RICCI
Ricci is an Italian surname that has been in use for many centuries. It originates from the Italian word riccio, meaning “curly” or “frizzy,” and has been applied as a descriptive nickname for individuals with such hair. In some instances it also derives from the Latin ricius, meaning “rich,” which may have indicated a prosperous family background.
The name is highly varied; at least thirty recognised spellings exist, including Ricca, Ricco, Rizzo, Riccelli, Rizzillio and Rizzotto. All of these variations are believed to be nicknames linked to the original Italian word ricco for “curly.” Though the exact earliest use of the name is uncertain, records show it was in use at least seven hundred years ago. Early surviving documents include the testimony of Giovanni Ricci in Siena in 1545, the christening of David Ricca in Angrogna in 1652, and the baptism of Pietro Riccio in Naples in 1675.
During the medieval period the Ricci family was associated with the prominent Florentine noble house that played a role in the early establishment of the Republic of Florence in the twelfth century. Over the centuries members of the family occupied diverse social and political positions, often symbolising wealth and influence within Italian society.
In terms of modern prevalence, the surname is the thirteenth most common in Italy. According to the 2020 census, 2.1 % of Italians bear the Ricci surname. Its frequency has spread to other nations through migration, particularly to the United States, Argentina, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom in 2018, 512 households carried the name and 97.2 % of those were of Italian descent. The United States recorded 9 482 people with the surname in 2020, 61.5 % of whom were of Italian heritage.
Beyond Italy, Ricci can be found in France, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil, as well as in Canada, Australia, and other countries that received large numbers of Italian emigrants. In many of these places the surname remains predominantly linked to ethnic Italian communities.
Occasionally the name appears in compound forms such as Rebucci-Ricci or Riossi-Ricci, signalling mixed ancestry or the joining of two family lines. These hyphenated surnames are an uncommon but recognised pattern within Italian diaspora communities.
The Ricci surname continues to be an emblem of Italian heritage, reflecting both the linguistic roots of its early use as a nickname and the historical participation of families bearing the name in civic life across Europe and the Americas.
Typical given names associated with the Ricci surname
Male
- Alessandro
- Antonio
- Claudio
- Francesco
- Giuseppe
- John
- Marco
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Roberto
Female
- Amanda
- Andrea
- Anna
- Claudia
- Deborah
- Elisa
- Francesca
- Julie
- Linda
- Maria
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Yvonne
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Ricci in...
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There are approximately 629 people named Ricci in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around ten in a million people in Britain are named Ricci.
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Italy
Language of origin: Italian
Famous people named Ricci
- Christina Ricci - American actress
- Italia Ricci - Actress
- Mike Ricci - Canadian ice hockey player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.