Surname Gaspari - Meaning and Origin

Gaspari: What does the surname Gaspari mean?

The last name Gaspari is an Italian surname most commonly found in the regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. It is derived from the Latin word gaspar meaning "treasurer." The name is thought to refer to a man who held such a position in a family or government. Over time, the surname has been modified to Gaspari, presumably to make it easier to pronounce and spell.

The name Gaspari can be found in historical sources as far back as the 13th-century, where it would have been used by nobles and wealthy merchants. Middle Ages records show that the family had great political influence in northern Italy.

The coat of arms for the Gaspari family is heraldic and reflects the family's noble and wealthy past, with a silver shield with a gold band in the center on a red background. It was commonly emblazoned with a crowned hedgehog, or ermellino, which was a popular symbol among wealthy families at the time.

In modern-day, the name Gaspari is most commonly found in Italy, the United States, and several South American countries. It has become a popular surname across many countries, shedding its more traditional Italian roots. Its bearer might still recall the family’s expansive and illustrious past, along with their treasured coat of arms.

Gaspari: Where does the name Gaspari come from?

The last name Gaspari is most commonly associated with the country of Italy. This Italian surname is found mainly in the central and northern regions of the country. It is also fairly widespread in the neighbouring countries of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

In the United States, Gaspari is among the four thousand most common last names. There are clusters of bearers of this name in particular geographical areas - California, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Arizona, and Florida.

In Canada, Gaspari is quite rare and mainly found in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Smaller concentrations are reported in British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba.

In the United Kingdom, the surname Gaspari is found mostly in London and Surrey. There are also some bearers of this name in the north-western city of Manchester.

Lastly, Gaspari is also found fairly frequently in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. An equally high concentration is reported among the Latin American population living in the United States.

Given its origins and current rates of distribution, Gaspari appears to remain most common in Central and Northern Europe, the US, Canada, the UK, and Latin America, in that order.

Variations of the surname Gaspari

The surname Gaspari is an Italian and Portuguese spelling of the first name Gaspar or Casper, meaning "treasurer". Gaspari or Caspari also have variant spellings and surnames, such as Gasperone, Gasparino, Gasparin, Gasparrini, Gazpari, Caspari, Casparino, Casparin, Caparini, and Casparrini.

Gaspari originated from the Gaspar, a given name in reference to that of Gaspar, the King of the Magi in the Bible and also called Caspar in German. Gaspari or Caspari is believed to have been first introduced to Portugal by German merchants during the Middle Ages, with it becoming a popular first name among Portuguese and Italian families. In some cases, Gaspari may even have been a hereditary title given to wealthy tradesman.

The Gaspari surname is often associated with several historical figures, such as the 16th century Italian painter and architect Girolamo Gaspari or the 17th century Italian saint Bernardino Gaspari. It is also associated with famous athletes, chefs, politicians, scholars and artists such as Italian pole-vaulter Sandro Gaspari, Italian chef Stefano Gaspari, Italian lawyer Lucio Gaspari, Italian mathematician and physicist Giuseppe Gaspari and Brazilian artist Tomaz Caspari.

Overall, Gaspari and its many variant spellings and surnames are an Italian and Portuguese variant of the name Gaspar or Caspar, referencing the biblical figure of the Magi. This surname is associated with numerous influential figures from history, and has been used by families for centuries.

Famous people with the name Gaspari

• Lee Gaspari, American political advisor
• Margarito Gaspari, Italian football player and manager
• Renzo Gaspari, Italian speed skater
• Richard Gaspari, American IFBB professional bodybuilder and businessman
• Dr. Joseph Gaspari, American allergist and immunologist
• Gian-Carlo Gaspari, Italian ornithologist
• Andrea Gaspari, Italian Olympic judoka
• Giacomo Gaspari, Italian Renaissance painter
• Louis Gaspari, American sculptor
• Joseph Gaspari, American major league baseball pitcher
• Gabriel Gaspari, French football manager
• Julieta Gaspari, Venezuelan actress

Other surnames

GasparGaspardGaspary