Italian surname "Marotta" origin theories?

Question

I was hoping someone could help me with this, either confirm or deny my research on my Italian last name, "Marotta." I know the "-otta" derives from the Latin "octavia" meaning eighth, which I assumed was created from the gens Octavia (not to say of the same bloodline, of course, but I can dream can't I :P).

As for the "Mar," does it derive from the Italian "Moro" (Latin "Maur"), meaning from North Africa? This would make sense to me, because I am of North Western Sicilian heritage (Palermo/Panormus to be exact), and this region in ancient days was settled by the Carthaginians...from North Africa.

If have ANY insight please let me know! Or if you can guide me somewhere that can give me more info.

Answer 1

Here is a link to show you the concentration of the name MAROTTA all over Italy http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/genera.html?cognome=MAROTTA&t=cognomi-prov
and in the States
http://www.gens-us.net/map/genera.html?cognome=MAROTTA
and the dissuion in the Sicily's municipalities
http://sicilia.indettaglio.it/eng/cognomi/motore/motore_sql.html?Cognome=marotta&Modo=E
Another italian website http://www.cognomiitaliani.org/cognomi/cognomi0011arn.htm
says that this name is very common either in Campania (Naples area) and in Sicily. They say that the most probable origin of this name is a small village close to Capua (still in Naples area) that has this name.I didn't find trace of the Roman origin as you have posted in the comments to yr question.

Answer 2

I am an atheist, and a scientist (well I have a physics degree anyway). Origin theories are not something one "believes in". In my book, a belief is something you hold to be true without solid evidence, and something you will hold on to even if challenged. I do think that the Big Bang theory is quite a good explanation, but I know there are some issues with it to. However, there is no better theory at the moment, so until someone can figure out a better idea, I'll go with the Big Bang. I think the God creation idea is a sort of random idea that raises more questions than it answers. ie: where did God come from? A scientific theory is the best idea scientists have at the time, there is nothing sacred about a particular theory. It's not necessarily something you believe. It's kind of like a criminal investigation (done right), you investigate leads and try and figure out what happened, you don't "believe" the result before you have a good idea, and you are ready to throw out ideas if they don't work.

Answer 3

Hey Niel with the Deal,

Swyrich.com says:
Spelling variations of this family name include: Marincola, Maroncella, Marincella, Maroncola and others.

First found in Calabria a territorial district of Italy. Ancient Calabria was in Lecce.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Jean Marone, who came to Virginia in 1700; Frederick Marone, who settled in Indiana sometime between 1860 and 1896; Patrick Marone, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1862.

----------------------
You could use some of the sites below to help verify the region, but looking at the region phone book, some should still be there.

Answer 4

Marotta
Southern Italian: from a reduced form of Mariotta, a female pet form of Mario, probably via French Marotte.
(Source: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4)