Russo is a common Southern Italian and Sicilian surname. It is the Southern counterpart of Rossi and comes from a nickname indicating red hair or beard, from russo, russë and russu, from Late Latin russus or rubius, Classical Latin rubeus, "red".
Geographical distribution As of 2014, 61.5% of all known bearers of the surname Russo were residents of Italy (frequency 1:277), 18.6% of the United States (1:5,429), 5.1% of Argentina (1:2,347), 4.6% of Brazil (1:12,345), 1.1% of France (1:17,406) and 1.0% of Australia (1:6,667).
In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:277) in the following regions: Campania (1:72) Sicily (1:123) Calabria (1:155) Apulia (1:205) Basilicata (1:213)
In Argentina, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:2,347) in the following provinces: Buenos Aires (1:1,034) Buenos Aires Province (1:1,657)
In the United States, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:5,429) in the following states: Connecticut (1:1,360) Rhode Island (1:1,384) New Jersey (1:1,433) New York (1:1,560) Massachusetts (1:1,920) Florida (1:3,605) Pennsylvania (1:3,637) New Hampshire (1:3,888) Louisiana (1:3,949) Delaware (1:3,981) Nevada (1:4,507) Maine (1:4,594)
In Brazil, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:12,345) only in one state:Russo surname distribution São Paulo (1:4,431)
Notable people named Russo Aaron Russo, libertarian entertainment businessman Adam Russo (born 1983), Canadian/Italian professional ice hockey goaltender Adriana Russo (born 1954), Italian actress and television personality Adriano Russo (born 1987), Italian footballer who plays as a defender Albert Russo (born 1943), Belgian bilingual (English and French) writer Alecu Russo (1819–1859), Moldavian Romanian writer, literary critic and publicist Alejandro Russo (born 1968), Argentine professional footballer Alessandra Russo, professor in Applied Computational Logic Alessia Russo (born 1999), English footballer Alexander Russo (writer), education writer Alexander Russo (athlete), Brazilian track and field sprinter Ana Bedran-Russo (née Ana Karina Bedran de Castro), an associate professor in restorative dentist Andrew Russo (born 1975), American pianist Andy Russo (born 1948), American college basketball coach Angelo Russo (born 1961), Italian actor Anna Russo, Italian writer Anthony Russo (disambiguation), several people, including: Anthony Russo (American football), American football quarterback Anthony Russo (director) (born 1970), Emmy Award-winning film and television director Anthony Russo (mobster) (1916–1979), Genovese crime family figure Anthony Russo (mayor), the 35th mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey Anthony Russo (whistleblower) (1936–2008), involved in the Pentagon Papers leak Antonino Russo Giusti (1876–1957), Italian dramatist Avraam Russo (né Abraham Ipjian in 1969), Syrian-born Russian pop singer of Armenian origin Bartolomeo Russo (1866–1941), New Zealand fisherman, horticulturist and farmer Basil Russo (born 1946), American attorney, politician of the Democratic Party, and judge Bill Russo (1947–2021), American former football coach Cailin Russo (born 1993), American model and musician Carmen Russo (born 1959) Italian dancer, actress, television personality and singer Catherine Allison Russo (born 1976), American healthcare consultant and politician Carine Russo (née Collet; born 1962), Belgian politician, member of Ecolo, and author Charles-Édouard Russo (born 1980), French professional golfer Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, American sports radio host Cristian Cuffaro Russo (born 1988), Argentine footballer Cindy Russo (born 1952), American women's basketball head coach Claudia Russo (born 1983), Italian candidate for Miss World 2008 Clement Russo (born 1995), French road and cyclo-cross cyclist Clemente Russo (born 1982), Italian Boxer Daniel Russo (born 1948), French film actor, comedian and director Danilo Russo (born 1987), Italian footballer Danny Russo (1885–1944), American violinist and big band leader Dario Russo, Australian film director, director of the 2025 film The Fox Darko Russo (born 1962), Serbian professional basketball coach David C. Russo (born 1953), American Republican Party politician Deanna Russo (born 1979), American actress Eddie Russo (1925–2012), American racecar driver Elena Russo (born 1972), Italian actress of cinema, television and theatre Erminia Russo (born 1964), Canadian volleyball player Evandro Russo Ramos (born 1985), Brazilian footballer Federico Russo (born 1997), Italian actor Felice Angelo "Felix" Russo (1926–2005), Australian rules footballer Ferdinando Russo (1866–1927), Italian journalist and dialect poet from Naples Francesco Russo (footballer) (born 1981), Italian footballer Francesco Russo (actor) (born 1993), Italian actor Francois Russo (born 1966), the creative director and founder of Maison Takuya Frederick Dello Russo, American politician and funeral director George Russo (born 1980), English actor Giacomo Russo (1937–1967), Italian racing driver Giada Russo (born 1997), Italian figure skater Gianni Russo (born 1943), American actor and singer Giovanni Russo (or Dovani Roso; born 1972), Croatian-born Israeli former footballer Giuni Russo (1951–2004), Italian singer-songwriter Giuseppe Genco Russo (1893–1976), Italian mafioso Giuseppe Russo (born 1983), Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder Gus Russo, American author and researcher of the assassination of John F. Kennedy James Russo (born 1953), American film and television actor Jamie Russo (born 1981), Australian former professional rugby league footballer Jason Russo Jeff Russo (born 1969), American composer and music producer Jonathan Judge-Russo (born 1983), American actor and producer Joe Russo, including: Joe Russo (director) (born 1971), an Emmy Award-winning film and television director Joe Russo (racing driver) (1901–1934), an American auto racer active in the 1930s Joe Russo (musician) (b. 1976), a jazz/rock and roll drummer John Russo, including: John F. Russo (1933–2017), politician from New Jersey John A. Russo (born 1939), American screenwriter and film director John Russo (baseball) (born 1973), baseball coach José Luis Russo (1958–2026), Uruguayan footballer Julee Russo (also known as Julee Rosso), American cook and food writer Justin Russo (born 1976), American musician Kevin Russo (born 1984), American former professional baseball player Kristin Russo (born 1980), American speaker, personality, and LGBTQ activist Laura Garcia Moreno Russo (1915–2001), Brazilian librarian Luciano Russo, Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who works in the diplomatic service of the Holy See Lucio Russo (1944–2025), Italian physicist, mathematician and historian of science Lucio F. Russo (1912–2004), American lawyer and politician from New York Luigi Fontana Russo (1868–1953), Italian economist and lecturer Marcella Russo (born 1969), Australian actress Marcelo Fabián Méndez Russo (born 1981), Uruguayan former footballer Marco Russo (born 1982), Italian footballer Margaret Russo (1931–2006), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Mariné Russo (born 1980), Argentine former field hockey player Mario Russo (born 1967), Argentine politician Marisabina Russo (née Stark), a children's book author and illustrator Marius Russo (1915–2005), American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball Martin A. Russo (born 1944), a U.S. Democratic politician and lobbyist Martin P. Russo (born 1968), American trial lawyer Matías Russo (born 1985), Argentine racing driver Melissa Russo (born 1968), American television journalist Meredith Russo (born ca 1986/1987), American young adult and middle grade fiction author Michael Dello-Russo (born 1956), Argentine football player and manager Michael Russo (disambiguation), several people Michele Russo (born 1986), Italian footballer in the role of defender Michele Russo (bishop) (1945–2019), Italian Roman Catholic bishop of Doba, Chad Miguel Ángel Russo (1956–2025), Argentine football player and manager Monette Russo (born 1988), Australian former artistic gymnast Nadia Russo-Bossie (1901–1988), a pioneering Romanian aviator Nancy Russo (born 1943), American psychologist Nat Russo (born 1970), American fantasy fiction author Neal Russo (1920–1996), American sportswriter Nello Russo (born 1981), Italian former footballer Nicholas Russo (1845–1902), Italian priest, philosopher, Boston College president, and church founder Nicola Russo (born 1990), Italian football midfielder Nino Russo (1939–2026), Italian stage and film director, screenwriter and playwright Orazio Russo (1973–2026), Italian football (soccer) player Pasquale Russo (born 1947), Italian Camorrista and boss Pat Russo (born 1941), American model Patricia Russo (born 1952), American businessperson Patti Russo (born 1966), American singer, songwriter and actress Paul Russo (1914–1976), American racecar driver Paul A. Russo (born 1943), American diplomat Peter Russo (born 1959), Australian former rules footballer Peter Russo (politician) (born 1955), Australian politician Pietro Russo (fl. 1507), Sicilian mapmaker Philippe Russo (born 1961), French singer-songwriter Pietro Paolo Russo (1611–1657), Roman Catholic bishop of Nusco Raffaele Russo (born 1999), Italian football player Rebecca Russo (born 1992), American-born women's ice hockey player Renato Russo (1960–1996), Brazilian singer and songwriter Rene Russo (born 1954), American actress, producer and model Riccardo Russo (born 1992), Italian motorcycle racer Richard Russo (born 1954), American novelist Richard Paul Russo, American science fiction writer Robbie Russo (born 1993), American ice hockey defenceman Robert Russo (born 1976), CEO and Founder of Visionary Square Roberto Russo (musician) (born 1966), Italian pianist and composer Rosa Russo Iervolino, Italian politician and former Mayor of Naples Russ Russo (born 1975), American film actor Ry Russo-Young (born 1981), American filmmaker Salvatore Russo (born 1958), Italian Camorrista and boss of the Russo clan Salvatore Russo (footballer) (born 1971), Italian former footballer Sarina Russo (born 1951), Italian entrepreneur Sean Russo (born 1991), Australian swimmer Santo J. "Sonny" Russo (1929–2013), American jazz trombonist Stefano Russo (footballer, born 1989), Italian footballer Stefano Russo (footballer, born 2000), German-Italian footballer Tal Russo, Israeli general Thomas "Thom" Russo, American record producer, engineer, mixer and songwriter Tommaso Russo (born 1971), Italian boxer Vanessa Rousso (also known as Vanessa Ashley Rousso; born 1983), American professional poker player Vince Russo, American author, podcaster, professional wrestling writer and pundit Vincenza Carrieri-Russo (born 1984), American model, actress, entrepreneur and beauty pageant titleholder Vito Russo (1946–1990), American LGBT activist, film historian and author Vittorio Russo (born 1939), Italian football manager and former player William Russo (musician) (1928–2003), American composer, arranger, and musician
Fictional characters Alex Russo, one of the main characters in the TV Series Wizards of Waverly Place Billy Russo, Marvel comic villain Blossom Russo, one of the main characters on the TV series Blossom Coach Russo, a character from the series The Amazing World of Gumball Dominic Russo, one of the main characters on the TV series Chasing Life Giada Russo, one of the main characters in the TV Series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Jamie Russo, a character from the series The Amazing World of Gumball Jerry Russo, one of the main characters in the TV Series Wizards of Waverly Place