Show ContentsDe rossi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name De rossi is derived from the Italian word "Rosso," which comes from the Latin words "Rubius and Rossius," which mean "red." As a surname, De rossi was originally a nickname for a person with red hair or a reddish complexion. Nickname surnames usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. Although the most common type of family name found in Tuscany is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, the nickname type of surname is also frequently found.

Early Origins of the De rossi family

The surname De rossi was first found in the cites of Trento, Udine, Vicenza, Venice, Savigliano, Pisa, Ravenna, and Rome. Some of the family migrated as far south as Sicily. This southern branch of the family descended from Count Ugone Rosso of Sicily, whose ancestors were Normans.

Early History of the De rossi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our De rossi research. Another 30 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1176, 1197, 1204, 1325, 1439, 1507, 1564, 1602, 1656, 1659, 1715 and 1783 are included under the topic Early De rossi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

De rossi Spelling Variations

Italian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of De rossi include Rosso, Rossa, Rossi, Del Rosso, De Rossi, De Russi, Lo Russo, Lorusso, La Russa, Larussa, Rosselli, Rossello, Rossellini, Ruggiu, Ruiu, Ruju, Rubiu, Rossillo, Rossetto, Rossit, Rossini, Rossitti, Rossitto, Rossotto, Russotti, Russello, Russetti, Russino, Russiani, Rossoni, Rossetti, Roussini, Rosselino, Rossato, Della Rossa, DeRossi, De Rubeis, Russo and many more.

Early Notables of the De rossi family

Prominent among members of the family was Jacoppi Rossi in 1176, Gherardo Rossi in 1197 and Beringhieri Rossi in 1204; in 1325, Fidello del Rosso was prior at St. Piero; Giambattista Rossi vicar of Ordine in 1564; Lorenzo Rossi, professor of philosophy at the University of Ferrara in the 17th century; Cosimo Rosselli (1439-1507), an Italian painter of the Quattrocento, active mainly in his birthplace of Florence; Michelangelo Rossi (Michel Angelo del Violino) (ca. 1602-1656), an important Italian composer, violinist and organist...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early De rossi Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the De rossi family

In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name De rossi were found: Armando Rossi, who sailed to New York in 1884; Catharine Rossi, who arrived in New York in 1844; and Theodore Rossi who arrived in New York in 1852. Others sailed to Pennsylvania, including Giovanni Rossi arrived in 1896.


Contemporary Notables of the name De rossi (post 1700) +

  • Mino De Rossi (1931-2022), Italian road bicycle and track cyclist, who won the gold medal in the men's 4.000m team pursuit at the 1952 Summer Olympics
  • Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi (b. 1742), Italian Christian Hebraist
  • Giovanni Battista "Carlo" de Rossi (1822-1894), Italian archaeologist, best known for his rediscovery of early Christian catacombs
  • Daniele De Rossi (b. 1983), Italian professional footballer
  • Assunta De Rossi (b. 1981), stage name of Maria Assunta Tiotangco Schiavone-Ledesma, a Filipino-Italian actress, sister of Alessandra De Rossi
  • Portia de Rossi (b. 1973), born Amanda Lee Rogers, an Australian actress, model, and philanthropist
  • Alessandra De Rossi (b. 1984), stage name of Alessandra Schiavone, an English-born, FAMAS Award winning actress

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Fabrizio De Rossi (d. 1912), aged 22, Italian Third Class passenger from Rome, Italy who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 1


  1. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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