Vaccaro Surname in Italy

The surname Vaccaro and its variants, including Vaccarelli, Vaccarello, and Vaccaretti, originate from nicknames linked to the traditional occupation of a vaccaro, someone who guarded cattle. Vaccaro is mainly found in central and southern Italy, with a strong concentration in Sicily, Campania, and Calabria. Variants like Vaccarello are distinctly Sicilian, especially around Agrigento, while Vaccarelli appears predominantly in Abruzzo and Apulia. Less common forms are found in northern Italy, such as Vaccaretti in the Vicenza area, Vaccaretto near Verona, and Vaccarini in regions around Rimini and Ancona. Historical records trace notable bearers of the name back to the 15th and 16th centuries, including Bishop Domenico Vaccari of Ventimiglia in the 1500s, Monsignor Ercole Vaccari in Naples during the 1600s, and the noble Fabio Vaccaro from Castellamare di Stabia in the 16th century.