Rossi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy
Scotland

The name Rossi is derived from the Italian word "Rosso," which comes from the Latin words "Rubius and Rossius," which mean "red." As a surname, 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 Rossi family

The surname 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 Rossi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our 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 Rossi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rossi 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 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 Rossi family

Prominent among members of the family was

Jacoppi Rossi in 1176, Gherardo Rossi in 1197 and Beringhieri Rossi in 1204
Giambattista Rossi vicar of Ordine in 1564
Lorenzo Rossi, professor of philosophy at the University of Ferrara in the 17th century
Michelangelo Rossi (Michel Angelo del Violino) (ca. 1602-1656), an important Italian composer, violinist and organist of the Baroque era
Domenico Egidio Rossi (1659-1715), an Italian architect and master builder, most notable for his design of the Schloss Rastatt

Rossi World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rossi is the 1,594^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Rossi is ranked the 215^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,259 people with that name. 2 And in South America, the name Rossi is the 30^th popular surname with an estimated 117 people with that name. 3

Rossi migration to the United States +

In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Rossi

Rossi Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Louis Rossi, who arrived in New York in 1823 4
M Rossi, aged 45, who landed in Key West, Fla in 1839 4
Tomas Rossi, aged 30, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1840 4
Andrew, Alexander, John and Otto Rossi, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1798 and 1849
Alberto Rossi, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rossi Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Adelina Rossi, aged 16, who landed in America from Melizzeno, in 1902
Joseph Rossi, who landed in Arkansas in 1903 4
Albina Rossi, aged 15, who landed in America, in 1903
Adolfo Rossi, aged 48, who immigrated to the United States from Rome, in 1904
A. Rossi, aged 24, who landed in America from Italy, in 1904

Contemporary Notables of the name Rossi (post 1700) +

Barbara Rossi (1940-2023), American artist, one of the original Chicago Imagists
Len Rossi (1929-2020), born Len Rositano, an American professional wrestler, 14-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, member of both the NWA Hall of Fame (2016) and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2004)
Steve Rossi (1932-2014), born Joseph Charles Tafarella, an American stand-up comedian and actor
Marc A. Rossi, American politician, Representative from Virginia 10th District, 2000 5
Lynda Rossi, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 2004 5
Joseph A. Rossi, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 38th District, 1978 5
George Rossi, American Republican politician, Candidate for New Jersey State House of Assembly 33rd District, 1975 5
Ernest F. Rossi, American politician, Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1959 5
Emil P. Rossi, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 1st District, 1996, 1998, 2000 5
Deborah L. Rossi, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972 5
... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rossi family +

Hillcrest Coal Mine

Mr. Luigi Rossi (1888-1914), Italian Bucker from Montonate, Varese, Italy who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 6

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"List of most common surnames in South America." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames_in_South_America
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners