Esposito

Esposito is an Italian surname meaning "exposed". It ranks as the fourth most common surname in Italy, with a particularly high concentration in Campania and the city of Naples. The name originates from the Latin expositus, the past participle of exponere ("to place outside, to expose"), and literally refers to a child who was abandoned or rescued after being left exposed. Historically, in Italy this surname was given to foundlings handed over to orphanages known as Ospizi degli esposti ("homes of the exposed"). The Italian pronunciation places stress on the third syllable: [eˈspɔːzito], while English speakers often pronounce it \ˌɛs pəˈziːtoʊ\ (ESP-uh-ZEE-toh).

Related Names

The Spanish equivalent is Expósito, which shares the same etymology and tradition of being assigned to abandoned children.

• Meaning: "Exposed", referring to a rescued foundling
• Origin: Italian (Latin expositus)
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: Italy, especially Campania and Naples