The name Alphonzo has its origins in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, derived from the Germanic name Alfonso. It emerged during the medieval period, around the 8th to 10th centuries CE, in the Iberian Peninsula.

Alphonzo is a variant of the name Alfonso, which itself is derived from the Gothic name Adefuns or Alfuns. This name is composed of the Germanic elements "alf" meaning "ready" or "willing" and "funs" meaning "man" or "fighter." The name carries connotations of bravery and valor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alphonzo can be found in the 12th century, when it was borne by Alphonzo I, also known as Alfonso I or Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal. He reigned from 1139 to 1185 and is renowned for his military campaigns against the Moors and the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal.

Another notable bearer of the name was Alphonzo Taft, an American jurist and politician who served as the 27th United States Secretary of War and the 21st United States Attorney General. He was born in 1810 and passed away in 1891.

In literature, the name Alphonzo appears in the 18th-century novel "The History of Sir Charles Grandison" by Samuel Richardson. The character Alphonzo is portrayed as a noble and virtuous man.

Alphonzo Gardiner was an American artist and painter born in 1838 and known for his landscape and portrait works. He was a member of the Hudson River School, a mid-19th century American art movement.

Alphonzo de Lamartine, a French writer, poet, and statesman, was born in 1790 and died in 1869. He was a prominent figure in the French Romantic movement and served briefly as a member of the Second Republic's provisional government in 1848.

While the name Alphonzo has been used throughout history, it has largely fallen out of widespread use in modern times. However, its rich historical and cultural heritage, with connections to royalty, literature, and the arts, make it a unique and distinctive name with a fascinating background.