Sarno

Sarno is an Italian surname that originally denoted a person from the town of Sarno in Campania, Italy. The town itself is named for the Sarno River, called Sarnus in Latin. Thus, the surname is essentially locational, deriving from a place whose ancient name has deep roots in antiquity.

Etymology and History

The Sarno River (Sarnus) is mentioned by ancient authors such as Pliny the Elder, and its name may have pre-Latin origins, possibly from a lost Mediterranean language. The town of Sarno lies at the foot of the Apennine Mountains, near the river's sources, and has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. It was settled by Oscan and Samnite peoples before being absorbed into the Roman Republic. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the modern town developed around a Lombard castle built in the 8th century.

As a Surname

As a habitational surname, Sarno would have been given to people who originally came from the town of Sarno and moved elsewhere. Many Italian surnames of this type are derived from local place names, reflecting a common naming tradition in medieval Italy. Today, the surname Sarno is found throughout Italy but remains most frequent in Campania, especially in the provinces of Salerno and Naples.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with the surname Sarno include:

• Anthony Sarno Jr. (born 1978), American infielder in Major League Baseball (1990s);
• Joe Sarno (1921–2010), American film director and screenwriter of erotic films;
• Richard Sarno, American television producer and screenwriter for The Simpsons.

This list, however, is brief; the surname is not widely associated with globally prominent figures.

Related Surnames

Sarno is related to the Arabic male given name Sarwah (same Arabic root, some sources suggest interchangeability) and possibly to the Italian name Sarli, thought to be common for lawyers.

• Meaning: Person from Sarno, Italy (river name Sarnus)
• Origin: Italian (habitational)
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: Southern Italy (Campania, especially Salerno and Naples)