Surname Palmese - Meaning and Origin

Palmese: What does the surname Palmese mean?

The surname Palmese is of Italian origin, most likely derived from the word "Palma" which means "palm" in English. This might refer to a person who either lived near a palm tree or someone who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and brought back a palm branch as a memento. In the Middle Ages, it was common for Christians to make pilgrimage journeys to the Holy Land and they would often bring back palm tree branches to symbolize their completed journey. So the surname Palmese could have initially been a nickname given to such individuals. It is also likely to be a locational surname deriving from any of the places named with "Palma", primarily in Southern Italy. Surnames were often created to identify individuals based on a distinguishing factor such as a characteristic, occupation, or location. However, the exact meaning of Palmese can vary depending on the family's history and its regionality.

Palmese: Where does the name Palmese come from?

The last name Palmese is most commonly found in Italy today. Ironically, it was originally derived from the Latin word for palm, "Palma," which was the old surname adopted by those living in the area of Puglia, Italy. This name is most common in southwestern parts of Italy, especially Puglia and Campania.

In more recent times, the Palmese family name has spread across the country and other parts of the world. Today, there are now significant populations of the Palmese family in the United States, Australia and Canada.

The United States has the highest population of Palmese in the world, most likely due to the large influx of Italian immigrants who settled in the country during the late 19th century. In areas like locales around New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and throughout New England, the Palmese name has gained a strong foothold. Chicago in particular has one of the largest populations of Palmese living in North America.

In Australia, the Palmese family has seen a steady rise in population towards the north, most notably in the heavily Italian city of Brisbane. Lastly, Palmese families have been spotted in the western Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario.

Though less plentiful than in its country of origin, the Palmese name has definitely been spread quite far and wide.

Variations of the surname Palmese

The surname Palmese is an interesting one, as it can take a variety of different forms depending on the region or culture in which it is found. Variants of the name include Palmisano, Palmery, Palmesano, Palmisi, Palmesei, Palmezzi, Palmaesano, Palmiero, Palmieri, Palmazza, Palmaschelli, Palmasini, Palmasano, Palmosi and Palmusano.

In Italy, English-speaking countries and France, the name is typically spelled Palmese. In Spain, the equally common spelling is Palmes. In Portugal, variations include Pálmez and Pálmes.

Additional surnames of likely origin include Palmacci, Palmusci, Palmosci, Palmozzi, Palmucci, Palmuzzi and Paloschi. All of these surnames derive from the Latin word palma, meaning "palm tree," and from a first name derived from the same source.

In an Italian context, the name is also sometimes linked to the word palma meaning "palm branch," as in the blessed palm presented to Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. This would suggest that the name was originally bestowed upon an ancestor who was regarded as a blessed individual or chosen one.

In some cases, the surname has been Anglicized to forms such as Palmer, Palmes, and Palmason.

No matter the spelling, this surname has a long and fascinating history, with versions of it found in many countries around the world.

Famous people with the name Palmese

• Richard Palmese: American Grammy-nominated music executive, former president, co-owner and co-founder of Pavement Entertainment, as well as the publisher of BMI.
• Allen Palmese: American lawyer and chairman of the Palmese Law Group in San Diego, California.
• Paul V. Palmese: American entrepreneur and philanthropist
• Christopher Palmese: American singer-songwriter and musician
• Marlowe H. Palmese: American architect, former chairman of the Philadelphia Art Commission
• Vincent J. Palmese: American District Court judge
• Charles “Chet” Palmese: American sports journalist and baseball and hockey broadcaster
• Valeria Palmese: Italian actress
• Robert Palmese: American basketball coach
• Daniel Palmese: Brazilian Trombonist and Jazz musician

Other surnames

Palmer