Surname d'Onofrio - Meaning and Origin
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d'Onofrio: What does the surname d'Onofrio mean?
The surname d'Onofrio, which is of Italian origin, is derived from the given name "Onofrio," which is a combination of two Latin words—onus, meaning "obligation" or "burden," and frēnum, meaning "bridle," "harness," or " restraint." The name likely originated as an occupational name for a maker of leather harnesses for horses, but is also sometimes used as an honorific to indicate a person of noble birth or status.
The present-day spelling, d'Onofrio, is a variant of the Italian propriety of using a contracted form known as the "apostrophe of nobility." This denotes that the bearer of the name is of noble birth or a descendant of someone of noble birth. It is also used to differentiate similar surnames that have more than one spelling.
Because d'Onofrio is an uncommon surname, there is not a lot of recorded history regarding its origin. However, what is known about its origin is that it is mainly found in the Italian regions of Naples, Apulia, and Calabria. As of the present day, it is estimated that there are around a thousand bearers of this last name living in Italy and several thousand more living abroad.
Overall, the surname d'Onofrio, with its nobility connotations and somewhat rare presence, can be a distinctive identifier. Its symbolic origins are far reaching, reminding us to recognize the need to maintain some restraint amidst life’s obligations and burdens.
Order DNA origin analysisd'Onofrio: Where does the name d'Onofrio come from?
The Italian surname d'Onofrio is quite common in certain parts of Italy today. The heartland of the d'Onofrio name is in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. In particular, the provinces of Chieti and L'Aquila are home to many d'Onofrio families. Many d'Onofrio families have been in the area for hundreds of years and continue to live in the region today.
Outside of Italy, the d'Onofrio surname can also be found in large numbers in the United States, particularly in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area. The United States is now home to the largest d'Onofrio population outside of Italy, with a mix of both recent Italian immigrants and descendants of the many earlier Italian immigrants.
In addition to the United States, d'Onofrio is also common in Canada, Argentina, and Uruguay. Although the number of d'Onofrio families outside of Italy may not be as large as in the United States, many families have still retained the old Italian surname.
Overall, the d'Onofrio surname is a widely spread surname today and can be found in a variety of locations, both inside and outside of Italy. Its continued popularity is a testament to the family's long-standing presence in Italy and its successful dispersal to other nations.
Variations of the surname d'Onofrio
The surname d'Onofrio is an originally Italian surname and can be found throughout the world. It can sometimes vary in spelling due to different translations and regional influences.
Variations of the last name d'Onofrio include the Italian/Sicilian pronunciations of Donofrio, Donofrio; the northern Italian variants of Donofry, Donoffry, Donofri; the Greek variants of Donofriou, Donofrious; the Romanian variants of Donofrei, Donofreti, Donofrez; and the Spanish variants of Donofreo, Donofrey, Donofry.
Common surnames which share the same origin include Donofrio, Donofry, Donofry, Donofro, Donofry, Donnofrio, Donofri, Donofriou, Doenofrio, D'Onofrio, Donofreys, Donofries, Donoffry, D'Onofrio and D'Onofriou.
More obscure variants of d'Onofrio include Donnefried, Donofried, Donefried, Donfried, Donfré, Donofried, Donofriedo, Donofreu, Donoffred, Donefried, Donentric, Donfriedt, Donofreda, Donofredo, Donofreet, Donofret, Donofreyes, D'Onofre, D'Onofry and Donfrida.
Overall, the surname d'Onofrio has a variety of different spellings and variants, but they all stem from the same origin.
Famous people with the name d'Onofrio
- Vincent D'Onofrio: is an American actor, producer, director, and singer.
- Maria D'Onofrio: is an Italian actress and TV presenter.
- Joe D'Onofrio: is an American actor, producer, and director.
- Stephen D'Onofrio: is an American composer and musician.
- Edward D'Onofrio: is an American actor, comedian, and screenwriter.
- Antonio D'Onofrio: is an Italian photographer and visual artist.
- Ellinor D'Onofrio: is a Brazilian artist and painter.
- Robert D'Onofrio: is an American film and TV director and producer.
- Debbie D'Onofrio: is an American synchronized swimmer.
- Ilene D'Onofrio: is an American actor and voice-over artist.