This surname of APUZZO was an Italian topographic name for someone who lived by a well. The name was rendered in medieval documents in the Latin form PUTEUS. The name has many variant spellings which include DAPOZZO, DAL POZZO, POZZI, POUITS, POZETTI and POZZO. The origins of Italian surnames are not clear, and much work remains to be done on medieval Italian records. It seems that fixed bynames, in some cases hereditary, were in use in the Venetian Republic by the end of the 10th century. The typical Italian surname endings are 'i' and 'o', the former being characteristic of northern Italy. The singular form 'o' is more typical of southern Italy. There are several notables with the name POZZO, amongst which are Andrea POZZO (l642-l709) Italian artist born in Italy. In l665 he became a Jesuit lay brother. In Rome from l68l, his main work was the decoration of the church of S.Ignazio, the ceiling of which he painted in the perspective style known as sotto in su. In Vienna from l702, his work in the Liechtenstein palace is all that survives. His treatise 'Perspectiva pictorum ...(l693-98) had considerable influence on l8th century artists. Carlo Andrea POZZO DI BORGO, (Count) (l764-l842) Corsican born Russian diplomatist, born in Alala was another notable of this name. He practised as an advocate in Ajaccio, in l790 joined the party of Paoli, who made him president of the Corsican council and secretary of state, but in l796 was obliged to seek safety from the Bonapartes in London. In l798 he went to Vienna and effected an alliance of Austria and Russia against France. In l803 he entered the Russian diplomatic service. He laboured strenuously to unite Napoleon's enemies against him, seduced Bernadotte from the Napoleonic cause and urged the allies to march on Paris. He represented Russia at Paris, the Congress of Vienna, and the Congress of Verona, and was ambassador to London from l834 to l839, when he settled in Paris where he died.