Surname distribution and origin notes

Traverso Surname in Italy

By current distribution, Traverso is very common in Italy. It is held by 4,113 people across 327 Italian towns. The top towns are Genoa (1,489), Busalla (150), Gavi (116). The strongest regional presence is in Liguria, Piemonte, Veneto.

Origin notes

Origin and meaning

Traverso is a distinctly Ligurian surname, most likely born from a dialect nickname, recorded as travèrso or Ligurian travèrsu, describing a stocky, broad-shouldered person. A rarer and older nuance of the term could also refer to someone with a squint. The presence of the personal name Traversus in late medieval Italy shows that this linguistic base was already in use by that period. The surname’s strong concentration in Liguria, especially around Genoa, fits its regional origin.

Surname map

Distribution in Italy

Highest presence: Genoa

Traverso Surname Distribution Map in Italy

This map shows the areas of Italy where the Traverso surname is more or less present. Warmer colors indicate stronger presence, while cooler colors indicate lighter presence.

Surname distribution
Surname presence
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