L'onomastica d'origine ligure a Gibilterra

Resum

This article is based on original research and deals with the Ligurian origin of many of the surnames currently found in Gibraltar. It points out the areas of origin of these surnames, discusses their etymology and gives their present frequency. Remarks are made on Ligurias historical importance in this locality, and above all on the linguistic, ethnographic and cultural consequences of this influence. The component of Genoese origin, which dates back to the early phases of the British administration of the territory, still plays an important role in the composition of the local population. This, together with the Ligurian contribution to the yanito dialect (on the lexicon of which some remarks are also offered), makes Gibraltar a unique case of the linguistic and cultural presence of Genoa during its last phase of expansion (18th century) in the Mediterranean basin.