Ronchi (name)

Ronchi is an Italian surname. It is derived from the word "ronco" or "ronca," referring to land cleared of trees or brushwood, and indicating that the original bearer of the name likely lived near or worked on such land. The name is primarily found in northern Italy, particularly in Lombardy and Veneto.

The name is also associated with:

• Vasco Ronchi (1897-1988): An Italian physicist, professor, and historian of science, known for his work in optics and his contributions to the development of the Ronchi grating. He founded the Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO) in Florence.

• Ronchi grating: An optical element, typically a transmission or reflection grating with equally spaced parallel lines and spaces, used for testing optical systems and for creating interference patterns. Named after Vasco Ronchi.

Variants of the name may include Ronco, Roncone, Ronconi.