Orsini is a surname of Italian origin, originally derived from Latin ''ursinus'' ("bearlike") and originating as an

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

sobriquet A sobriquet ( ), or soubriquet, is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another, that is descriptive. A sobriquet is distinct from a pseudonym, as it is typically a familiar name used in place of a real name, without the need of expla ...

describing the name-bearer's purported strength. Notable people with the surname include the following: *

Angel Orsini Angel Orsini (born August 26, 1969) is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and mixed martial artist. She has competed in North American independent promotions including Women's Extreme Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling and Extreme Champio ...

, American wrestler and bodybuilder *

Felice Orsini Felice Orsini (; ; 10 December 1819 – 13 March 1858) was an Italian revolutionary and leader of the '' Carbonari'' who tried to assassinate Napoleon III, Emperor of the French. Early life Felice Orsini was born at Meldola in Romagna, the ...

(1819–1858), Italian revolutionary who attempted to assassinate Napoléon III * Francesca Orsini, Italian scholar of South Asian literature *

Giambattista Orsini Giambattista Orsini (died February 22, 1503) (also called Giovanni Battista Orsini or Jean-Baptiste des Ursins) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal. He served as papal legate to the Marches of Ancona. Biography Giambattista Orsini was born in ...

(d. 1503), Italian Catholic Cardinal instrumental in the 1492 Papal Conclave *

Marina Orsini Marina Orsini C.M. (born January 4, 1967) is a Canadian actress. Early life Orsini was born in Ville-Émard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada to an Italian-Canadian family. Career Orsini first had a brief career in modeling in which she participated i ...

(born 1967), Canadian actress *

Richard Orsini Richard Orsini ( it, Riccardo Orsini) was the Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos from before 1260 to his death in 1303/4, and also Captain-General of Corfu in 1286–90, Count of Gravina in 1284–91. He also served as the Angevin ''bail ...

, 13th-century ruler in Italy and the Balkans * Umberto Orsini (born 1934), Italian stage, television, and film actor * Valentino Orsini (1927–2001), Italian film director *

Orsini family The House of Orsini is an Italian noble family that was one of the most influential princely families in medieval Italy and Renaissance Rome. Members of the Orsini family include five popes: Stephen II (752-757), Paul I (757-767), Celestine I ...

, Italian noble family, including: **

Alessandro Orsini (cardinal) Alessandro Orsini (1592–1626) was an Italian Cardinal. He was a patron of Galileo, who dedicated his 1616 work on the tides to him, and requested that he pass it on to Pope Paul V. Orsini belonged to the ducal family of Bracciano. Orsini was born ...

(1592–1626), cardinal **

Clarice Orsini Clarice Orsini (1453–1488) was the daughter of Iacopo Orsini, and his wife and cousin Maddalena Orsini both from the Orsini family, a great Roman noble house and was the wife of Lorenzo de' Medici. Life Clarice and Lorenzo married 4 June ...

(1453–1488), wife of

Lorenzo de' Medici Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici (; 1 January 1449 – 8 April 1492) was an Italian statesman, banker, ''de facto'' ruler of the Florentine Republic and the most powerful and enthusiastic patron of Renaissance culture in Italy. Also known as Lorenzo ...

, Lady Of Florence, mother of Pope Leo X **

Fulvio Orsini Fulvio Orsini (11 December 1529 – 18 May 1600) was an Italian humanist, historian, and archaeologist. He was a descendant of the Orsini family, one of the oldest, most illustrious, and for centuries most powerful of the Roman princely families, ...

(1529–1600), Italian historian ** Giordano Orsini (died 1438) (died 1438), 15th-century Italian cardinal **

Giordano Orsini (died 1173) Jordan (Italian: ''Giordano Bobone Orsini''; died after 1154) was a Carthusian monk, created Cardinal Deacon by Pope Lucius II in December 1144 and then Cardinal Priest of Santa Susanna by Eugene III on 21 December 1145.J. M. Brixius, ''Die Mitglie ...

(died 1173), Catholic prelate **

Giorgio Orsini Giorgio da Sebenico () or Giorgio Orsini or Juraj Dalmatinac (; c. 1410 – 10 October 1473) was a Venetian sculptor and architect from Dalmatia, who worked mainly in Sebenico (now Šibenik, Croatia), and in the city of Ancona, then a maritime ...

(1410–1475), architect and sculptor **

Pope Nicholas III Pope Nicholas III ( la, Nicolaus III; c. 1225 – 22 August 1280), born Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 November 1277 to his death on 22 August 1280. He was a Roman nobleman who ...

, born Giovanni Gaetano Orsini ** Giovanni Gaetano Orsini (cardinal) (c.1285–1335), nephew of Pope Nicholas III **

John II Orsini John II Orsini, also John Komnenos Doukas or Comnenus Ducas ( Greek: Ἰωάννης Κομνηνός Δούκας, ''Iōannēs Komnēnos Doukas'', Italian: Giovanni II Orsini), was count palatine of Cephalonia from 1323 to 1324 and Despot of E ...

(died 1335), known as the Despot of Epirus **

Latino Orsini Latino Orsini (1411 – 11 August 1477) was an Italian Cardinal. Of the Roman branch of the Orsini family and the owner of rich possessions, he entered the ranks of the Roman clergy as a youth, became subdeacon, and as early as 10 March 1 ...

(1411–1477), Catholic cardinal **

Latino Malabranca Orsini Latino Malabranca Orsini (b. at Rome, year unknown – d. 10 August 1294, Perugia) was a Roman noble, an Italian cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, and nephew of Pope Nicholas III. Early life Latino was son of Roman senator Angelo Malabranca a ...

(d. 1294), Catholic prelate **

Matteo Orsini Matteo Orsini (died probably on 18 August 1340) was an Italian Dominican friar and Cardinal. He was the nephew of Cardinal Francesco Napoleone Orsini (1295–1312), who was himself the nephew of Pope Nicholas III (Giovanni Gaetano Orsini). Hi ...

(d. 1340), Catholic prelate **

Napoleone Orsini Napoleone Orsini (c. 1420 – September 1480) was an Italian condottiero. The son of Orso Orsini of Bracciano, he fought for Pope Eugene IV against Francesco Sforza in 1443. Later, in the 1450s, he flanked Ferdinand of Aragon in the strugg ...

(1420–1480), condottiero and papal commander **

Paolo Orsini (1369-1416) Paolo Orsini (1369 – 5 August 1416) was an Italian condottiero and lord of Canino, Fiano Romano, Gallese, Olevano Romano, Orvieto, Marta, Montalto di Castro, Narni and Tuscania. He belonged to the Orsini family. He married Rita Sanguigni and wi ...

, condottiero **

Paolo Orsini (1450-1503) Paolo Orsini (1450 – 18 January 1503) was an Italian condottiero in the service of the Papal States, Ferdinand of Aragon and the Republic of Florence. He was marquess of Atripalda and lord of Mentana, Palombara Sabina and Selci. Life An ille ...

, condottiero **

Paolo Giordano I Orsini Paolo Giordano Orsini (1541 – 13 November 1585) was an Italian nobleman, and the first duke of Bracciano from 1560. He was a member of the Roman family of the Orsini. Biography The son of Girolamo Orsini and Francesca Sforza, he was grandson, ...

(1541–1585), first duke of Bracciano **

Paolo Giordano II Orsini Paolo Giordano II Orsini (1591–1656) was an Italian nobleman, Patron of arts, poet, and amateur painter. Biography He grew in Florence, where he attended the Medici court. On the death of his father Virginio Orsini in 1615, he inherited the ...

(1591–1656), nobleman **

Pope Benedict XIII Pope Benedict XIII ( la, Benedictus XIII; it, Benedetto XIII; 2 February 1649 – 21 February 1730), born Pietro Francesco Orsini and later called Vincenzo Maria Orsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 May ...

, born Pietro Francisco Orsini **

Rinaldo Orsini Rinaldo Orsini (died 1450) was an Italian condottiero, a member of the Orsini family. He was the son of Jacopo Orsini. In 1426 he fought for the Pope against the Colonna family. In 1442 he was hired by the Republic of Siena, and in 1445 he becam ...

(d. 1450), Lord of Piombino ** Virginio Orsini (1434–1497), Lord of Bracciano

See also