Pasquale
An Italian surname and given name from the Christian feast of Easter, originally meaning “of Easter” or “born at Passover/Easter.”
The #8,793 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 82,862 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Pasquale comes from the Latin paschalis, meaning “of Easter” or “belonging to Passover/Easter,” ultimately from Greek pascha, “Passover.” As a surname, it began as a name attached to a child born around the Easter season or to someone named for the feast. The same root produced many related names across Europe, including Pascal, Pascual, and Paschal.
History
The name is long established in Italy, where Pasquale is both a personal name and a surname. It spread through Italian diaspora communities, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. Related forms are also found in France, Spain, and other Romance-language regions.
Origin
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Fun fact
A number of European surnames and given names in this family were traditionally bestowed on children born at or near Easter.
From the historical record
“Genoa, ili-. Boswell travelled over every part of the island, and fonned an intimate acquaintance with General Pasquale de Paoli, in whose palace he resided during his stay in Corsica. He subse- quently went to Paris, whence he returned to Edinburgh in 1766, and soon after was admitted a member of the Faculty of…”
— The Scottish Nation; or, the surnames, families ... of the people of Scotland, vol. 1