Show ContentsBossi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Lombardy emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Bossi. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Lombardy is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Bossi family lived in the city of Milan. The Bossi surname is derived from the Latin personal name "Bosius."

Early Origins of the Bossi family

The surname Bossi was first found in 1170, where Consabecco Bossi was part of the Commune of Milan.

Boso (d. 1181?), was the third English cardinal, "described by Cardella as Boso Breakspear, an Englishman by birth, the nephew of Pope Adrian IV, and a monk of the order of St. Benedict. He was a member of the monastery of St. Albans, but went to Rome to follow the fortunes of his uncle." 1

Early History of the Bossi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bossi research. The years 1544, 1555, 1575, 1629, 1650, 1732, 1830, 1846, 1848, 1850, 1851 and 1852 are included under the topic Early Bossi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bossi Spelling Variations

Surnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Bossi include Bosio, Bsio, Bsia, Bso, Bosia, Boso, Bsi, Bosi, Busio, Buosio, Busi, Buosi, Bosich, Bosèlli, Bosèllo, Boselli, Bosello, Bosè, Bose, Bosetti, Bosètti, Bosini, Bosìn, Bosin, Bosinèlli, Bosinelli, Bostti, Bosotti, Bosni, Bosoni, Bosne, Bosone, Bosani, Bosèro, Bosero, Bossa, Bossi and many more.

Early Notables of the Bossi family

Prominent among bearers of this family in early times was Iacopo Bosio, a Canavese author and poet born in the 15th century; Tomaso Bosio was a knight in Asti around this time; Giacomo Bosio was a knight in Chivasso around 1544; Tommaso Bosio was Bishop of Modena in 1555; Antonio Bosio (c.1575-1629) was an Italian scholar, the first systematic explorer of subterranean Rome, sometimes known as...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bossi Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bossi Ranking

In France, the name Bossi is the 9,203rd most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 2


United States Bossi migration to the United States +

Some of the first North American settlers with Bossi name or one of its variants:

Bossi Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Angela Bossi, aged 60, who landed in America from Magnago, Italy, in 1908
  • Antonio Bossi, aged 45, who immigrated to America from Gallaroso, Italy, in 1909
  • Antonio Bossi, aged 21, who landed in America from Gallarate, Italy, in 1910
  • Anselmo Bossi, aged 16, who immigrated to the United States from Turbigo, Italy, in 1910
  • Angelo Bossi, aged 23, who settled in America from Cellino, Italy, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bossi (post 1700) +

  • Enea Bossi Sr. (1888-1963), Italian-American aerospace engineer and aviation pioneer, best known for designing the Budd BB-1 Pioneer, the first stainless steel aircraft
  • Benigno Bossi (1727-1800), Italian engraver, painter, and stucco artist
  • Mario Bossi (b. 1909), Italian footballer
  • Johann Dominik "Domenico" Bossi (1767-1853), Italian painter
  • Giuseppe Bossi (1777-1815), Italian painter, arts administrator and writer on art
  • Carmelo Bossi (1939-1960), Italian boxer who held the European welterweight and world junior middleweight titles, Olympic silver medalist at the 1960 Summer Olympics
  • Marco Enrico Bossi (1861-1925), Italian organist, composer, improviser and pedagogue
  • Umberto Bossi (b. 1941), Italian politician, former leader of the Northern League
  • Joseph Bossi or Giuseppe Bossi (b. 1911), Swiss footballer
  • Paul Bossi (b. 1991), Luxembourg professional football player


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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