Polo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Polo comes from the personal name Paolo, the Italian equivalent of Paul. The popularity of this name was originally due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures.

Early Origins of the Polo family

The surname Polo was first found in the port city of Genoa. Early records list the physician Gherardo de Paolo, as “one of the 12 wisest men in Genoa in 1315.”

Early History of the Polo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Polo research.

Polo Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Paoli, Paolo, Paola, Pauli, Poli, Polo, De Paoli, De Paolis, Paulich, Paolella, Paolillo, Paulillo, Pavolillo, Paoletti, Pauletti, Pauletto, Poletti, Poletto, Polet, Paolini, Paolin, Paolinelli, Paulini, Paulin, Polini, Pavolini, Paolucci, Paulucci, Polucci, Pauluzzi, Poluzzi, Paolicchi, Paolotti, Polotti, Polotto, Paolozzi, Paoloni, Paolone, Paulon, Poloni, Polon, Paolacci, Polacci, Paulazzi, Polazzi, Paolanti, Polato, Polesso, Paoleiri and many more.

Early Notables of the Polo family (pre 1700)

Prominent among members of the family was Paolo da Firenze (d. 1419), Italian composer, theorist, and monk, a member of the Camaldolese order; Aretino Paolo, a 16th century church musician, composer, and choirmaster of the Arezzo Cathedral; Pietro Paolini (1603-1681), an Italian painter of the Baroque period.

Polo Ranking

In the United States, the name Polo is the 13,183^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Polo is ranked the 1,697^th most popular surname with an estimated 3,563 people with that name. [2]

 Polo migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Polo Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Peter Polo, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1766 [3]

Polo Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Manuel Polo, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 [3]
• Juan Polo, who arrived in America in 1817 [3]
• J Polo, aged 40, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1836 [3]
• Casimiro Polo, who landed in New York, NY in 1837 [3]
• Cristobal Polo, who arrived in Peru in 1837 [3]

 Polo migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Polo Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

• Marie Polo, who arrived in Montreal in 1659