Capone is a surname derived primarily from a nickname based on a physical characteristic. According to E. Rossoni, it originally referred to a person with a notably large head, a type of descriptive nickname that was common in medieval Italy and later became hereditary.

For Sicilian branches of the surname, Rossoni proposes an additional origin from the Sicilian dialect word capuni, meaning "capon" or "castrated rooster." V. Blunda develops this interpretation and suggests that the nickname may have been applied either to a person of strong build and calm temperament or, in a more pejorative sense, to someone considered excessively docile or lacking in determination.

Distribution

According to Rossoni, Capone is primarily concentrated in central and southern Italy.

Variants and Related Surnames

• Caponi is found mainly in northern Toscana, Marche, the area of Teramo, Umbria, and Lazio.
• Caponio is characteristic of the territory between the provinces of Bari and Taranto.
• Caponnetto is typical of the area of Catania in Sicilia.

Notes

Rossoni traces the earliest documented transformation of Capone into a hereditary surname to the second half of the 12th century in the area of Alessandria. Additional records are documented during the 15th century.

The surname illustrates two common paths in the formation of Italian family names: descriptive nicknames based on physical appearance and, in some regional contexts, nicknames derived from animal names that conveyed specific personal characteristics or social perceptions.