
Toso Surname Distribution Map in Italy
This map shows the areas of Italy where the Toso surname is more or less present. Warmer colors indicate stronger presence, while cooler colors indicate lighter presence.
Italian towns with the highest presence
| Town | Province | Region | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venice | Venice | Veneto | 309people |
| Turin | Turin | Piemonte | 97people |
| Udine | Udine | Friuli V.G. | 85people |
| Mongrando | Biella | Piemonte | 73people |
| Genoa | Genoa | Liguria | 63people |
| Lendinara | Rovigo | Veneto | 63people |
| Grado | Gorizia | Friuli V.G. | 58people |
| Padua | Padua | Veneto | 55people |
| Rome | Rome | Lazio | 52people |
| Milan | Milan | Lombardia | 47people |
