Di Lorenzo — Di Lorenzo is a Southern Italian patronymic surname meaning 'son of Lorenzo' — derived from the given name Lorenzo (Lawrence), itself from the Latin Laurentius, meaning 'from Laurentum' or 'crowned with laurel'. The name was given in honour of Saint Lawrence of Rome (c. 225–258), the third-century deacon and martyr who is one of the most venerated saints of the early Church. Di Lorenzo is concentrated in Campania, Abruzzo, Molise, and Lazio.
History & Origins
Saint Lawrence was deacon to Pope Sixtus II in Rome and was martyred on 10 August 258 during the persecution of Emperor Valerian. He was grilled on a gridiron — the instrument of his martyrdom that became his symbol in Christian iconography — and became one of the most beloved saints of the early Church. The Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura in Rome was built over his tomb by Constantine the Great in the fourth century and is one of the seven pilgrim churches of Rome. The feast of Saint Lawrence on 10 August has been observed since the earliest Christian centuries.
The Central and Southern Italian Distribution
Lorenzo was among the most popular male given names in medieval and early modern Italy, generating both the primary surname Lorenzo and the patronymic Di Lorenzo across the peninsula. The Di Lorenzo form is most common in the Central and Southern Italian regions of Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, and Lazio — areas where the patronymic 'Di' prefix was the standard form for creating surnames from fathers' names. The provinces of Naples, Caserta, Avellino, L'Aquila, and Frosinone hold the densest concentrations.
Di Lorenzo in the Italian Diaspora
Di Lorenzo families emigrated to the United States, Argentina, and Brazil during the Italian diaspora. The Campanian and Abruzzese streams are well represented in the Italian-American communities of the East Coast. As with other patronymic surnames, American records may show DiLorenzo (no space) or Lorenzo — searching all variants is essential. The Central Italian origin of many Di Lorenzo families means they may have settled in communities distinct from the predominantly Sicilian and Neapolitan East Coast mainstream.
The Di Lorenzo Diaspora
Di Lorenzo families are established in Italian-American communities on the East Coast, with concentrations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The Abruzzese and Campanian branches are the most numerous in the United States. Argentina received Central and Southern Italian emigrants including Di Lorenzo families. Brazil (São Paulo) has smaller Di Lorenzo communities.
Genealogy Research Guide
Di Lorenzo research focuses on Campania (Naples, Avellino, Caserta) and Abruzzo (L'Aquila, Chieti, Pescara). Always search DiLorenzo and Lorenzo as variants in American records. The Molise region, often overlooked in Italian genealogy research, produced significant Di Lorenzo emigration. The State Archives of L'Aquila and Campobasso hold important Abruzzese and Molisan records. For US research, NARA (National Archives) records for naturalisations often preserve the original Italian province.
Notable People Named Di Lorenzo
- Pietro Di Lorenzo — Italian industrialist and businessman of the late twentieth century, representing the commercial tradition of the Di Lorenzo name.
- Various Di Lorenzo families of Abruzzo — The Abruzzese branch of Di Lorenzo is one of the best-documented regional Italian surname traditions, with excellent records at the State Archives of L'Aquila.
Related Italian Surnames
Often found in the same regions and emigration records: