Meaning & History
Etymology and Origins
Gaspari is an Italian surname derived from the given name Gaspare, the Italian form of Jasper. The root Jasper ultimately traces back to Latin Gaspar, which may originate from the Biblical Hebrew word גִּזְבָּר (gizbar) meaning "treasurer," itself from Old Persian ganzabarah. This name is traditionally associated with one of the Magi (the three wise men) who visited the newborn Jesus according to Christian tradition.
Notable Bearers
The surname Gaspari has been borne by many notable individuals across various fields. In astronomy, Annibale de Gasparis (1819–1892) was an Italian astronomer who discovered several asteroids. In sports, Rich Gaspari (born 1963) is an American professional bodybuilder, while Diana Gaspari (born 1984) is an Italian curler and Fabio de Gaspari (born 1966) an Italian javelin thrower. Gianfranco Gaspari represented Italy in Bobsleigh in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Giuseppe Gaspari (1932–2025) was an Italian football player. In arts, Gaetano Gaspari (1807/8–1881) was an Italian composer, bibliographer, and music historian; Pietro Gaspari (1720–1785) was an Italian artist known for veduta and capriccio paintings; and Maksim Gaspari (1883–1980) was a Slovene painter. In politics, Remo Gaspari (1921–2011) served several terms as a minister of the Italian Republic, and Mitja Gaspari (born 1951) is a Slovenian economist, banker, and politician. Elio Gaspari (born 1944) is a Brazilian journalist and writer resident in São Paulo.
Distribution and Variants
While predominantly Italian, the surname has variants and cognates across Europe: Kašpar and Kašparová (Czech), Jespersen and Kaspersen (Danish), Gaspard (French), and Kaspar (German). The related Italian surname Parri may also be a variant.
- Meaning: “treasurer,” from the Biblical name Jasper
- Origin: Italian surname from the given name Gaspare
- Type: Patronymic or derived from a given name
- Usage Regions: Italy, with variants in Czech, Danish, French, German
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Gaspari