DeStefano
An Italian surname meaning “son or descendant of Stefano,” with Stefano being the Italian form of Stephen.
The #4,975 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 43,744 Americans shares it.
Etymology
DeStefano is an Italian patronymic surname built from the preposition de (“of” or “from”) plus the personal name Stefano. Stefano is the Italian form of Stephen, ultimately from Greek Stephanos, meaning “crown” or “garland.” In surname use, the name would originally have identified someone as belonging to, or descended from, a man named Stefano.
History
This type of surname is common in Italian naming, especially in forms that point to a father’s given name. In English-speaking countries, DeStefano is most often found among families of Italian heritage, especially in the United States. The prefix may appear as De, Di, or sometimes attached directly to the base name in records and later family usage.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Stephen and Stefano trace back to the Greek word for a wreath or crown, so the surname ultimately carries a “crowned” name hidden inside it.