indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Meaning & History
Possibly derived from the Hebrew term סְפָרַדִּי (s'faradí) used to refer to Jews originating from Iberia (called Sephardim or Sephardic Jews). It may also be of Greek origin from a word meaning "black, Mauritanian" or "soldier" with a connection to Middle Persian spʿh "army" used to refer to a person of African descent or someone who worked as a mercenary. Finally, the name could be derived from an Italian name Azzo "noble" combined with the name of a Germanic tribe Bardi or Pardo.