Cattaneo is an Italian surname, a regional variant of Capitani particularly concentrated in Lombardy. The root surname Capitani is an occupational name meaning "captain" in Italian, derived from Latin caput "head." This etymological link reflects a historical role as a military or civic leader.The surname Cattaneo is most prevalent in Italy, where 81.2% of bearers resided as of 2014, especially in Lombardy (frequency 1:223, much higher than the national average of 1:1,232). Significant diaspora populations exist in Argentina (9.0%), Switzerland (2.8%), the United States (1.9%), France (1.8%), and Brazil (1.2%).Notable individuals with the surname include: Adelardo Cattaneo (?–1225), an Italian cardinal; Carlo Cattaneo (admiral) (1883–1941), an Italian naval commander; and Bernadette Cattanéo (1899–1963), a French trade unionist and militant communist. Others span mathematics, football, politics, and religion.Meaning: Variant of the occupational name “captain” (from Latin caput “head”)Origin: Italian, especially LombardyType: SurnameUsage Regions: Italy (Lombardy), Argentina, Switzerland, United States, France, Brazil