Giannini
An Italian surname meaning “descendants of Gianni,” a pet form of Giovanni (John).
The #9,301 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 88,238 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Giannini is an Italian patronymic surname built on Gianni, a short form of Giovanni, the Italian equivalent of John. The base name ultimately goes back to Hebrew Yochanan, meaning “God is gracious.” The ending -ini commonly suggests “the family of” or “descendants of,” so the surname originally pointed to a Gianni ancestor.
History
The name is especially Italian in form and is found in many parts of Italy, with patronymic surnames of this type becoming hereditary over time. It spread beyond Italy through migration, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is now found in Italian diaspora communities as well as in Italy itself.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it comes from a diminutive of Giovanni, Giannini is part of one of the largest surname families in Europe: the many regional forms of “John.”
From the historical record
“GianeUi 193. Gianfigliazzi 563. Giannini 196. Giannone 189. Giannotti 196. Gianonne 199. Gibb 224. Gibbench 208.”
— Die Personennamen, insbesondere die FamiliennamenNotable people named Giannini
- Giancarlo Giannini (b. 1942)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.