Family name origins & meanings
- Southern Italian : from the medieval personal name Signore (from Latin senior ‘senior’, ‘elder’, genitive senioris).
- Southern Italian : from signore ‘lord’, hence a derisive nickname for a peasant who gave himself airs and graces, or occupational name for someone in the service of a great lord. This also came to be used as a title of respect for professional men such as notaries.