Rizzo

Rizzo is an Italian surname, a variant of Ricci. The root Ricci derives from the Italian word riccio meaning "curly," a nickname for someone with curly hair, tracing further back to Latin ericius "hedgehog."

Etymology

Rizzo is most common in southern Italy and Sicily, where it frequently originated as a dialectal variant of Ricci. The name is borrowed from Old Italian and Neapolitan Rizzo and Sicilian Rizzu, all sharing the same meaning of "curly."

Distribution and Notable Bearers

In the United States, Rizzo ranks 1943rd among surnames, with over 18,600 bearers according to the 2010 census. The majority (92.12%) are White. Notable individuals include film director Frank Rizzo (Cinema Paradiso), former Philadelphia mayor Frank L. Rizzo, and actress Teresa Rizzo. The name is also associated with the famous Rizzo character from the musical Grease.

Related Names

Variants of Rizzo include Ricchetti, Ricci, and Rizzi. These all share the same sensory root meaning "curly" and are especially prevalent in central and southern Italy.

• Meaning: curly (variant of Ricci)
• Origin: Italian (southern, Sicilian)
• Type: Surname (nickname origin)
• Main usage before emigration: Southern Italy and Sicily