Maiorana

For the taxonomic name of marjoram (typically abbreviated O. maiorana), see Origanum maiorana.

Maiorana is an Italian surname.[1] It may derive from the location Maiorano di Monte or from the herb marjoram. The surname appears to be broadly, though sparsely, distributed throughout Italy.[1]

Origins and variants

One theory suggests that the surname is Sicilian in origin and related to locations where maiorana, Medieval Latin for marjoram, was found.[2]

Another theory suggests this is a variant of "Maiorano", which is a surname likely related to the Italian frazione Maiorano di Monte.[3] However, another source suggests the surnames are not related, and that "Maiorano" is related to the word "majorano", a dialectic term for a type oregano.[4] This source also relates "Maiorana" to "Majorana", where "Maiorana" is the far more common variant and made its first recorded appearance in the 13th Century.[4]

People

Notable people with the surname include:

Related surnames

References

  1. 1 2 "Maiorana", Sardinian Surnames, retrieved 10 February 2016.
  2. ↑ Hines, Patrick (2013). Maiorana. The Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 10 February 2016 – via Ancestry.com.
  3. ↑ Hanks, Patrick (2006) [2003]. Maiorano. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195188417.
  4. 1 2 "Italian Surnames - Cognomi Italiani - M". Ganino (in Italian). 5 March 2014. MAIORANA/MAJORANA, MAIORANO/MAJORANO. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
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