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 singer
André Reinaldo de Souza Esposito, better known simply as Andrezinho, Brazilian professional footballer
Angelo Esposito, Canadian ice hockey player
Antonio Esposito (footballer born 1972), Swiss-Italian former midfielder
Antonio Esposito (footballer born 1983), Italian footballer
Antonio Esposito (footballer born 1990), Italian footballer
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
Franck Esposito, French swimmer
Frank Esposito (disambiguation), multiple people
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 (disambiguation), multiple people
John Esposito, American professor at Georgetown University
Joseph Esposito (disambiguation), multiple people
Juan José Expósito Ruiz, Spanish footballer
Larry W. Esposito, American planetary astronomer
Mariana Espósito, Argentine actress and singer
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 (disambiguation), multiple people
Monica Esposito, Scholar of Chinese religion
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
Sam Esposito, American college baseball coach
Tony Esposito, Canadian ice hockey goalie and younger brother of Phil Esposito
Tony Esposito, musician, singer-songwriter and drummer from Italy
Tony Esposito, Australia UDP
Unai Expósito, Spanish footballer
Vincenzo Esposito, Italian basketball coach
Vincenzo Esposito, Italian footballer and coach
Zack Esposito, American amateur wrestler
