Show ContentsGrandi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Grandi surname comes from the word "grande" which means "tall," or "large," and evolved from a nickname for someone of large stature, in either size or reputation.

Early Origins of the Grandi family

The surname Grandi was first found in Ferrara, a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. History dates the city back to 753. It was at war with Venice in 1471. It is a walled city and notable is the Church of S.Cristoforo. Knitted goods and shawls are made. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time was in itself a family honor. The name was of ancient nobility.

Early History of the Grandi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grandi research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1403, 1491, 1500, 1531, 1545, 1548, 1578, 1586, 1630, 1656, 1660, 1671, 1718 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Grandi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grandi Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grandi, Grande and others.

Early Notables of the Grandi family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Ercole Grandi (1491-1531), Italian painter of the early-Renaissance period
  • Alessandro Grandi (1586-1630), Italian, Baroque composer


United States Grandi migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Grandi Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Nicolas Grandi, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 1
  • Claudia Grandi, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1840 1
  • Rosa Grandi, age 18, who arrived in American on June 30, 1884, aboard the "Caledonia"
  • Emiddio Grandi, age 40, who arrived in New York on Nov. 16, 1886 aboard the "Cheribon"

Contemporary Notables of the name Grandi (post 1700) +

  • Bruno Grandi (1934-2019), Italian gymnast, former President of the FIG (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique)
  • Serena Grandi (b. 1958), Italian actress and pin up girl famous in the 1980s through the 1990s
  • Marta Grandi (1915-2005), Italian entomologist who specialised in Ephemeroptera
  • Irene Grandi (b. 1969), Italian singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, actress and television host; she won a Wind Music Award in 2009, and in 2011 a Sanremo Hit Award
  • Guido Grandi (1886-1970), Italian entomologist, founder of the Institute of Entomology at the University of Bologna in 1928
  • Dino Grandi (1895-1988), 1st Count di Mordano, an Italian politician, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs (1929-1932), President of Chamber of Fasci and Corporations (1929-1943)
  • Thomas Grandi (b. 1972), Canadian retired alpine skier at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics
  • Margherita Grandi (1892-1971), Australian opera soprano


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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