Di Stefano is one of the most common surnames in Sicily, concentrated especially in the province of Catania on the eastern side of the island, in the volcanic landscape between Mount Etna and the Ionian coast. The name simply means "son of Stefano" — the apostolic name Stephen was enormously popular in medieval Sicily under both Norman and Aragonese rule.
The presence of Saint Stephen as patron of several Sicilian churches reinforced the name's use as a baptismal name, and patronymic surnames were attached accordingly. Di Stefano families emigrated heavily from eastern Sicily during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, settling particularly in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
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