De Palma

De Palma is an Italian surname meaning "from the palm tree". It is a locational surname derived from a place named after a palm tree, common in southern Italy and Sicily. The name often indicates ancestral origin from a town or area known for palm trees, such as Palma or Palm.

Notable Bearers

Several prominent figures bear the surname De Palma, mostly in arts and sports:
Brian De Palma (born 1940), the American film director and screenwriter known for classics like Scarface and The Untouchables, is perhaps the most famous bearer. His last name is of Italian origin. In the documentary De Palma, he discusses his career.
Ralph DePalma (1882–1956) and John DePalma (1885–1957) were prominent early 20th-century American auto racers; both were inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Anthony DePalma (1904–2005) was a pioneering American surgeon. Larry DePalma (born 1965) is a former NHL player. In fiction, Louie De Palma is the cantankerous dispatcher in the TV series Taxi (1978–1983), played by Danny DeVito.

Variants include DePalma (without space) and French form De Palmas, as in French singer Gérald de Palmas.