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, and of mayors in Italian-speaking municipalities of Graubünden in Switzerland.)
Contents
By extension, the word has been used in English to designate a particularly powerful government official or potentate.
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 spellings which vary only by the position of an accent over the final "a".
Italian spelling: Podestà
In its Italian spelling (grave accent over the "a") the name "Podestà" may refer to:
Spanish spelling: Podestá
In its Spanish spelling (with an acute accent over the "a") the name "Podestá" may refer to:
English spelling: Podesta
In its English spelling (with no accent), the name "Podesta" may refer to: