What does the phrase 'da Vinci' mean in Leonardo's name?

The phrase “da Vinci” means “from Vinci” in Leonardo’s name. His full name was Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, conventionally rendered in English as Leonardo da Vinci.

In Renaissance Italy, names were not always hereditary surnames in the modern sense. “Da Vinci” indicated a connection with the town or territory of Vinci, while “di ser Piero” identified him as the son of Ser Piero. Ser was a courtesy title associated with his father’s status as a gentleman and legal notary.

Leonardo was born in or near Vinci, in Tuscany, in 1452. The exact birthplace is traditionally placed at a farmhouse near Anchiano, though historians have noted uncertainty about the precise location. Another common misconception is that “da Vinci” means “master of Vinci” or represents a noble family name. It primarily functioned as a geographic identifier, and historians often refer to him simply as Leonardo when discussing Renaissance naming conventions.