Giannini

Giannini is an Italian surname. It derives from the given name Gianni, a diminutive form of Giovanni (John), with the suffix -ini functioning as a patronymic or diminutive marker. In effect, Giannini commonly means “descendants of Gianni” or “little Gianni.”

The name is widespread in Italy and among Italian communities abroad, particularly in the Americas and other regions with Italian diaspora. As with many Italian surnames, its distribution reflects historical patterns of migration and regional naming conventions.

Notable bearers include Amadeo Peter Giannini (1870–1949), an Italian-born American banker who founded the Bank of Italy in San Francisco in 1904. This institution later evolved into Bank of America, one of the largest financial services corporations in the United States, and Giannini is credited with introducing innovative approaches to consumer banking that expanded access to credit for working-class and immigrant communities.

Beyond Amadeo Giannini, the surname appears across various professions and regions, reflecting its long-standing presence in Italian lineage and its spread through migration.