Where the Cascino surname comes from
The origin of Cascino is debated, but every theory leads to the Sicilian countryside. The surname most likely comes from a nickname, tied to the cascina, the farmstead, or to cacio, cheese. It could point to the place the family came from. Or to the trade of the founder, who worked where the animals were milked and the cheese was made. The PDF tells both paths and the world of shepherds the name comes from.
The avalanche that climbs
In World War I a general from Piazza Armerina led a brigade made up mostly of Sicilian soldiers. He shouted a phrase to his men that became famous, and today it can be read on a monument. His courage also moved one of Italy’s greatest musicians, who went up to the front to pay tribute to him in his own way. The PDF tells who he was, and what he did.
Where the Cascinos live today
Cascino is a Sicilian surname: there are about 1,000 families in Italy, and almost seven out of ten live on the island. The main center is the province of Caltanissetta, and in Gela it is the city’s fifth most common surname. Outside Sicily it is most common in Lombardy, then in Campania. Emigrants took it to the Americas and to Northern Europe. The map and the countries around the world the Cascinos reached are in the PDF.
Variants
Cascino has no common variants: in the PDF the surname appears only in this form.
FAQ
What does the Cascino surname mean?
It is a nickname most likely tied to the farmstead or to cheese. It could point to the place the family came from, or to someone who worked in a farmstead or a cheese hut.
Is Cascino a Sicilian surname?
Yes. Almost seven out of ten Cascinos live in Sicily, with an important center in the province of Caltanissetta. In Gela it is the city’s fifth most common surname.
Where are the Cascinos found outside Sicily?
In Italy mainly in Lombardy, then in Campania, Lazio and Piedmont. The main line is Sicilian, with old branches in Campania and Basilicata as well.
Are all Cascinos related?
No. The surname may have been born in more than one place, from similar nicknames, and two Cascino families aren’t necessarily related. To trace your own story you need birth records and parish registers.
Is the Cascino surname noble?
The surname comes from a country nickname and doesn’t indicate nobility in itself. A Cascino family from Sicily had a coat of arms, but it concerned only that branch.
Is there a Cascino family coat of arms?
A Cascino family from Sicily had a red coat of arms with a thin silver stripe. It belonged to that branch, not to all the Cascinos. There is no coat of arms for the whole surname.
Who was General Antonino Cascino?
He was a general born in Piazza Armerina in 1862, awarded the gold medal. In World War I he led the “Avellino” Brigade and died in 1917 from wounds suffered at the front.
