Meaning & History
Etymology
Cirillo is the Italian form of Cyril. The name ultimately derives from the Ancient Greek Kyrillos (Κύριλλος), a diminutive of kyrios (κύριος), meaning "lord" — a word used frequently in the Greek Bible to refer to God or Jesus.
Notable Bearers
This name has been borne by several notable individuals. In Italian history, Domenico Cirillo (1739–1799) was a prominent physician and patriot who was executed for his involvement in the Neapolitan Republic. The standard botanical author abbreviation "Cirillo" refers to him. Other Italian figures include Cirillo Manicardi (1856–1925), a painter, and Nello Pagani (1911–2003), whose given name was Cirillo; he was a motorcycle racer and Formula 1 driver. In surnames, Landolfi Cirillo (died 1500) was a clergyman, and the contemporary architect Lanfranco Cirillo (born 1959) has gained prominence internationally.
Cultural Context
The name Cyril was borne by several important saints, including Cyril of Alexandria, a 5th-century theologian, and Cyril of Jerusalem, a 4th-century bishop and Doctor of the Church. Another Saint Cyril was a 9th-century Greek missionary to the Slavs, credited with creating the Glagolitic alphabet with his brother Methodius. The Cyrillic alphabet, named after him, is descended from Glagolitic. Because the name is strongly associated with Orthodox Christianity, its Italian form, Cirillo, has traditionally been used in regions influenced by Byzantine or Eastern Christian culture, such as southern Italy.
Related Forms
Related forms across other languages and cultures include Cyrillus (Ancient Greek), Kyrillos (Greek), Kiryl (Belarusian), Kiril (Macedonian), Cyril (Slovak), and Cy (English).
- Meaning: "lordly, masterful"
- Origin: Greek, via Italian
- Type: Given name and surname
- Usage: Italian
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Cirillo