Esposito () is an

Italian surname A name in the Italian language consists of a given name () and a surname (); in most contexts, the given name is written before the surname, although in official documents, the surname may be written before the given name or names. Italian names, ...

. It ranks the fourth most common surname in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. It is especially common in

Campania Campania is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy located in Southern Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian Peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea to its west), but it also includes the small Phlegraean Islan ...

in general and in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

in particular.

Etymology and history

This surname is thought to derive from

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

(Italian ,

Old Italian Italian (, , or , ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European language family. It evolved from the colloquial Latin of the Roman Empire. Italian is the least divergent language from Latin, together with Sardinian. It is spoken by about 6 ...

dialect A dialect is a Variety (linguistics), variety of language spoken by a particular group of people. This may include dominant and standard language, standardized varieties as well as Vernacular language, vernacular, unwritten, or non-standardize ...

''esposito''), the

past participle In linguistics, a participle (; abbr. ) is a nonfinite verb form that has some of the characteristics and functions of both verbs and adjectives. More narrowly, ''participle'' has been defined as "a word derived from a verb and used as an adject ...

of the Latin verb ''exponere'' 'to place outside, to expose', and so literally means 'placed outside, exposed'. In Italian, the stress is on the antepenultimate syllable ; however, English speakers often pronounce it , with the stress on the penultimate. Italian tradition claims that the surname was given to foundlings who were abandoned or placed for adoption and handed over to an

orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or abusi ...

(an ''Ospizio degli esposti'' lit. 'home or hospice of the exposed'). They were called ''espositi'' because they would be abandoned and "exposed" in a public place. Some orphanages maintained a ''ruota degli esposti'' 'wheel of the exposed' where abandoned children could be left. In the 19th century, laws were introduced forbidding the practice of giving surnames that reflected a child's origins. A crude meaning is bastard or out of wedlock child. As a surname, Esposito has produced, or is related to, a number of variants throughout modern Italy, such as D'Esposito, Degli Esposti, Esposti, Esposto, Sposito, etc. Other variants are also found in the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

-speaking world, for example Expósito.

Notable people

* Alberto Mario Jorge Espósito, Argentine football manager *

Andrée Esposito Andrée Esposito (born 7 February 1934) is a French opera singer, a Vocal weight, lyric soprano particularly associated with the French repertory and contemporary works. Biography Andrée Esposito was born in Algiers, Algeria, into a family of ...

, French opera singer *

André Reinaldo de Souza Esposito André Reinaldo de Souza Esposito (born 11 August 1982), commonly known as Andrezinho, is a Brazilian retired professional footballer. Career Youth He started playing in Brazil with Matsubara in 1999, before joining Fluminense. With Fluminens ...

, better known simply as Andrezinho, Brazilian professional footballer *

Angelo Esposito Angelo Esposito (born February 20, 1989) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Esposito was drafted in the first round (20th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career QMJHL Esposito's Queb ...

, Canadian ice hockey player * Antonio Esposito, multiple people *

Cameron Esposito Cameron Anne Young Anastasia Esposito (born October 17, 1981) is an American actress, comedian, and podcaster known for her show '' Take My Wife'', as well as her stand-up comedy and her podcast, '' Queery''. Esposito substantially focuses on top ...

, American comedian *

Carlos Espósito Carlos Alfonso Espósito (born November 4, 1941) is a retired Argentine football referee. He is known for having refereed two matches in the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North ...

, Argentine former football referee *

Chloe Esposito Chloe Esposito (born 19 September 1991) is an Australian shooter and modern pentathlon competitor. She competed at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in the 10 m air pistol. She represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Australi ...

, Australian

Pentathlete A pentathlon is a contest featuring five events. The name is derived from Greek language, Greek: combining the words ''pente'' (five) and -''athlon'' (competition) (). The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Anci ...

Christian Esposito Christian Esposito (born 23 July 1990) is an Australian soccer player who currently plays with North Eastern MetroStars SC. Club career On 9 May 2009, he made his senior debut for AlbinoLeffe against Frosinone in the 2008–09 Serie B season. ...

, Italian-Australian footballer * Daniela Esposito, Italian ten-pin bowler *

Dennis Esposito Dennis Esposito (born 25 January 1988) is an Italian footballer, who plays as a defender. Career Born in Milan, Lombardy, Esposito spent most of his youth career at Internazionale. He was signed by Inter at age 13 from Pro Sesto. In July 200 ...

, Italian footballer * Dino Esposito, an MSDN magazine columnist * Elena Esposito, Italian sociologist *

Ester Expósito Ester Expósito Gayoso (born 26 January 2000) is a Spanish actress. She is best known for her starring role as Carla Rosón Caleruega in the Netflix teen drama series ''Élite''. Life and career Ester Expósito Gayoso was born on 26 January 200 ...

, Spanish actress and model * Felissa Rose Esposito, Italian-American actress *

Floriana Esposito Floriana Esposito (born 1947) is an Italian computer scientist whose research topics in artificial intelligence and machine learning have included decision tree learning, description logic, and document layout analysis. She is a professor of c ...

(born 1947), Italian computer scientist *

Franck Esposito Franck Esposito (born 13 April 1971 in Salon-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône) is a former World Record holding, and four-time Olympic, butterfly swimmer from France. He swam for France at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics; and won the bronze medal ...

, French swimmer * Frank Esposito, multiple people *

Gaetano Esposito Gaetano Esposito (November 17, 1858 – April 8, 1911) was an Italian painter. Biography He was born in Salerno. He first studied under Gaetano D'Agostino, but later enrolled at the Royal Institute of Fine Arts of Naples, where he studied under F ...

, Italian painter *

Giancarlo Esposito Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (; born April 26, 1958) is an American actor and director. He rose to prominence by portraying Gus Fring in the AMC (TV channel), AMC crime drama series ''Breaking Bad'' (2009–2011), a role he reprised in ...

, American actor *

Giani Esposito Giani Esposito (23 August 1930 – 1 January 1974) was a FrenchDeath certificate n° 7/1974 oGiani Esposito on French site Les Gens du Cinéma/ref> film actor and singer-songwriter. Esposito was born from the union of a French mother with an It ...

, French film actor and singer-songwriter *

Gino Esposito Gino Esposito is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'', played by Shane McNamara. The character made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 11 August 2000. The character was originally played by Claude ...

, a fictional character on the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' * Homero Expósito, Argentine poet and tango songwriter *

Iosu Expósito Jesús María Expósito López (Santurtzi, Santurce, Biscay, Vizcaya, 23 December 1960 – Baracaldo, 31 May 1992) better known by his nickname Iosu was a Spanish rock musician, known as the guitarist from the punk rock band Eskorbuto. Career ...

, Spanish musician * Javier Esposito, a fictional character on the American comedy-drama television series ''Castle'' *

Jennifer Esposito Jennifer Esposito (born April 11, 1973) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the feature films ''Summer of Sam'' (1999), ''Don't Say a Word'' (2001), ''The Master of Disguise'' (2002), ''Welcome to Collinwood'' (2002), ''Crash (2 ...

, American actress * Joe Esposito, multiple people *

Joseph Esposito Joseph John Esposito (March 28, 1950 – January 8, 2024) was an American police officer, who served as Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement for the New York City Department of Buildings, Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management from 2 ...

, multiple people *

John Esposito John Louis Esposito (born May 19, 1940) is an American academic, professor of Middle Eastern studies, Middle Eastern and religious studies, and scholar of Islamic studies, who serves as Professor of Religion, International Affairs, and Islamic S ...

, American professor at

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...

* Juan Esposito-Garcia, Argentine priest *

Juan José Expósito Ruiz Juan José Expósito Ruiz (born 28 October 1985), commonly known as Juanjo, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He amassed Segunda División totals of 276 matches and 43 goals over ten seasons, in representati ...

, Spanish footballer *

Larry W. Esposito Larry W. Esposito (born April 15, 1951) is an American planetary astronomer and a professor at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder. A 1973 graduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Esposi ...

, American planetary astronomer * Mariana "Lali" Espósito, Argentine actress and singer *

Manila Esposito Manila Esposito (born 2 November 2006) is an Italian artistic gymnast. She was a member of the silver medal winning team at the 2024 Olympic Games where she also won a bronze medal on the balance beam. She is a two-time European all-around champi ...

, Italian gymnast * Mario Esposito (scholar), scholar of Hiberno-Latin literature, son of Michele Esposito *

Mark Esposito Mark Esposito is an American-based Swiss economist, social scientist, public policy advisor, speaker, and academic. Esposito holds appointments at Harvard University, Hult International Business School, Georgetown University. Esposito taught at A ...

, Swiss Economist and Professor of Business and Economics at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

and

Hult International Business School Hult International Business School (also known as Hult Business School or Hult) is a private business school with campuses in London, San Francisco, Dubai, New York City, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Hult is named for the school's benefactor B ...

* Mauro Esposito, Italian footballer *

Mary Ann Esposito Mary Ann Esposito (born August 3, 1942) is an American chef, cookbook writer (having published over a dozen cookbooks), and the television host of ''Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito'', which started in 1989 and is the longest-running televisio ...

, American cooking show host *

Max Esposito Max Esposito (born 16 June 1997) is an Australian modern pentathlete. He competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's event. He was the youngest athlete in the race and finished seventh. Esposito has also competed in one Youth Olympic Gam ...

, Australian modern pentathlete. *

Meade Esposito Amadeo Henry "Meade" Esposito (1907 – September 3, 1993) was an American politician who was a Brooklyn Democratic leader and political boss. Esposito served as chairman of the Kings County Democratic Committee from 1969 to 1984. As a leader, ...

, New York City politician. * Michele Esposito, Italian-born musical composer and pianist who lived most of his professional life in Dublin, Ireland * Mike Esposito, multiple people * Monica Esposito, Scholar of Chinese religion * Pablo Despósito, Argentine footballer *

Phil Esposito Philip Anthony Esposito ( , ; born February 20, 1942) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach and executive, and current broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Lightning. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he played 18 seasons in ...

, Canadian ice hockey player * Phillip T. Esposito, US Army Captain, homicide victim *

Raffaele Esposito Raffaele Esposito () was an Italian chef and owner of a tavern in Naples called () in the 19th century that had been founded in 1780 by Pietro Colicchio. Esposito is often credited for creating the modern pizza. In 1889, pizza had not yet becom ...

, Italian tavern owner * Ralph Esposito, Podiatric surgeon *

Roberto Esposito Roberto Esposito (Piano di Sorrento, 4 August 1950) is an Italian political philosopher, critical theorist, and professor, notable for his academic research and works on biopolitics. He currently serves as professor of theoretical philosophy at ...

, Italian philosopher * Rosario Francesco Esposito, Italian Roman Catholic priest * Salvatore Esposito, multiple people *

Sammy Esposito Samuel Esposito (December 15, 1931 – July 9, 2018) was an American professional baseball third baseman and shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 10 seasons on the Chicago White Sox (1952, 1955–1963) and Kansas City Athletics ...

, American baseball player and college baseball coach *

Sebastiano Esposito Sebastiano Esposito (; born 2 July 2002) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Inter Milan. Club career Inter Milan Esposito made his professional debut for Inter Milan at 16 years old, on 14 March 2019, in the ...

, Italian footballer *

Tony Esposito Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito (April 23, 1943 – August 10, 2021) was a Canadian-American professional ice hockey goaltender, who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), 15 of those for the Chicago Black Hawks. He was one of ...

, Canadian ice hockey goalie and younger brother of Phil Esposito *

, musician, singer-songwriter and drummer from Italy * Unai Expósito, Spanish footballer *

Vincenzo Esposito Vincenzo Esposito (; born March 1, 1969) is an Italian former professional basketball player and coach, he lastly worked for Germani Basket Brescia of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA), in Italy. During his playing career, he played at the shooting ...

, Italian basketball coach *

, Italian footballer and coach

References

{{surname, Esposito Italian-language surnames Surnames from nicknames