Proposed origin of the surname Rossi
Who were the Rus? Who were the Varangians?
I am accumulating some good information regarding my hypothesis. My reasoning draws from a variety of disciplines and sources.
Keep in mind to search the documents below quickly by searching on Ross or Ros or Rossi. The Ros, Rus, Rusi, Ross, Rhos etc. were the same people – these names described Scandinavian and some indigenous Finnish and Slavic tribal combination. German and Scandinavian tribes were often described throughout historical documents using the same form as derived for Rossi, such as: Dani, Alemanni, Eruli, Germani, Chauci, Cimbri, Suebi, and so forth.
Below is information I have collected thus far but first I suggest you read The Naming of Russia by Hakon Stang as it is the most comprehensive and scholarly work on the subject I have yet found:
The Naming of Russia (Excellent)
Also, this website by Troels Brandt regarding the Heruls (Eruli) is excellent.
Rossi name in Italy - BattleHonors
A somewhat biblical description of Rossi - Ezekiel
Rus, Ross, Rhos, Rhosi, Ros - The Tribe Ros Ross Rosland Ross Again Viking Ross Viking Ross again Ibn Fadlan The History and Origins of the Swedes Rossi (Rus) Another Arab Description
The Varangians in Italy
- Normans
and Byzantines “The relations with their superiors deteriorated and unhappy
with their pay and spoils, the Normans and the Varangians abandoned the Greek
army in 1040”. Note: The Rossi surname
seems to have appeared in Italy around 1000 AD or so.
Rossi is the most common
surname in Italy - This doesn’t happen by one family in so short a
time. There must have been many people
who took that last name. I think
describing their tribe and origins helped define who they were and thus we have
Rossi. GENS