Lama

Lama is an Italian surname derived from the place name Lama, which is common in Italy. The name likely originates from toponyms referring to a "blade" or a "low-lying area" (from Latin lama, meaning "swamp" or "mud"). As a habitational surname, it would have been used to identify families living in or near such locations. While the surname is most frequently found in Italy, it has also spread to other countries through immigration. The name is not to be confused with the unrelated Tibetan honorific Lama (Tibetan: bla-ma, meaning "high mother"), which is a title for venerated spiritual masters in Tibetan Buddhism, such as the Dalai Lama or the Panchen Lama.

Notable bearers of the Italian surname Lama include Italian painter Giovanni Battista Lama (1673–1748), Giovanni Bernardo Lama (1508–1579), and Dario Lama, a 20th-century Argentine racing driver of Italian descent.

Geographic distribution

As a surname, Lama is most common in southern Italy, particularly in Campania, Apulia, and Sicily. It can also be found in the United States, Argentina, and other countries with significant Italian diaspora communities.

• Meaning: Derived from the Italian place name Lama
• Origin: Italian (habitational)
• Type: Surname
• Usage regions: Primarily southern Italy, with diaspora communities worldwide