Morelli
An Italian surname usually meaning “descendant of Moro” or “little dark one,” depending on local family history.
The #5,333 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 47,267 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Morelli is an Italian surname built from Moro, a common byname meaning “dark,” “swarthy,” or sometimes “Moor,” with the plural or family-form ending -elli. In many cases it began as a patronymic or clan-style name meaning “the family of Moro” or “the children of Moro.” In some local traditions it may also reflect a diminutive sense, roughly “little dark one.”
History
The surname is widespread in Italy, especially in central and northern regions, and was later carried abroad through Italian migration. In records it may appear as a family-group surname rather than a single ancestral nickname, which is typical of many Italian plural-form surnames. Outside Italy it is especially common in countries with large Italian-descended populations, including the United States, Argentina, and Brazil.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Morelli is one of many Italian surnames that use a plural ending to signal an extended family rather than just one person.