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Greetings,
According to "Diccionario di cognomi italiani" by Emilio De Felice, "Gaeta" (and variants Gaita, de Gaita, di Gaeta, Gaetani, di Gaetano.) is found throughout southern Italy and is formed from the place name Gaeta. ("di Gaeta" means "from Gaeta;" "Gaetano" means "the Gaetan.") "Caieta," the Latin form of the name, produced a Latin name "Caietanus" which became the given name "Gaetano." This could also have produced some examples of the surname.
We hope this has been helpful.
Sincerely,
Alan Terlep
Academy of S. Gabriel