Volpe
An Italian surname from the word for “fox,” originally a nickname for a sly, clever, or fox-like person.
The #4,517 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 39,346 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Volpe is the Italian word for “fox,” continuing Latin volpes/volpe, “fox.” As a surname, it most likely began as a nickname for someone thought to be shrewd, crafty, or fox-like in appearance or behavior. In some families it may also have been used as a house sign or as a regional name, but the core sense is the animal nickname.
History
The surname is especially associated with Italy and Italian-speaking communities, where it is common in several regional forms. Like many animal-based surnames, it would have arisen independently in more than one place. It also appears in emigrant communities abroad, including the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The plural Italian surname Volpi is closely related and literally means “foxes.”
From the historical record
“baut (Diepold) und viele andre erinnern uns noch an die alte Brüderschaft. Unser Beginhard, Beinhard hat in der französischen Jägersprache das romanische volpe ver- drängt und ist geradezu Bezeichnung für den schlaueiL Fuchs geworden. Und selbst aus der iberischen Halb- insel klingen noch alte westgothische Namen…”
— Die oberdeutschen Familiennamen