In the past, the Podesta was a high official in Italian republics of the medieval or early modern period. (Currently, Podestà is still the title of some Italian magistrates,[1] and of mayors in Italian-speaking municipalities of Graubünden in Switzerland.)
By extension, the word has been used in English to designate a particularly powerful government official or potentate.[2]
The Italian title gave rise to a surname, which then gave rise to a company name.
Spelling variants edit
The surname has Italian, Spanish and English spellings which vary only by the position of an accent over the final "a".
Italian spelling: Podestà edit
In its Italian spelling (grave accent over the "a") the name "Podestà" may refer to:
- Agostino Podestà (1905–1969), Italian fascist politician
- Giovanni Andrea Podestà (1608–c.1674), Italian painter
- Guido Podestà (born 1947), Italian politician
- Massimo Podestà, Italian artist
- Rossana Podestà (1934–2013), Italian actress
- Stefano Podestà (born 1939), Italian academic and politician
Spanish spelling: Podestá edit
In its Spanish spelling (with an acute accent over the "a") the name "Podestá" may refer to:
- Babsie Podestá (1912–2004), Maltese water polo player
- Cristian Podestá (born 1991), Argentine footballer
- Horacio Podestá (1911–1999), Argentine rower
- Inti Podestá (born 1978), Uruguayan footballer
- Jerónimo Podestá (1920–2000), Argentine bishop
- María Esther Podestá (1896–1983), Argentine actress
- Pablo Podestá (1875–1923), Uruguayan-Argentine stage actor, singer, acrobat
- Raúl Podestá (1899–1970), Argentine painter and sculptor
English spelling: Podesta edit
In its English spelling (with no accent), the name "Podesta" may refer to:
- Andrea Giacomo Podesta (1620–after 1640), Italian engraver and painter
- Heather Podesta (born 1970), American lobbyist
- John Podesta (born 1949), American lawyer, White House Chief of Staff of Bill Clinton
- Tony Podesta (born 1943), American lobbyist
English spelling: DePodesta edit
- Paul DePodesta (born 1972), American football executive and former baseball executive
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Collins English Dictionary, entry "Podesta", accessed 3 September 2016.
- ^ E.g. see Thomas Frank, "The life of the parties: The influence of "influence" in Washington", Le Monde Diplomatique (English edition), 6 July 2016, accessed 3 September 2016.
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