Esposito ([eˈspɔːzito]) is a very common Italian surname. It ranks 4th among the most widespread surnames in Italy. Although it is frequent throughout the country, it is especially prevalent in the Campania region and, most specifically, in the Naples area.
Etymology and history
Etymologically, this surname is thought to derive from Latin expositus (Italian esposto, 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".
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.
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.
Andrée Esposito, French opera singerAndré Reinaldo de Souza Esposito, better known simply as Andrezinho, Brazilian professional footballerAngelo Esposito, Canadian ice hockey playerAntonio Esposito (footballer born 1972), Swiss-Italian former midfielderAntonio Esposito (footballer born 1983), Italian footballerAntonio Esposito (footballer born 1990), Italian footballerCameron Esposito, American comedianCarlos Esposito, retired Argentine football refereeChloe Esposito, Australian PentathleteChristian Esposito, Italian-Australian footballerDennis Esposito, Italian footballerDino Esposito, an MSDN magazine columnistFranck Esposito, French swimmerFrank Esposito (disambiguation), multiple peopleGiancarlo Esposito, American actorGiani Esposito, French film actor and singer-songwriterGino Esposito, a fictional character on the Australian soap opera NeighboursIosu Expósito, Spanish musicianJavier Esposito, a fictional character on the American comedy-drama television series CastleJennifer Esposito, American actressJoe Esposito (disambiguation), multiple peopleJohn Esposito, American professor at Georgetown UniversityJoseph Esposito (disambiguation), multiple peopleJuan José Expósito Ruiz, Spanish footballerLarry W. Esposito, American planetary astronomerMariana Espósito, Argentine actress and singerMauro Esposito, Italian footballerMary Ann Esposito, American cooking show hostMax Esposito, Australian modern pentathleteMichele Esposito, Italian-born musical composer and pianist who lived most of his professional life in Dublin, IrelandMike Esposito (disambiguation), multiple peopleMonica Esposito, Scholar of Chinese religionPhil Esposito, Canadian ice hockey playerPhillip T. Esposito, US Army Captain, homicide victimRaffaele Esposito, Italian tavern ownerRalph Esposito, Podiatric surgeonRoberto Esposito, Italian philosopherRosario Francesco Esposito, Italian Roman Catholic priestSam Esposito, American college baseball coachTony Esposito, Canadian ice hockey goalie and younger brother of Phil EspositoTony Esposito, musician, singer-songwriter and drummer from ItalyTony Esposito, Australia UDPUnai Expósito, Spanish footballerVincenzo Esposito, Italian basketball coachVincenzo Esposito, Italian footballer and coachZack Esposito, American amateur wrestler