Surname Greco - Meaning and Origin

My Journey Back in Time: Unraveling the Greek Origins of the Greco Surname Through iGENEA DNA Testing

Embarking on an intriguing personal exploration, I found myself delving into my ancestral past via the iGENEA DNA test. The name 'Greco' I bear now unfolds a riveting narrative, tracing back to Greek origins, a significant migration to Italy, and a possible association with the agricultural revolution of the ancient Mediterranean world. This journey into my DNA history opens a panorama of cultural exchange and crucial historical epochs, instilling an incredible sense of connectedness to humanity's past.

D. Greco

Greco: What does the surname Greco mean?

The last name Greco is an Italian name with roots in Southern Italy and Sicily. Greco literally translates to Greek, though there are multiple explanations as to why it is so popular today.

One theory is that many families throughout Southern Italy and Sicily had traditionally adopted Greek names centuries ago. As a result, when these families emigrated to other parts of Europe or the New World in the 1800s and 1900s, people associated the Greco surname with those of Italian heritage.

The other possibility is that the Greco last name may have arisen from a small population of Greeks living in the southern part of Italy as far back as the thirteenth century. Some believe these Greeks may be the descendants of Alexander the Great’s troops, who conquered Sicily in the fourth century BC. There is also the possibility that Greco originated from a group of Jews that lived in this area.

No matter the origin story, the Greco surname is now associated with those of Italian descent and appears in various forms — Grecco, Grego, Grechi, Greco — throughout Italy and its diaspora. In Italian, it’s an occupational surname, meaning “teacher” or “educator” since the Italian word for teacher is “maestro.” The Greco name is also popular in other parts of the world, such as the United States, where it was adopted by Italian immigrants.

Greco: Where does the name Greco come from?

The last name Greco is most common today in Italy, with 30,000 bearers living there as of 2019. It is also common in other countries with historical connections to Italy, such as the United States, Argentina, and Australia.

In the United States, the Greco last name is most highly concentrated in southeastern states such as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, where Italian immigrants had easy access by sea. There are also large numbers found in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and California, which experienced large waves of Italian immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In Argentina, where many Italian immigrants settled during the same time period, the Greco surname is also fairly common. Although the population is declining, the Greco family still makes up about 1% of the total Argentine population.

In Australia, the name Greco is found most often in Melbourne and Sydney, where Italian migration was at its peak in the mid-20th century.

All in all, the Greco family name is spread across the globe, from the cities of Italy where it ultimately originated to the far reaches of the world, where Italian immigrants built new lives and generations of the Greco family flourished.

Variations of the surname Greco

The surname Greco is of Italian origin and is derived from the Latin word “Grecus” meaning “Greek”. It is often seen spelled as Grecco, Grecco, Greco, Greccio, Grech, Grechi, Grechis, Graci, Grecoi and Greccia.

The surname Greco is quite common and can be found in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina, the United States and the Philippines. It is most prevalent in Italy, where it is the 78th most common surname.

Variants of Greco include Grica, Griez, Girelli, Grechi, Grecchi, Grico, Gricci, Grecco and Greca.

Spellings of the Greco surname vary greatly and can include Grico, Gricci, Grecco, Greccio, Graco, Graji, Grici, Graci, Gra, Greca, Grechi, Grech, Grece, Greci, Greciuc, Grecz, Grecoi, Grika, Grike, Griga, Grik, Grigo, Grechis, Grikas and Grec.

Related surnames also exist, which include Grecchi, Grect, Gredi, Gridi, Grego, Gregoli, Gregso, Gregui, Greto, Griffo, Grippi, Grippo, Griu, Grizi, Grocco and Groco.

Famous people with the name Greco

• Gianluca Greco: Italian film and TV actor, best known for his roles in Un Passo Dal Cielo and Il Diritto Di Contare.
• Joe Greco: American actor, appearing in both television and on the big screen. Best known for his work on soap opera, General Hospital.
• John Greco: American football player, part of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns from 2013 to 2017.
• Reneé Greco: Mexican professional wrestling referee and senior ring announcer on Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.
• Raffaella Greco: Italian actress, best known for her work in Il Posto Delle Fragole and Non C’e Due Senza Quattro.
• Enzo Greco: Italian actor, working mainly in theater and television. He has acted in various plays and shows, such as Donne Di Mafia and Che Dio Ci Aiuti.
• Alexander Greco: Italian-American model and television personality, best known for being a contestant on Italy's reality show Isola dei Famosi.
• Maurizio Greco: Italian actor, best known for appearing in The Guns of Navarone and The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins.
• Carmine Greco: Italian-American mobster, also known as The Cigar.
• Annie Greco: American singer-songwriter, best known for the single "Look Inside My Heart".

Other surnames

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