Esposito

Esposito () is a common Italian surname. It ranks fourth among the most widespread surnames in Italy. It originates from the Campania region, most specifically, in the Naples area.

Etymology and history

Etymologically, this surname is thought to derive from Latin (Italian , Old Italian or dialect ''esposito''), which is the past participle of the Latin verb ''exponere'' ("to place outside", "to expose") and literally means "placed outside", "exposed". In accordance with the original Latin form, the name is correctly pronounced stressing the antepenultimate syllable (i.e. ); however, it is common among English-speakers to mispronounce it as , placing the stress on the penultimate.

Italian tradition claims that the surname was given to foundlings who were abandoned or given up for adoption and handed over to an orphanage (an ''Ospizio degli esposti'' in Italian, literally a "home or hospice of the exposed"). They were called ''espositi'' because they would get abandoned and "exposed" in a public place. Some orphanages maintained a so-called ''Ruota degli esposti'' (English: "Wheel of the exposed") where abandoned children could be placed. After the unification of Italy, laws were introduced forbidding the practice of giving surnames that reflected a child's origins. A crude meaning is bastard or out of wedlock child.

As a surname, Esposito has produced a number of variants throughout modern Italy, such as D'Esposito, Degli Esposti, Esposti, Esposto, Sposito, etc. Other variants are also found in the Spanish-speaking world, for example Espósito and Expósito.

Notable people

* Andrée Esposito, French opera singer
* André Reinaldo de Souza Esposito, better known simply as Andrezinho, Brazilian professional footballer
* Angelo Esposito, Canadian ice hockey player
* Antonio Esposito, multiple people
* Cameron Esposito, American comedian
* Carlos Esposito, retired Argentine football referee
* Chloe Esposito, Australian Pentathlete
* Christian Esposito, Italian-Australian footballer
* Dennis Esposito, Italian footballer
* Dino Esposito, an MSDN magazine columnist
* Ester Expósito, Spanish actress and model
* Felissa Rose Esposito, Italian-American actress
* Franck Esposito, French swimmer
* Frank Esposito, multiple people
* Gaetano Esposito, Italian painter
* Giancarlo Esposito, American actor
* Giani Esposito, French film actor and singer-songwriter
* Gino Esposito, a fictional character on the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours''
* Iosu Expósito, Spanish musician
* Javier Esposito, a fictional character on the American comedy-drama television series ''Castle''
* Jennifer Esposito, American actress
* Joe Esposito, multiple people
** Joseph Esposito, multiple people
* John Esposito, American professor at Georgetown University
* Juan José Expósito Ruiz, Spanish footballer
* Larry W. Esposito, American planetary astronomer
* Mariana Espósito, Argentine actress and singer
* Mario Esposito (scholar), scholar of Hiberno-Latin literature, son of Michele Esposito
* Mark Esposito, Swiss Economist and Professor of Business and Economics at Harvard University and Hult International Business School
* Mauro Esposito, Italian footballer
* Mary Ann Esposito, American cooking show host
* Max Esposito, Australian modern pentathlete
* Michele Esposito, Italian-born musical composer and pianist who lived most of his professional life in Dublin, Ireland
* Mike Esposito, multiple people
* Monica Esposito, Scholar of Chinese religion
* Pablo Despósito, Argentine footballer
* Phil Esposito, Canadian ice hockey player
* Phillip T. Esposito, US Army Captain, homicide victim
* Raffaele Esposito, Italian tavern owner
* Ralph Esposito, Podiatric surgeon
* Roberto Esposito, Italian philosopher
* Rosario Francesco Esposito, Italian Roman Catholic priest
* Salvatore Esposito, multiple people
* Sammy Esposito, American baseball player and college baseball coach
* Sebastiano Esposito, Italian footballer
* Tony Esposito, Canadian ice hockey goalie and younger brother of Phil Esposito
* Tony Esposito, musician, singer-songwriter and drummer from Italy
* Unai Expósito, Spanish footballer
* Vincenzo Esposito, Italian basketball coach
* Vincenzo Esposito, Italian footballer and coach

References

{{surname, Esposito

Italian-language surnames
Surnames from nicknames