Given Name Question

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JOHN08
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Given Name Question

Post by JOHN08 »

I have found a maiden name in a 1937 Pennsylvania death record. The given name as noted on the death record does not match or come close to an Italian given name.

The name as I read it: Crocefissa Lerza

Any ideas about what the real Italian given name is for Lerza.

Thanks for any help.

John

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Anizio
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Re: Given Name Question

Post by Anizio »

Crocefissa is the given name. Lerza would be the surname. Its Abbruzzese, so when you want to trace family to Italy thats whee the Lerza family will be
TIP: When asking for records from Italy, do NOT ask for an "estratto." ALWAYS ask for a "copia integrale." A photocopy of the original Act will contain more information
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Tessa78
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Re: Given Name Question

Post by Tessa78 »

Looking at the cropped name, it appears that it could be LERRA. Can it be that the line you think it part of a "z" is actually from a tall letter on the line below?

LERRA is found in several regions:

Basilicata
Lombardia
Molise
Lazio
Campania
Puglia

T.
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Re: Given Name Question

Post by Anizio »

Tessa78 wrote:Looking at the cropped name, it appears that it could be LERRA.
Agreed. Could be.

The given name is definitely Crocefissa, which is not at all an uncommon Italian given name.
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocifissa
TIP: When asking for records from Italy, do NOT ask for an "estratto." ALWAYS ask for a "copia integrale." A photocopy of the original Act will contain more information
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JOHN08
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Re: Given Name Question

Post by JOHN08 »

Tessa and Anizio,

Thanks for your help.

Tessa, the spelling is L-E-R-Z-A, click on the attached hyperlink. I used the website AVITREES.COM, which has a list of hundreds Italian given names; however, the given name: Crocifissa is not listed. Is there a better website for Italian given names ?

Regards,

John
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Anizio
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Re: Given Name Question

Post by Anizio »

There is no be all and end all website.

You need to use google (because you can find italian people alive who have the name), it.wikipedia, and name sites in combination (Italian baby name sites, or some other italian site).
Personally I like this name site,
http://www.nomix.it/nomi-italiani-masch ... minili.php
but none are ever complete. The advice I have is don't use english sites or family history sites for names. They will be much more limited
TIP: When asking for records from Italy, do NOT ask for an "estratto." ALWAYS ask for a "copia integrale." A photocopy of the original Act will contain more information
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