Widespread in northwestern Italy, as far as Lombardy, and —especially in the variant Accardo and the patronymic D'Accardo— also in Campania and Sicily. It is the surname-formation of the Germanic name *Akhard, probably from *Aghard, documented in the early Middle Ages in the Latinised form Achardus, composed of an uncertain first element (perhaps *agio- 'edge of a blade; cutting weapon, sword', or *agi- 'fear, terror') and the second element *hardhu- 'strong, brave, bold' (German hart and English hard). Its original meaning may have been 'brave with the sword' or 'who inspires fear through his valour'. The spread of the name Accardo in Italy may have been promoted, especially in Liguria, in the area of Naples and in Sicily, by French proximity or presence: the name and surname, in France, are very old and common in the forms Achard and Acard. See also the surname Icardi.