Parisi Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Parisi surname: its meaning, its roots in Italy, and its heraldry.
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Origin of the Parisi name
Parisi is an Italian ethnic or habitational surname meaning "from Paris" or "the Parisian", from Latin Parisii. It was given to people who came from Paris or had ties to it, and also to members of medieval confraternities. The name is common in Sicily, Calabria and Apulia.
Paris, Parisio or Greek roots?
Parisi is a plural patronymic of the medieval given name Parisio or Pariso, which in turn may refer to the city of Paris or to the hero Paris of Greek legend. In Sicily and Calabria, where the name is frequent, a Greek origin is also suggested, since Greek-speaking communities lived there for centuries.
Forebears estimates about 45,000 Parisis in Italy, ranking the name around 56th, and roughly 1,100 in Greece. The United States follows with about 12,000 by Forebears' count; the 2010 Census recorded 8,326. Wikipedia's list of bearers runs from Ascanio Parisi, a bishop who died in 1614, to the French judo Olympic champion Angelo Parisi.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Parisi name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Parisi name in Italy. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Argentina and France; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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The researched Parisi pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Parisi coat of arms.
Parisi name FAQ
What does the Parisi name mean?
From Paris, Parisian. Common variants include Paris, Parigi, Parisio.
Where does the Parisi surname come from?
It originates in Italy, and is also found in the United States, Argentina and France.
Is there a Parisi coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Parisi crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Parisi coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Is Parisi an Italian name?
Yes. It is most common in southern Italy, especially Sicily.
Does Parisi mean someone from Paris?
Possibly, but it more often continues the given name Parisio.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani; Caffarelli & Marcato, I cognomi d'Italia. Facts and figures: Forebears surname distribution (estimates); US Census Bureau, 2010 surname file; Wikipedia, "Parisi (surname)". Forebears figures are modelled estimates, rounded.