a Spirito Sancto as surname

[glaneman]

In researching Catholic records from the Borgetto commune of Palermo, I encountered many instances where 'a Spirito Sancto' was given instead of a surname/cognome. These persons also were under the care of (sub cura) others who were not their biological parents. What does the usage of this term indicate--an orphan, adopted child or ???
Any help to clarify this is appreciated.

[Italysearcher]

In some towns in early years a surname was not given to a foundling. This may have been the priest's way of sayig that the child survived 'by the grace of God'.

[PippoM]

Thare were various euphemisms to mean the condition of a child with no known or legitimate parents. For instance, my grandfather was a foundling, and he was to be, in our dialect, a "figlio della Madonna" ("child of Our Lady")