Rico
A surname from the Spanish/Italian word for “rich,” originally used as a nickname or descriptive byname.
The #1,359 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 11,896 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Rico comes from a Romance word meaning “rich” or “wealthy,” ultimately from Late Latin roots behind Spanish rico and Italian ricco. As a surname, it was first used as a nickname for someone prosperous, well-off, or perhaps socially “important.” In some cases it may also reflect the common medieval use of rico as a title-like descriptive for a powerful man or lord.
History
The surname appears in medieval and later records in Spain and in other Romance-language areas, sometimes alongside related forms such as Ricco, Ricci, and Ricoz. Historical surname writers also noted it among Spanish names built from ordinary descriptive words, especially qualities or social statuses. In English-language sources, it is occasionally discussed in relation to continental forms rather than as a native English surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In old Spanish, rico could mean not only “wealthy” but also a “great man” or powerful noble, so the surname may once have suggested rank as much as money.
From the historical record
“Einstämmige Kürzung Ric-. Rico: Rigo (Borken) — Riecke — Ricke — Rieche — Rieh — Reicke — Reiche; Reich — Rei. Gen.”
— Die deutschen Familiennamen