Surname Viola - Meaning and Origin

Viola: What does the surname Viola mean?

The last name Viola originates from Italy and is derived from the Latin term "violet". It is generally considered to be an occupational name for a person who played the viola in an orchestra or a group. It can also be a topographic name referring to someone who lived by a conspicuous patch of violets, or a nickname for someone who often wore the color purple. Additionally, it can be a patronymic or matronymic name derived from the female personal name Viola, which was a popular name during the Middle Ages, especially in Northern Italy. Since these varied meanings are associated with the name, individual family histories can influence its specific connotations as well.

Viola: Where does the name Viola come from?

The last name Viola is quite popular mainly throughout Europe. In Italy, Viola is consistently among the top 100 surnames for the region, and is taken mainly from the Latin word “violet” plus the diminutive suffix “-ella”.

In the United Kingdom, Viola ranks as one of the 1000 most popular surnames, although much lower in frequency than in Italy. In England, the name often derived from a nickname for someone with a pale complexion, or was taken by Huguenot immigrants of French origin.

In Germany, Viola is not as popular as the related names Willweber, Wilhelm, Willecens, and Fleig. The German version of the name is typically spelled Wiolka, which was adopted in the Middle Ages from the Latinate version of the surname.

The surname Viola has also been well-represented in the United States since 1880. Most Americans with this surname are of Italian, German, or Polish ancestry, and it is most prevalent in the northeastern states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.

Overall, the last name Viola is quite common worldwide, although it is especially common in Southern Europe, particularly Italy, where it has been popular for centuries.

Variations of the surname Viola

Viola is an Italian surname which has many different variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these variants include Violanna, Violace, Violante, Violloni, Violina, Violetta, Viollia, Violi, Violazo, Violaere, Viyola, Violo, Violini, Viyoli, and Violera.

Viola is also a Spanish surname, with some of its variants including Viyola, Violores, Viyolos, Violo, Viole, Viollante, Violero, Violar, Viollazo, Violla, Violere, Violyo, Violler, Violaere, and Violante.

In Portuguese, some of the variants of the Viola surname include Viyola, Violi, Viyolo, Violaere, Violante, Violento, Viollo, Viollone, and Violli.

In French, the variations of the Viola surname are Violli, Violaze, Violier, Violère, Viyole, Vivollier, Viollon, Viollère, Violante,Violace, Viollière, and Viyol.

In German, variants of the Viola surname are Wiola, Wiyola, Wiyol, Wiyolle, Wiyon, Wiyone, Wiyolz, Wiyon, Wiyoli, Wiollace, Wioller, and Wiyolaa.

The Welsh version of the Viola surname is Gwylla, with some of its variations including Gwylia, Gwyllace, Gwyllez, Gwylar, Gwyler, Gwylo, Gwyloer, Gwyller, Gwyllaere, and Gwyllante.

Finally, the Scandinavian version of this surname is Violla, with slight variations such as Viyolla, Viyoller, Viyolaere, Viyollant, and Viyolle.

Famous people with the name Viola

• Maite Viola: Argentine fencer
• Dave Viola: American musician and composer
• Ann Viola: Italian actress
• Doug Viola: Major League Baseball player
• Paul Viola: American photographer
• Mike Viola: American singer and songwriter
• Jane Viola: American Olympic swimmer
• Phil Viola: American voice actor
• Robert Viola: American soccer coach
• Tom Viola: American music producer

Other surnames

Violette