Surname Greca - Meaning and Origin

Greca: What does the surname Greca mean?

The last name Greca is derived from a Greek origin. It is an ethnic surname and denotes its Italian or Greek descent from a common ancestor. This surname is particularly common among people with Greek heritage, but can also be found among other Italian nations such as the Romani.

The term Greca is derived from the name of Greci, which was a town in Arcadia, in the southwestern region of the Peloponnese in ancient Greece. The Greci were among the several tribes that inhabited the area at that time, and the name has been preserved in the surname Greca as a sign of origin.

In more recent times, Greca has primarily become used by those of Italian and Greek descent as a way to show their heritage. As such, it has become very popular in regions such as Italy, Greece, the U.S., and Latin America. Within the United States, it is among the 20 most common Italian surnames.

The meaning behind Greca is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of Greek and Italian people. It is a sign of pride in their ancestral heritage and is an indication of where their ancestors originated from. Whether it be to signify a family line or to emphasize a personal identity, having the surname Greca is an indication of being part of a larger cultural identity.

Greca: Where does the name Greca come from?

The last name Greca is most common in Italy, where it originated. Specifically, it is most common in the central and southern regions of Italy. This includes regions near Calabria and Sicily in the south, and Rome, Abruzzo and Molise in the central region.

Greca is also common among Italians who have emigrated to other countries, such as the United States. The United States has the largest population of Greca descendants outside of Italy. The largest concentration of Greca descendants is on the east coast of the United States; most notably in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

The last name Greca is also found in small numbers across Europe, Latin America, and Australia. Many Italians who have emigrated to these countries have brought their Greca last name with them.

The Greca last name is still widely recognized in many regions today, especially in central and southern Italy, as well as areas in the United States that have historically been home to large Italian populations.

Variations of the surname Greca

The surname Greca is ultimately of Italian origin, likely derived from a place name in regions such as Sicily. It has been known to have numerous variant spellings depending on the region of origin and time period. Some of these variants include Greck, Grecko, Grecco, Greco and Grecchi. Grecki is a true Italian spelling, while Grecchi has an importance in Brazilian communities and Greco is derived out of Italian-American culture.

The surname Gricke is a German afterthought of Greca but is not as common a variant. Grecki is also a Jewish version of the surname and related to the Ashkenazim of Galicia and Austria. It translates to mean 'Greca from Grecco.' In Spanish, the surname is Greco and is derived from Spain primarily, but can also have roots in Galicia.

Additionally, the surname has stemmed off and developed other surnames, with Grella and Gricia being two common ones derived from Greca. The addition of a terminal 'a' is typical in Corsican phonology. This may account for the largest number of variants of the surname. The surname Grecchi is also very popular in Puerto Rico, and has been adopted by many families there.

Overall, Greca is a surname with numerous variants stemming from different regions of Europe and migrations over time. Whether Greco, Grecko, Gricke, Grecchi or Grella, the surname remains of Italian origin and carries with it the same pride and honor.

Famous people with the name Greca

• Mike Greca, former president and CEO of Foxwoods Resort and Casino.
• Jon Greca, television actor best known for playing Tim on the show "Jill & Jake".
• Lena Gerca, Russian actress best known for her role as Marina in the film "The Inbetweeners 2".
• Joe Greca, former Major League Baseball pitcher who played 14 seasons in the MLB.
• Gino Greca, Italian Olympic equestrian who won bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
• Joey Greca, Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter and composer from New York City.
• Dave Greca, jazz vocalist and musician originally from Buffalo, New York.
• Frankie Greca, Canadian animated voice actor who has voiced characters in shows such as "The Magic School Bus" and "Absolutely Anything".
• Lou Greca, former college basketball coach who guided the University of Connecticut-Avery Point team to three NCAA championship appearances.
• Gary Greca, recording and producing engineer known for working with many of the world’s top hip-hop, R&B, and reggae artists.

Other surnames

GrecgreceGreco