Izzo
An Italian surname most often linked to a nickname or dialect word, rather than a fixed place-name or occupation.
The #7,098 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 65,454 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Izzo is an Italian surname, especially common in southern Italy, that is usually explained from a dialect nickname. In standard Italian, "izzo" is not a common everyday word, so surname scholars generally connect it with southern dialect forms, sometimes with a sense related to a physical or personal characteristic. As with many Italian surnames of this type, the exact original meaning can vary by family line and locality.
History
The surname is strongly associated with southern Italy, particularly Campania and the Naples area, and it also appears in other parts of Italy through later internal migration. Like many short Italian surnames, it became hereditary in the late medieval or early modern period. It is well known in the diaspora, especially in the United States, where it arrived with Italian immigration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Izzo is one of those compact Italian surnames that can be common in one region yet remain rare elsewhere, which is why it shows up disproportionately in diaspora communities.