Surname Natale - Meaning and Origin

Natale: What does the surname Natale mean?

The last name Natale is of Italian origin, deriving from the Latin name "Natalis". Natalis was the Latin word for "birthday", so ultimately the name Natale is related to the word birthday.

The surname Natale is commonly found in regions with Italian ancestry, such as Italy, the United States, and Canada. The name Natale is believed to have first been established in 15th-century Italy. It is most prevalent today in Southern Italy, particularly in provinces such as Campobasso and Naples.

Natale is typically found to be an occupational surname, indicating a profession that had something to do with birthday celebrations - such as being a baker, a butcher, a party organizer, or a cake decorator. It is also believed that in some cases, Natale was an alias, used in order to avoid being persecuted during times of religious or political unrest.

The Natale family crest often had the imagery of a cake on it, reflecting their original occupational tie. Today, the name Natale is often pronounced with a French accent, as the Italian pronunciation of the name would be "nah-tah-leh".

Overall, the surname Natale holds a unique and interesting history, having originally been associated with birthday celebrations and evolved into a popular Italian surname found all around the world.

Natale: Where does the name Natale come from?

The last name Natale is most commonly found in countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. In Italy, the last name Natale is derived from the Latin “Natalis,” meaning “birthday” or “birth,” and is traditionally associated with the Christmas season.

In Spain, the name Natale is derived from Saint Natale of Berga, a martyr from the 16th century. This has resulted in the Natale surname becoming more common in northern Spain and Spain’s Catalonia region.

In Portugal, the last name Natale is typically derived from the Latin word “natalis,” meaning “born,” and is found predominantly in the nation's central and northern regions.

Latin America also has high concentrations of Natales. In Mexico, the last name has spread widely throughout the country, while Argentina and other countries in the region feature it in their phone books and modern census data.

In the United States, the last name Natale is also relatively common and can be found in varied locations throughout the country. Much of this population descends from Italian and Spanish immigrants.

Overall, the last name Natale is an interesting and ancient one with a long, multicultural history. It is equally common in many parts of Europe and Latin America, as well as the United States, making it an accessible surname throughout much of the world.

Variations of the surname Natale

The surname Natale has several variants, spellings, and surnames of Italian and English origin.

In Italian, the surname Natale is a patronymic name derived from the Latin “natalis” which means “birth”. Variants include Natal, Natali, Natalié, Natalle, Nata, and Nataletti.

In English, the surname Natale is a regional name from the North West of England, derived from the Latin “natal” which means “a place of birth” and can refer to a chapel next to a place of birth, or a place where food was distributed on the occasion of a birth. Spelling variants include Natal, Natalli, Natally, Natallye, and Nattal.

In other parts of Europe, the name Natale may have other origins and variations, such as Natales in Spain, and Natalevich in Russia. There are also Anglicized versions of the name such as Naismith, Natt, Natte, Nayte, Nates, Natterson and Naeth.

It is also possible that some Natales may be descended from the star-aligned Natale family of Florence.

Ultimately, Natale is an ancient surname that is widespread across the world, and over time has acquired numerous variants and spellings in different languages and cultures.

Famous people with the name Natale

• Franco Natale: Franco Natale is an Italian actor who appeared in movies such as The Leopard, Special Section, Le Pont du Nord and Salò.
• Joe Natale: Joe Natale is an American Grammy-nominated country music singer and songwriter.
• Joe Natale Jr.: Joe Natale Jr. is an American music producer and former member of the duo, Joe and Frank.
• Frank Natale: Frank Natale is an American singer and former Hall of Fame musician who was part of the duo Joe and Frank with his brother Joe Natale.
• Lou Natale: Lou Natale was an American basketball player who played professionally in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Josie Natale: Josie Natale is a Honduran singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Alejandro Natale: Alejandro Natale is an Argentine professional football player who plays as a striker for the football club Atlético Tucumán.
• Pia Natale: Pia Natale is an Italian fashion designer based in Rome.
• Paul Natale: Paul Natale is an American hockey referee who refereed in the National Hockey League in the early 2000s.
• Tara Natale: Tara Natale is an American actress who has appeared in films such as Men in Black 3 and Trainwreck.

Other surnames