Cavallo
A surname of Italian origin meaning “horse,” likely first used as a nickname or by someone associated with horses.
The #9,464 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 89,804 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Cavallo is the Italian word for “horse,” from Latin caballus, meaning a horse or workhorse. As a surname, it was probably first applied as a nickname to someone thought to resemble a horse, to a rider, or to a person who worked with horses. In some cases it may also have been used as a house, sign, or stable name that later became hereditary.
History
The name is strongly associated with Italy and appears in Italian and Italian-diaspora communities abroad. Like many surnames based on animals or occupations, it could arise independently in more than one place. It is also found in Spanish and other Romance-language settings in related forms, though the Italian surname Cavallo is the best known.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The root caballus is the source of many Romance-language words for “horse,” including Italian cavallo, Spanish caballo, and French cheval.