Podesta (surname)
In the past, the Podesta was a high official in Italian republics of the medieval or early modern period. (Currently, Podestà is still the title of some Italian magistrates,[1] and of mayors in Italian-speaking municipalities of Graubünden in Switzerland.)
By extension, the word has been used in English to designate a particularly powerful government official or potentate.[2]
The Italian title gave rise to a surname, which then gave rise to a company name.
Spelling variants
The surname has Italian, Spanish and English spellings which vary only by the position of an accent over the final "a".
Italian spelling: Podestà
In its Italian spelling (grave accent over the "a") the name "Podestà" may refer to:
- Giovanni Andrea Podestà (1608 - c. 1674), Italian painter
- Guido Podestà, Italian politician
- Rossana Podestà, Italian actress
Spanish spelling: Podestá
In its Spanish spelling (with an acute accent over the "a") the name "Podestá" may refer to:
- Horacio Podestá (1911–1999), Argentine rower
- Inti Podestá (born 1978), Uruguayan footballer
- Jerónimo Podestá (1920–2000), Argentine bishop
English spelling: Podesta
In its English spelling (with no accent), the name "Podesta" may refer to:
- Heather Podesta (born 1970), American lobbyist
- John Podesta (born 1949), American lawyer, White House Chief of Staff of Bill Clinton
- Tony Podesta (born 1943), American lobbyist
See also
- The Podesta Group, a lobbying and public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C.
- Podesta (island), a phantom island
References
- ↑ Collins English Dictionary, entry "Podesta", accessed 3 September 2016.
- ↑ E.g. see Thomas Frank, "The life of the parties: The influence of “influence” in Washington", Le Monde Diplomatique (English edition), 6 July 2016, accessed 3 September 2016.