Show ContentsRossetti History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

The surname Rossetti 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 Rossetti family

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

Rossetti 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 Rossetti 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 Rossetti family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Dante Gabriel Rossetti (born 1783), a noted painter and a poet, also a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of painters who were noted for their meticulous attention to detail in their pa...
  • Gabriel Rossetti, Dante's father, was born in Naples

Rossetti Ranking

In the United States, the name Rossetti is the 14,198th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Rossetti migration to the United States +

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

Rossetti Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Angela Rossetti, aged 21, who immigrated to America from Mongrando, Italy, in 1908
  • Anelo Rossetti, aged 47, who landed in America from Sola, Italy, in 1909
  • Agostino Rossetti, aged 35, who immigrated to America from Vernola, Italy, in 1911
  • Aleandro Rossetti, aged 16, who landed in America from Orciano, Italy, in 1911
  • Achille Rossetti, aged 44, who settled in America from Petiellasalto, Italy, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rossetti (post 1700) +

  • Stephen Joseph Rossetti (b. 1951), American Catholic priest, author, educator, licensed psychologist
  • Frank G. Rossetti, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1943-44, 1955-72; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1948, 1956, 1960, 1964 2
  • Frances Rossetti, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Arizona, 2012 2
  • Gabriele Rossetti (b. 1995), Italian gold medalist shooter at the 2016 Summer Olympics, son of Olympic medalist Bruno Mario Rossetti
  • Bruno Mario Rossetti (1960-2018), Italian sports shooter and Olympic bronze medalist at the at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
  • Gino Rossetti (1904-1992), Italian footballer
  • Francesco Rossetti (1833-1885), Italian experimental physicist
  • Gabriele Rossetti (1783-1854), Italian poet and writer
  • Christian Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), English poetess, younger daughter of Gabriele and Frances Mary Lavinia Rossetti, born in Charlotte Street, Portland Place, London, sister of Dante Gabriel Rossetti
  • Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), English painter and poet, eldest son of Gabriele Rossetti, born at 38 Charlotte Street, Portland Place, co-founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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