Esposito
Derived from the Italian word "esposto," referring to a child abandoned or given up for adoption.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 26,495 Americans carry the last name Esposito. That puts it at #1,576 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.73 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 12,937 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Esposito surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
26K
1 in 12,937
Census rank
#1,576
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
23K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 22,789 bearers of the surname Esposito in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.73 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1576th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Esposito, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.9%) and Two or More Races (0.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Esposito
The surname Esposito originated in Italy, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Italian word "esposto," which means "exposed" or "abandoned." The name was initially given to children who were abandoned and left at foundling homes or orphanages.
In the early days, foundling homes were often run by religious institutions, and the abandoned children were given surnames related to their circumstances. Esposito became a common surname in Naples and the surrounding regions of Campania, where many such foundling homes were located.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Esposito can be found in a 13th-century document from the city of Salerno, mentioning a certain "Petrus Espositus." This suggests that the name was already in use by that time in the southern Italian regions.
Over the centuries, the Esposito surname spread across Italy, particularly in the regions of Campania, Lazio, and Sicily. It became associated with several notable individuals, including Giambattista Esposito (1564-1639), a renowned Italian painter and architect from Naples.
Another prominent figure with the Esposito surname was Placido Esposito (1804-1859), an Italian revolutionary and patriot who played a significant role in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification in the 19th century.
In the 20th century, Esposito gained further recognition with individuals like Francesco Esposito (1922-2001), an Italian film actor known for his roles in Spaghetti Western movies, and Michele Esposito (1855-1929), an Italian-American anarchist and labor leader who advocated for workers' rights in the United States.
The surname Esposito has also been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, the town of Espositomonti in the province of Salerno is believed to be derived from the surname, reflecting the presence of the Esposito family in the region.
While the Esposito surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread worldwide due to Italian migration and diaspora communities. Today, it remains a prominent surname in Italy and among Italian-American communities, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Esposito
Among Census respondents with the surname Esposito, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.9%) and Two or More Races (0.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Esposito bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Esposito surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.6%
- Hispanic or Latino4.9%
- Two or more races0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
- Black or African American0.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Esposito surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,576 | #1,576 | 0.0% |
| Count | 22,789 | 22,789 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 7.73 | 7.73 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Esposito bearers went from 22,789 to 22,789 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,576 to #1,576.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Esposito
FAQ
Esposito surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Esposito?
The surname Esposito holds position #1,576 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 26,495 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.73 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Esposito surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Esposito, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.9%) and Two or More Races (0.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.