Surname Capone - Meaning and Origin
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Capone: What does the surname Capone mean?
The surname Capone is of Italian origin and is derived from the nickname "Capone", meaning "big head". This name may have been given to the original bearers due to their having a large head, being stubborn, or having a noteworthy intellect. The name became familiar globally mainly associated with the infamous American gangster Al Capone, who was of Italian ancestry. However, the name itself doesn't necessarily imply any negative connotations. As with many surnames, it started out as a descriptor or occupational title, later becoming a family name passed down through generations. In Italy, the name is more prevalent in the southern regions compared to the northern regions.
Order DNA origin analysisCapone: Where does the name Capone come from?
The surname Capone is of Italian origin. It is derived from the Italian word "capone" which means "big head." This may have originally been a nickname given to someone with a large head or it may figuratively suggest a stubborn or hard-headed individual.
The Capone surname is most famously associated with Al Capone, the notorious American gangster of Italian descent from the Prohibition Era. Despite this notorious figure, the surname itself is not very common.
In terms of modern-day prevalence, the Capone surname is not particularly common in Italy today. It is most prevalent in the United States, particularly in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida according to Forebears and Ancestry databases.
Outside of the US, the name is also found, though less frequently, in other countries including Canada, Australia, Argentina, and throughout Europe. Despite its uncommon occurrence, the surname Capone is widely recognized because of its historical association.
Variations of the surname Capone
The surname Capone is predominantly Italian, deriving from the term "capo", which means "head", and the suffix "one", which is an augmentative signifying "big" or "large".
Similar surnames or variants to Capone may include Caponi, Caponetti, Caponetto, Caponigro, Caponera, Caponero, Cappone, and Capano. A famous bearer of Capone surname is the infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone.
There could also be various alternative spellings due to emigration and misspellings in historical documents or during migration. These could include Caponi, Capon, Capponi, Cappone, Kapone, etc. Each version might have a slight spelling or phonetic difference depending on the region in Italy where it originated, or the preference of the person or family carrying the name. Not all surnames of this type signify a direct relation, some may have evolved independently due to common cultural or linguistic factors in different Italian regions.
However, the true variations of the surname would be dependent on individual families and their histories, but these listed surnames will have related origins and potentially signify familial ties in Italian history. The surname Capone and all its variants are widespread in southern and central Italy.
Famous people with the name Capone
- Al Capone: Perhaps the most famous person with the name Capone, Al Capone was a notorious American gangster during the Prohibition era. He was the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit, and his seven-year reign as a crime boss ended when he went to prison at the age of 33.
- Ralph Capone: Ralph ‘Bottles’ Capone, Al Capone's older brother, also had a significant involvement in the bootlegging and organized crime scene of the Prohibition era. He was responsible for the alcohol supplies during this era.
- Frank Capone: Frank was another member of the notorious Capone family involved in organized crime. He was the older brother of Al Capone and a mobster in his own right before his death in 1924.
- Mafalda Capone: Known specifically as the sister of Al Capone, Mafalda was not directly involved in her family's criminal activities but is notable due to her familial connections.
- Dominic Capone: Descendant of Al Capone's brother, Dominic is an actor who has appeared on TV shows like "The Capones," a reality show about his family's life.
- Deirdre Marie Capone: The last living relative of Al Capone with the Capone surname, she is the author of the book "Uncle Al Capone: The Untold Story from Inside His Family."