ROSSI Surname Meaning and Family History

Rossi originated as a descriptive surname meaning red-haired or ruddy-complexioned individual, derived from the nickname rosso, meaning "red." The Rossi surname was most common in northern Italy.

Surname Origin: Italian

Alternate Surname Spellings: ROSSO, ROSSA, RUSSI, RUSSO, RUGGIU, RUBIU, ROSSELLI, ROSSELLO, ROSSELLINI, RISSIELLO, ROSSILLO, ROSSETTI, ROSSETTO, ROSSETTINI, ROSSITTI, ROSSITTO, ROSSINI, ROSSINO, ROSSOTTI, ROSSOTTO, ROSSINI, ROSSONE, ROSSUTO, RUSSELLO, RUSSINO, RUSSOTTI, RUSSOTTO, RUSSIANI, RUSSOLILLO

Famous People with the Surname ROSSI

• Portia de Rossi - Australian actress born under the name Amanda Lee Rogers; wife of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres
• Aldo Rossi - Italian architect
• Valentino Rossi - Italian professional motorcycle racer

Where is the ROSSI Surname Most Common?

The Rossi surname is the 875th most common surname in the world, according to surname distribution data from Forebears. It is found most prevalently in Italy, by far—it ranks as the #1 surname in the country. It is also very common in San Marino, where it ranks 8th, as well as Monaco (4th), Argentina (51st) and Switzerland (73rd).

WorldNames PublicProfiler pinpoints the Rossi surname as being particularly common throughout northern Italy, especially in the regions of Umbria, Toscana, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Liguria, Corse, Lazio, Molise, Lombardia and Veneto. It is next most frequently found in Argentina, followed by Switzerland, France and Luxembourg.

Genealogy Resources for the Surname ROSSI

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ROSS Surname Meaning and Family History

By Kimberly Powell

Italian Surname Meanings & Origins
Uncover the meaning of your Italian last name with this guide to how Italian surnames came about, and a list of the 50 most common Italian surnames.

Rossi Family Crest - It's Not What You Think
Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Rossi family crest or coat of arms for the Rossi surname. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.

The ROSSI DNA Project
Individuals with the Rossi surname are invited to join this project to work together to find their common heritage through DNA testing and sharing of information.

ROSSI Family Genealogy Forum
This free message board is focused on descendants of Rossi ancestors around the world. Search the forum for posts about your Rossi ancestors, or join the forum and post your own queries. 

FamilySearch - ROSSI Genealogy
Explore over 835,000 results from digitized historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Rossi surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

ROSSI Surname Mailing List
Free mailing list for researchers of the Rossi surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archives of past messages.

GeneaNet - Rossi Records
GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Rossi surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.

The Rossi Genealogy and Family Tree Page
Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Rossi surname from the website of Genealogy Today.

Ancestry.com: Rossi Surname
Explore over 740,000 digitized records and database entries, including census records, passenger lists, military records, land deeds, probates, wills and other records for the Rossi surname on the subscription-based website, Ancestry.com.

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References: Surname Meanings & Origins

Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.

Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.

Fucilla, Joseph. Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.

Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.

Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.

Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.

Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

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