D'Alessandro
An Italian surname meaning “son of Alessandro,” or more loosely “of Alessandro.”
The #6,158 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 55,540 Americans shares it.
Etymology
D'Alessandro is an Italian patronymic built from the preposition d' (“of” or “from”) plus the personal name Alessandro, the Italian form of Alexander. Alexander ultimately comes from Greek Alexandros, meaning “defender of men” or “protector of mankind.” The surname therefore identifies someone as belonging to, or descending from, a man named Alessandro.
History
This type of surname developed in Italy from a personal-name identifier into a hereditary family name. The form with the apostrophe is the more traditional spelling, though it often appears in records as Dalessandro or De Alessandro. It is especially associated with southern Italian naming patterns, where patronymic surnames of this kind are common.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Alessandro comes from Alexander, the surname indirectly carries one of the oldest and most widespread names in Europe.