Bravo
A surname from a word meaning “fierce, bold, or brave,” especially in Spanish and Italian.
The #828 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 7,404 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname comes from the Romance word bravo, meaning “brave,” “wild,” “fierce,” or “rough-tempered.” The deeper root is usually traced to Latin pravus, “crooked” or “bad,” though historical usage shifted in Romance languages toward the sense of an untamed or bold person. As a surname, it likely began as a nickname for someone thought courageous, hot-tempered, or forceful in manner.
History
Bravo is well established as a Spanish surname, and it is also found in Italy and other Romance-language areas. In Spanish historical sources, the word is commonly linked with the sense of valor or boldness, which makes it a natural nickname surname. It has been carried to the Americas through Spanish and Italian migration and appears in many modern Spanish-speaking communities.
Origin
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Fun fact
In older Spanish, bravo could mean not only “brave” but also “wild” or “savage,” which is why the surname can reflect either courage or a rough character.
From the historical record
“Caret. Bravo. Buckthought. By.”
— Ludus Patronymicus; or, the etymology of curious surnames