Specific surnames were most commonly given to children who were orphans, illegitimate, or foundlings such as Esposito meaning exposed or Trovato, meaning found which identified the child for life as an abandoned child. This often caused shame and embarrassment to the child.

What Esposito means?

Italian: surname commonly denoting a foundling, meaning literally 'exposed' (Latin expositus, past participle of exponere 'to place outside'). At the present day this is the commonest surname in Naples and fourth in Italy as a whole.

What is the most common Italian last name?

According to this ranking, the surname "Rossi" is most common in Italy, counting around 90,000 people.