Grassi

Grassi is an Italian surname, a variant of Grasso. The root Grasso means "fat" in Italian, derived from Latin crassus, and originally served as a nickname for a stout person. As a patronymic or descriptive surname, Grassi follows a common Italian pattern of forming family names from physical characteristics.

Notable Bearers

The surname Grassi has been borne by numerous individuals across various fields. In the Catholic Church, notable figures include Achille Grassi, an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal; Carlo Grassi, a cardinal; and Giovanni Antonio Grassi, a Jesuit priest who served as President of Georgetown University. Gregorio Grassi was an Italian Franciscan friar and bishop. In sports, Alberto Grassi and Davide Grassi are Italian footballers; Bruno Grassi is a Brazilian footballer; and Claudio Grassi is an Italian tennis player. The arts and sciences feature Alex de Grassi, an American guitarist; Carlo Grassi, an Italian partisan; Ernesto Grassi, an Italian philosopher; Giacomo di Grassi, an Italian fencing master; Giorgio Grassi, an Italian architect; and Giovanni Battista Grassi, an Italian physician and zoologist. Franz Dominic Grassi was a German merchant of Italian descent. In politics, Giuseppe Grassi served as an Italian politician and member of the Italian Liberal Party, and Giuseppina Grassi is a Mexican professional road cyclist. Josef Grass…

Distribution and Variants

Grassi is primarily found in Italy, with concentrations in Lombardy, Piedmont, and Tuscany. Emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries spread the name to the Americas, particularly Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. Related names include Grasso and Grassini.

• Meaning: Variant of Grasso, meaning "fat"
• Origin: Italian
• Type: Descriptive surname
• Usage regions: Italy, Argentina, Brazil, United States