Lucio

LOO-see-oh

A surname from the Roman personal name Lucius, ultimately linked to light.

The #3,631 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 31,569 Americans shares it.

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Etymology

Lucio is a surname built on the ancient Roman name Lucius, which comes from Latin lux, meaning “light.” In classical usage, Lucius was a common personal name and later gave rise to related names such as Lucilla and Lucinda. As a surname, Lucio is usually patronymic or hereditary from a given name rather than descriptive.

History

The name has deep Roman roots and survived widely in the Romance-speaking world, especially in Italy and Spain. One historical note in the supplied sources says Lucio or Luzio was hereditary in Italy, which fits its long-standing use there. In English-language naming guides, Lucio is also treated as a classical name that remained in use through learned and family naming traditions.

Origin

patronymic or matronymicLatinItalianSpanishIrish (as an equivalent for Lucius in older usage)

Regions

ItalySpainLatin EuropeLatin America

Variant spellings

LuzioLuciusLuchio

Fun fact

The same Latin root that produced Lucio also lies behind words like lucid and illuminate—both tied to the idea of light.

From the historical record

“Bestia. Cualquier animal cuadrúpedo. El hombre rudo e ignorante. De albarda, el asno. De carga, macho, mula o jumento. Este apellido lo llevaba Lucio Calpurrio, en el siglo II. Ante J. C. Bide. Mueble de cámara que tiene una palanca prolon- gada para sentarse sobre ella.”

— Diccionario de los apellidos

Related surnames

Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Diccionario de los apellidos.

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