Ricci
An Italian surname from a nickname meaning “curly” or “curl-haired.”
The #3,127 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 26,768 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Ricci is the plural or family-form of Italian riccio, meaning “curly,” especially “curly-haired.” It ultimately goes back to Latin words for something rough, bristly, or curled, and was first used as a nickname before becoming hereditary. In surname use, it often pointed to a person with curly hair or a bristly appearance.
History
Ricci is a very common Italian surname and appears in many parts of Italy, especially in central and northern areas. Like many Italian surnames, it could begin as a descriptive nickname and later become fixed as a family name. The same root also produced related forms such as Riccio and Ricchi.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because riccio also means “hedgehog” in Italian, the surname’s word history carries a nicely vivid sense of “the curly one” or “the bristly one.”
From the historical record
“Ricci, Ricco. Riche (Ital. Rtberol, Riberolle. Rtberol est Richard. Xom de saint, en latju un riverain o(-\ mnis la forme fit- /itcr/iviH.». C'est un vieux nom germ.”
— Dictionnaire des noms (French surnames)