Where the Denaro surname comes from
Scholars have no single answer for the origin of Denaro. The most widely accepted explanation traces it to the town of Naro, in the province of Agrigento. “Di Naro” meant “the family that came from Naro,” and over time the two words probably fused into Denaro. The surname has nothing to do with money: it is only a coincidence of sound.
Why “perhaps”
No record survives to explain the origin of a surname this old. The link with Naro is the explanation found in the reference works on Sicilian surnames, but it remains a theory. The PDF tells how the Denaro family can be followed through the archives.
Where the Denaros live today
Denaro is a Sicilian surname, common on the island. About 2,500 people carry it in Italy. It has two heartlands far apart: the Messina area in the northeast and the Ragusa area in the southeast. A small old branch also lives in Calabria, in the Reggio Calabria area. The families in the North came with the emigration of the 1900s. The PDF has the region-by-region map and the countries around the world they reached.
Variants
Two rare forms, Di Naro and Dinaro, keep the link with the town almost intact. The PDF explains where they are found.
| Surname | Where it is concentrated |
|---|---|
| Denaro | all of Sicily, mostly the Messina and Ragusa areas |
| Di Naro | Agrigento and Caltanissetta areas, very rare |
| Dinaro | Catania and Syracuse areas, very rare |
FAQ
What does the surname Denaro mean?
The origin is debated. The most widely accepted explanation traces it to “di Naro,” the family that came from the town of Naro, in the province of Agrigento. It has no link to money.
Is Denaro a Sicilian surname?
Yes, almost entirely. It is found across much of the island, with the strongest groups in the Messina and Ragusa areas and an old branch in the Reggio Calabria area, in Calabria.
Are Denaro and Di Naro the same surname?
According to the PDF, yes. Di Naro and Dinaro express the same idea, “the family that came from Naro,” written in different ways by the clerks of the old registers. They are very rare forms.
Are all Denaros related?
No. Because the surname is widespread, several Denaro families can live in the same town with no family ties. What often tells them apart is their household nicknames.
Is the Denaro surname noble?
In general, no. It most likely comes from the name of a town and tells mostly of ordinary people. A Sicilian heraldic collection does record a Denaro family of Syracuse with the title of baron.
Is there a Denaro family coat of arms?
There is no coat of arms that belongs to all Denaros. A Sicilian heraldic collection records one for a Denaro family of Syracuse, but it was the arms of that branch.
Where do you look for Denaro ancestors?
In Sicily, civil registration begins in 1820, and in the Reggio Calabria area in 1809. Before that you use parish registers. What matters most is the family’s specific town.
How many Denaros are there in the world?
Several thousand, almost all in Italy. Abroad the largest groups are in the United States and Argentina, then Germany, France and Brazil.
