D'alessandro Surname in Italy

The surname D'Alessandro is widespread throughout Italy, especially in the central and southern regions. It originates from the personal name Alessandro, itself derived from the Greek 'Alexandros', combining 'alexein' (to protect) and 'andròs' (man), meaning defender of men. This is an old surname, documented as early as the 15th century in notarial acts and credit titles, including a 1431 deed and a 1443 Florentine document. The D'Alessandro family has noble origins, holding titles and baronies located between the Sorrento Peninsula and Cilento, with ancestral ties to Greek tribes settled in Magna Grecia. Over centuries, families with this surname have been recognized with noble statuses and included in Italian nobility registers in the 20th century.