Show ContentsFazio History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Fazio. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Fazio family lived in this area, where the Fazio family lived as early as 1209.

Early Origins of the Fazio family

The surname Fazio was first found in Genoa (Italian: Genova), a port on the Gulf of Genoa, capital of the province of Genoa. 4th century B.C it was occupied by the Greeks, destroyed by the Carthaginians in 209 B.C and restored by Rome who made it their headquarters. They survived the Lombard and Carolingan intrusions. Were well known for their naval prowess. Shipbuilding flourished in this natural sea port. Much migration took place to South America pre WWII. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry. The family were nobility in Pavia and in Venice were they seated in 1209. They later branched to Sicily when maestro Giovanni Fazo held a mansion and estates from Frederico II.

Early History of the Fazio family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fazio research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1461, 1664, 1670, 1678, 1682, 1753 and 1760 are included under the topic Early Fazio History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fazio Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fazio, Fazzio, Fazia, Fazzin, Fazzina, Fazzino, Fazzini, Fazzioli, Fazzuoli, Fazzia, Fazi and many more.

Early Notables of the Fazio family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Bartolomeo Fazio, a humanist and historian in La Spezia in 1400...
  • In the 17th and 18th centuries, prominent bearers of the Fazio heritage include Matteo Fazio, Bishop of Patti in 1682, Luca Fazio, well known poet, as well as Ferdinand Faciundus, prominent philosopher in...
  • The Fazio family was officially recognized as nobility in Pavia and Genoa, and later, in Messina...

Fazio Ranking

In the United States, the name Fazio is the 6,267th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]


United States Fazio migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fazio Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Augustino Fazio was naturalized in Ventura County, California in 1897
Fazio Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Sam Fazio was naturalized in Arkansas in 1900

Contemporary Notables of the name Fazio (post 1700) +

  • Victor Herbert Fazio Jr. (1942-2022), American politician, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (1995-1999), Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (1991-1995)
  • Ernest Joseph Fazio (1942-2017), American Major League Baseball player who played from 1962 to 1966 in 141 games
  • Victor Herbert Fazio Jr. (b. 1942), American politician, Democratic congressman from California
  • Gabe Fazio (b. 1973), American actor
  • Johnny De Fazio, former American professional wrestler
  • Ernest Joseph Fazio (b. 1942), retired American professional baseball player
  • Basil "Buzz" Fazio (1908-1993), pioneer and early American bowling star
  • George Fazio (1912-1986), American professional golfer and a golf course architect
  • Thomas "Tom" Fazio (b. 1945), American golf course architect
  • Ernie Fazio (b. 1942), American baseball player
  • ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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