Surname Rossetti - Meaning and Origin

Rossetti: What does the surname Rossetti mean?

The surname Rossetti, also spelled as Rosetti or Rositi, is derived from the Italian root word ‘rosso’ which means ‘red’ in English. Thus, the surname Rossetti literally translates to ‘the ones who are red’ or more specifically, ‘the redheads.’

The origin of the name traces back to Italian medieval times when red was a highly sought-after hair color and associated with aristocracy and fame. At the time, having red hair was a sign of power and thus names containing the Italian root word ‘rosso’ proliferated as men and women tried to showcase their color status.

The surname later evolved to indicate those who had a connection to the color in some form, rather than just having red hair. Consequently, many branches of the Rossetti family tree developed, each with its own small variations of the name.

Nowadays, the Rossetti surname is found across the world and has been adopted in many different cultures, often taking on different spellings and meanings that reflect its global spread. In essence, the Rossetti surname can now signify someone who has some kind of association with the color red or simply serves as a way to remember a distant Italian ancestor.

Rossetti: Where does the name Rossetti come from?

Rossetti is an Italian surname, primarily found in Italy today. The prevalence of the Rossetti name is most common in the southern regions of Italy, especially in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Campania. In addition, there is a significant number of Rossetti families found in the northwestern regions of the country, especially in Lombardy.

Outside of Italy, Rossetti is occasionally seen in parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, primarily in Austria and areas of former Yugoslavia. The Rossetti name can also be found in smaller numbers in regions of Brazil and South America with large Italian immigrant populations.

In the United States, the Rossetti family name is most common in states such as New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and California. New Jersey is home to the largest Italian-American community in the country and the Rossetti family name appears intermittently in Italian-American communities across the country.

Rossetti is an Italian name that has been embraced in some parts of the world, but not all. There may still be a significant population of Rossettis in Italy, but the name has become much less common in other nations as time passes.

Variations of the surname Rossetti

The Rossetti surname is most commonly associated with English ancestry, with the spelling sometimes changing across generations. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Rossetti include Rosetti, Rossi, Roseti, Rosetti, Rossetto and Rosso.

The earliest traceable origins of the surname Rossetti go back to the 13th century, when it was derived from the pre-7th century Old English and Old German rohsa, meaning “a headland”. It is most likely that Rossetti was once used as a nickname for someone who lived near a headland. The Rossetti surname was first recorded in 1222 in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk, where it was listed as Thofferus de Roeseti.

Apart from England, Rossetti is an Italian surname that is particularly common in central and southern Italy. It can be found in the form of Rossi, Rosa, Rosati, Rossetti, Rosso, Roszi, Rosseli, Rotelli, Rizzi, Ricci, Rusi and Rodelli. In some cases, the surname Rosato was adopted by families who had emigrated from Italy.

The Rossetti surname is also found in Denmark, Finland, France and Germany, mainly in the form of Rossi and Rossman. In Spain, some families adopted the variant Rossini, while in Portugal, the variants Rossy and Rossi were adopted. In Greece, the variant Roselli was adopted, while in Hungary, the variant Rozmary was used.

In conclusion, the Rossetti surname is associated with multiple countries and has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is derived from the Old English and Old German rohsa, meaning “a headland”. Variants include Rosetti, Rossi, Roseti, Rosetti, Rossetto, Rosso, Rosati, Rossman, Rossini, Rossy, Rossi, Roselli, Rozmary, Rizzi, Ricci, Rusi and Rodelli.

Famous people with the name Rossetti

• Dante Gabriel Rossetti: An English poet and visual artist, Rossetti is one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, an artistic movement which celebrated medievalism and beauty.
• Christina Rossetti: Also an English poet, Christina Rossetti was a major figure of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and is known for her vivid imagery and symbolism.
• Gabriele Rossetti: An Italian poet and political essayist, Gabriele Rossetti was an associate of Ugo Foscolo and a founding member of the Accademia dei Quaranta.
• Dina Iordanova Rossetti: A Bulgarian-British film scholar, Dina Iordanova Rossetti is the author of seminal works such as "New Bulgarian Cinema: Symbols, Authorship and Intertextuality".
• Antonio Rossetti: An Italian composer of the Classical era, Antonio Rossetti is known for his prolific output of wind instrument music.
• Girolamo Rossi: An Italian writer, Girolamo Rossi is best known for the innovative formal poetry he wrote on pastoral topics.
• Roberto Calasso Rossetti: An Italian literary critic and publisher, Roberto Calasso Rossetti is the author of works such as "La Roccia Verde" and "La Folgore di Bastia".
• Antonio Maria Gaetano Maria Rossetti: An Italian philosopher and theologian, Antonio Maria Gaetano Maria Rossetti is a proponent of the philosophy of Benedetto Croce.
• Manuela Rossetti: An Argentine film director, Manuela Rossetti has directed numerous short films, documentaries, and feature-length films.
• Paolo Napoleone Rossetti: An Italian jurist, Paolo Napoleone Rossetti is best known for his two-volume treatise on Roman law.

Other surnames

RossetRosseterRossethRossettRossetto