What nationality is the surname Russo?

Answer 1

Italian; originally used as a nickname for someone with red hair.

Russo is a Latin corruption of the name of a Viking Tribe Rus. Although in it's Italian form it sounds like a word in Italian, Rosso meaning red hair, and implying that a child left at a Convent was the offspring of a red headed man. The original Cont of Aidone was Russu and although one can find the coat of arms under Rosso, the name is Russo. Both the Byzantians and the Moors referred to the Vikings as Rus. The name itself means in Norwegian "He Rows" and although in Italian it sounds like red, it would be a mistake to think in it's an actual Latin word. This same tribe of Vikings settled in the land that still bears their name today Russia and the word Russo in Italian means Russian.

The Sicilian coat of Arms from the Conte of Aidone as mentioned in i Blasoni Siciliani and in the Dizionario Storico Nobilare Italiano is Gules (Red) a comet, tail to base argent.

Answer 2

The origin of the fine Italian surname Russo is to be found in Trento, Udine, Venice, Vicenza, Ravenna, Pisa, Rome, and Savigliano. It began as a nickname for a person with red hair or a reddish complexion.