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,Collins English Dictionary, entry "Podesta", accessed 3 September 2016. 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.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.
The Italian title gave rise to a surname, which then gave rise to a company name.
Spelling variants The surname has Italian, Spanish and English-language spellings which vary only by the position of an accent over the final "a".
Podestà variant In its Italian-language spelling (grave accent over the "a") the name "Podestà" may refer to:
Agostino Podestà (1905–1969), Italian fascist politician Giovanni Andrea Podestà (1608–1674), 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
Podestá variant In its Spanish-language spelling (with an acute accent over the "a") the name "Podestá" may refer to:
Alberto Podestá (1924–2015), Argentine tango singer 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 Octavio Podestá (born 1929), Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Podestá (1875–1923), Uruguayan-Argentine stage actor, singer, acrobat Raúl Podestá (1899–1970), Argentine painter and sculptor
Podesta variant In its English-language 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 Podesta emails Tony Podesta (born 1943), American lobbyist
Other variants Erika Podest, Panamanian environmental earth scientist Paul DePodesta (born 1972), American baseball and football executive
See also Podesta (disambiguation) Palazzo del Podesta (disambiguation)
References