Russo
Russo (Italian: [ˈrusso]) is a Southern Italian surname (Neapolitan and Sicilian), common throughout Central & Southern Italy, and elsewhere due to internal migrations.[1]
![]() Russo Family Coat of Arms, as recorded in the documents of Sperlinga Castle, 1132 | |
Pronunciation | Italian: [ˈrusso] |
---|---|
Language(s) | Byzantine Greek |
Origin | |
Language(s) | Late Latin |
Meaning | Russian |
Region of origin | Southern Italy |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Russi, Lo Russo, Lorusso, La Russa, Larussa |
![](../../I/Bayeux_Tapestry_32-33_comet_Halley_Harold.jpg.webp)
A folk etymology says it comes from Standard Italian russo, "a Russian".[2]
The root word of Russo, “Rus',” comes to Italy from Byzantine Greek in which it was adopted from Scandinavian.3 “Rus'” means, “the men who row.” The Rus' people were the original Viking founders of the later Northern Russian Principalities [Blöndal, Sigfús (1978). The Varangians of Byzantium. Cambridge University. pp. 1–16.] [Brink, Stephen (2008). The Viking World. Routledge ].
Russo may denote Norman (French for Norseman, or Viking Norsemen) nobility in Sicily.[3][4]
History
The first recorded entry of the name Russo was discovered in the documents of Sperlinga Castle in Enna, Sicily, dated 1132.[5] According to those documents, the Norman Ruler, King Roger II had granted the land title of Sperlinga Castle to one of his descendants, Riccardo. Riccardo was a direct descendant of the House Hauteville (in Sicilian, d’Autavilla), and the King then made him a baron. As a baron, Riccardo then presumably took the surname Russo Rosso and bestowed to the castle a coat of arms featuring a comet against a red backdrop (see image above).[5] Prior to the Norman invasion of England, there was no recognizable system for hereditary coats of arms, but it was following that conquest that the Middle Ages saw the dawn of heraldry.[6] The features of the banner are significant in that they provide an explanation and give historical context to the devising of the title, Russo Rosso: red is an archetypal color symbolizing The Warrior, or in general, War, and the image of Halley’s comet has been characterized as an icon for the Viking Invaders, e.g. in the Bayeux Tapestry, denoting a portent of doom for the opposing forces.
It is perhaps owing to the original tandem identity of “Russo Rosso” that the same heraldry is cross-referenced for both the Rosso family and Russo Rosso Camoli family.[7][8]
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Geographical distribution
As of 2014, 61.5% of all known bearers of the surname Russo were residents of Italy (frequency 1:277), 18.6% of the United States (1:5,429), 5.1% of Argentina (1:2,347), 4.6% of Brazil (1:12,345), 1.1% of France (1:17,406) and 1.0% of Australia (1:6,667).
In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:277) in the following regions:
- 1. Campania (1:72)
- 2. Sicily (1:123)
- 3. Calabria (1:155)
- 4. Apulia (1:205)
- 5. Basilicata (1:213)
In Argentina, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:2,347) in the following provinces:
- 1. Buenos Aires (1:1,034)
- 2. Buenos Aires Province (1:1,657)
In the United States, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:5,429) in the following states:
- 1. Connecticut (1:1,360)
- 2. Rhode Island (1:1,384)
- 3. New Jersey (1:1,433)
- 4. New York (1:1,560)
- 5. Massachusetts (1:1,920)
- 6. Florida (1:3,605)
- 7. Pennsylvania (1:3,637)
- 8. New Hampshire (1:3,888)
- 9. Louisiana (1:3,949)
- 10. Delaware (1:3,981)
- 11. Nevada (1:4,507)
- 12. Maine (1:4,594)
In Brazil, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:12,345) only in one state:[9]
- 1. São Paulo (1:4,431)
Notable people named Russo
- Aaron Russo, libertarian entertainment businessman
- Adam Russo (born 1983), Canadian/Italian professional ice hockey goaltender
- Adriana Russo (born 1954), Italian actress and television personality
- Adriano Russo (born 1987), Italian footballer who plays as a defender
- Albert Russo (born 1943), Belgian bilingual (English and French) writer
- Alecu Russo (1819-1859), Moldavian Romanian writer, literary critic and publicist
- Alejandro Russo (born 1968), Argentine former professional footballer
- Alessia Russo (born 1999), English footballer
- Alexander Russo (writer), education writer
- Alexander Russo (athlete), Brazilian track and field sprinter
- Ana Bedran-Russo (née Ana Karina Bedran de Castro), an associate professor in restorative dentist
- Andrew Russo (born 1975), American pianist
- Andy Russo (born 1948), American college basketball coach
- Angelo Russo (born 1961), Italian actor
- Anna Russo, Italian writer
- Anthony Russo, including:
- Anthony Russo (American football), American football wide receiver
- Anthony Russo (director), Emmy Award-winning film and television director
- Anthony Russo (mobster) (1916–1979), Genovese crime family figure
- Anthony Russo (mayor), the 35th mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey
- Anthony Russo (whistleblower) (1936–2008), involved in the Pentagon Papers leak
- Antonino Russo Scuderi (1891-1967), Italian architect
- Antonino Russo Giusti (1876-1957), Italian dramatist
- Avraam Russo (né Abraham Ipjian in 1969), Syrian-born Russian pop singer of Armenian origin
- Bartolomeo Russo (1866–1941), New Zealand fisherman, horticulturist and farmer
- Basil Russo (born 1946), American attorney, politician of the Democratic Party, and judge
- Bill Russo (born 1947), American former football coach
- Cailin Russo (born 1993), American model and musician
- Carmen Russo (born 1959) Italian dancer, actress, television personality and singer
- Catherine Allison Russo (born 1976), American healthcare consultant and politician
- Carine Russo (née Collet; born 1962), Belgian politician, member of Ecolo, and author
- Charles-Édouard Russo (born 1980), French professional golfer
- Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, American sports radio host
- Cristian Cuffaro Russo (born 1988), Argentine footballer
- Cindy Russo (born 1952), American women's basketball head coach
- Claudia Russo (born 1983), Italian candidate for Miss World 2008
- Clement Russo (born 1995), French road and cyclo-cross cyclist
- Clemente Russo (born 1982), Italian Boxer
- Daniel Russo (born 1948), French film actor, comedian and director
- Danilo Russo (born 1987), Italian footballer
- Danny Russo (1885-1944), American violinist and big band leader
- Darko Russo (born 1962), Serbian professional basketball coach
- David C. Russo (born 1953), American Republican Party politician
- Deanna Russo, American actress
- Eddie Russo (1925-2012), American racecar driver
- Elena Russo (born 1972), Italian actress of cinema, television and theatre
- Erminia Russo (born 1964), Canadian volleyball player
- Evandro Russo Ramos (born 1985), Brazilian footballer
- Federico Russo (born 1997), Italian actor
- Felice Angelo "Felix" Russo (1926–2005), Australian rules footballer
- Ferdinando Russo (1866–1927), Italian journalist and dialect poet from Naples
- Francesco Russo (born 1981), Italian footballer
- Francois Russo (born 1966), the creative director and founder of Maison Takuya
- Frederick Dello Russo, American politician and funeral director
- Giacomo Russo (1937-1967), Italian racing driver
- Giada Russo (born 1997), Italian figure skater
- Gianni Russo (born 1943), American actor and singer
- Giovanni Russo (or Dovani Roso; born 1972), Croatian-born Israeli former footballer
- Giuni Russo (1951–2004), Italian singer-songwriter
- Giuseppe Genco Russo (1893-1976), Italian mafioso
- Giuseppe Russo (born 1983), Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder
- Gus Russo, American author and researcher of the assassination of John F. Kennedy
- James Russo (born 1953), American film and television actor
- Jamie Russo (born 1981), Australian former professional rugby league footballer
- Jason Russo
- Jeff Russo (born 1969), American composer and music producer
- Jonathan Judge-Russo (born 1983), American actor and producer
- Joe Russo, including:
- Joe Russo (director), an Emmy Award-winning film and television director
- Joe Russo (driver) (1901–1934), an American racecar driver active in the 1930s
- Joe Russo (musician) (b. 1976), a jazz/rock and roll drummer
- John Russo, including:
- John F. Russo (c. 1934), politician from New Jersey
- John A. Russo (born 1939), American screenwriter and film director
- John Russo (baseball) (born 1973), baseball coach
- José Luis Russo (born 1958), Uruguayan former footballer
- Julee Russo (also known as Julee Rosso), American cook and food writer
- Justin Russo (born 1976), American musician
- Kevin Russo (born 1984), American former professional baseball player
- Kristin Russo (born 1980), American speaker, personality, and LGBTQ activist
- Laura Garcia Moreno Russo (1915-2001), Brazilian librarian
- Luciano Russo, Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who works in the diplomatic service of the Holy See
- Lucio F. Russo, American politician
- Lucio Russo, Italian historian of science
- Lucio F. Russo (1912–2004), American lawyer and politician
- Luigi Fontana Russo (1868-1953),Italian economist and lecturer
- Marcella Russo, Australian actress
- Marcelo Fabián Méndez Russo (born 1981), Uruguayan former footballer
- Marcelo Russo Guerreiro Correia (born 1993), Portuguese footballer
- Margaret Russo (1931–2006), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Mariné Russo (born 1980), Argentine former field hockey player
- Marcella Russo, Australian actress
- Marco Russo (born 1982), Italian footballer
- Marisabina Russo (née Stark), a children's book author and illustrator
- Marius Russo (1915-2005), American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Martin A. Russo (born 1944), a U.S. Democratic politician and lobbyist
- Martin P. Russo (born 1968), American trial lawyer
- Matías Russo (born 1985), Argentine racing driver
- Meredith Russo (born ca 1986/1987), American young adult and middle grade fiction author
- Melissa Russo (born 1968), American television journalist
- Michael Dello-Russo (born 1956), Argentine former football player and manager
- Michael Russo (disambiguation), several people
- Michele Russo (born 1986), Italian footballer in the role of defender
- Michele Russo (bishop) (1945–2019), Italian Roman Catholic bishop of Doba, Chad
- Miguel Ángel Russo (born 1956), Argentine former football player and manager
- Monette Russo (born 1988), Australian former artistic gymnast
- Nadia Russo-Bossie (1901–1988), a pioneering Romanian aviator
- Nat Russo (born 1970), American fantasy fiction author
- Neal Russo (1920–1996), American sportswriter
- Nello Russo (born 1981), Italian former footballer
- Nicola Russo (born 1990), Italian football midfielder
- Nicholas Russo (1845–1902), Italian-American priest, professor, Boston College president, and church founder
- Orazio Russo (born 1973), Italian former professional football (soccer) player
- Pasquale Russo (born 1947), Italian Camorrista and boss
- Pat Russo (born 1941), American model
- Patricia Russo (born 1952), American businessperson
- Patti Russo (born 1966), American singer, songwriter and actress
- Paul Russo (1914-1976), American racecar driver
- Paul A. Russo (born 1943), American diplomat
- Peter Russo (born 1959), Australian former rules footballer
- Peter Russo (born 1955), Australian politician
- Pietro Russo (fl. 1507), Sicilian mapmaker
- Philippe Russo (born 1961), French singer-songwriter
- Pietro Paolo Russo (1611–1657), Roman Catholic bishop of Nusco
- Raffaele Russo (born 1999), Italian football player
- Rebecca Russo (born 1992), American-born women's ice hockey player
- Renato Russo (1960-1996), Brazilian singer and songwriter
- Rene Russo (born 1954), American actress, producer, and model
- Riccardo Russo (born 1992), Italian motorcycle racer
- Richard Russo (born 1954), American novelist
- Richard Paul Russo, American science fiction writer
- Robbie Russo (born 1993), American ice hockey defenceman
- Roberto Russo (born 1966), Italian pianist and composer
- Rosa Russo Iervolino, Italian politician and former Mayor of Naples
- Russ Russo (born 1975), American film actor
- Ry Russo-Young (born 1981), American filmmaker
- Salvatore Russo (born 1958), Italian Camorrista and boss of the Russo clan
- Salvatore Russo (footballer) (born 1971), Italian former footballer
- Sarina Russo (born 1951), Italian entrapreneur
- Sean Russo (born 1991), Australian swimmer
- Santo J. "Sonny" Russo (1929–2013), American jazz trombonist
- Stefano Russo (born 1989), Italian footballer
- Tal Russo, Israeli general
- Thomas "Thom" Russo, American record producer, engineer, mixer and songwriter
- Tommaso Russo (born 1971), Italian boxer
- Vanessa Rousso (also known as Vanessa Ashley Rousso; born 1983), American professional poker player
- Vince Russo, American author, podcaster, professional wrestling writer and pundit
- Vincenza Carrieri-Russo (born 1984), American model, actress, entrepreneur and beauty pageant titleholder
- Vito Russo (1946-1990), American LGBT activist, film historian and author
- Vittorio Russo (born 1939), Italian football manager and former player
- William Russo (musician) (1928-2003), American composer, arranger, and musician
Fictional characters
- Blossom Russo, main character on the TV series Blossom
- Alex Russo, main character in Wizards of Waverly Place, and other family members:
- Jerry Russo, her father
- Theresa Russo, her mother
- Justin Russo, her older brother
- Max Russo, her younger brother
- Dominic Russo, main character on the TV series Chasing Life
- Billy Russo, Marvel comic villain
- Ladd Russo, one of the main characters in the anime series Baccano!
- Peter Russo, a character on the TV series House of Cards
See also
- Russo, Switzerland – place name
- Rossi (surname)
- Rosso (surname)
References
- "RUSSO significato orogine cognome famiglia". Gens (in Italian). Retrieved March 29, 2010.
- Zanichelli Super-Mini Italian and English Dictionary. Chicago, IL: NTC Publishing Group. 1993. p. 231. ISBN 0-8442-8447-5.
- Nze, Dozie (2017-07-28). "50 Common Italian Last Names And Their Meanings". Chartcons - Communications, Inspiration, Relationship and Entrepreneurship. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
- "Famiglia Russo, araldica genealogia stemma e origine Russo". Heraldrys Institute of Rome (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-02-02.
- "Castello di Sperlinga - Storia Castello di Sperlinga - Dominazione Normanna". www.castellodisperlinga.it. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
- Woodcock & Robinson (1988)
- "Famiglia Rosso - Origine cognome Rosso - Scheda Araldica, stemma e storia della famiglia Rosso". www.heraldrysinstitute.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
- "Russo Camoli family - Russo Camoli last name origin - Heraldry and family Russo Camoli history with coat of arms". www.heraldrysinstitute.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
- Russo surname distribution