Vella Surname in Italy

The surname Vella is predominantly Sicilian and reflects noble connections combined with Spanish and Maltese influences. It likely originates from an archaic form of the Italian word "bella" and is linked to noble families in Malta, including the Barons of San Giovanni. A key figure from the Maltese branch, Giuseppe Vella, relocated to Sicily, where his son Giovanni Vella, also known as Vella-Varrios, was inducted into the Order of Saint James in 1674. This family subsequently allied with the Marquises of Taflia and the Counts of San Paolino d'Aquileja. The Maltese Vella surname has roots in the Iberian Peninsula—specifically the Catalan word "vella," meaning "old," as seen in place names like "Ciutat Vella" in Barcelona and "Andorra la Vella." Historical records identify Don Tarquino Vella, Knight of Castile, as the ancestor who settled in Malta in the early 15th century. In Sicily, aside from Maltese connections, Vella may also stem from direct Spanish or Catalan linguistic and cultural influence, exemplified by the Vella family of Comitini, Barons of Biggini, who descend from the Vella-Varrios line.