Joseph v. Giuseppe: local dialect or americanization

evecchione · Post by **evecchione** » 08 Apr 2003, 22:54

Ok, maybe I'm being a little ignorant here,

I figured my great-grandfather's real name was Joseph (not very italian sounding), my family always referred to him as Joseph, and I have been working on obtaining his records with that information

I know was normal to americanize names back then, and i'm starting to think that he probably was Giuseppe until he got off the boat.

However, I recently visited the area he came from, Naples, to be exact, and I met a number of people who went by Joseph instead of Giuseppe.
we strictly conversed in italian. So I assume that it was a common local thing to go by Joseph.

However, when looking for records overseas, I come up with nothing for Joseph.

Do any of you know or speculate
Is this possibly a generational thing?

Has anyone else out there run across the same dillemma???

please share your thoughts

thanks

ptimber · Post by **ptimber** » 08 Apr 2003, 23:01

Giuseppe is the name that was used exclusively up until this most recent time when you went to Italy and they wanted to let you know they spoike english and translated their names for you. I am sure all their documents, save for a few Italians born in the States are giuseppe. For your genealogy purposes stick with giuseppe. Peter

evecchione · Post by **evecchione** » 08 Apr 2003, 23:04

grazie
che cosa conoscete Ã¨ utile

ptimber · Post by **ptimber** » 08 Apr 2003, 23:59

Prego! Peter

sueannemarie · Post by **sueannemarie** » 03 Jun 2004, 17:25

Good morning I am having the same problem my grandfather' samerican name is John, I cant not find anything in the Torino area with John he was born 1886. Peter what do i need to look for.
thanks

ptimber · Post by **ptimber** » 03 Jun 2004, 18:25

Did you chefck his entry into the USA at ellis island and see what name or names he had??? Oftimes people have one or even two frist names and they are known by the middle name or some other name so as tnot to confuse people. You know in Italy every family named their children after the same set of grandparents so if one family had 5 brothers and sisters they all would name their children somewhere along the line with the same grandparents first names. Cousins then having the same first name and last name would use middle names to distinguish one from the other. Peter

Essgee · Post by **Essgee** » 23 Jul 2004, 17:33

sueannemarie wrote:
Good morning I am having the same problem my grandfather' samerican name is John, I cant not find anything in the Torino area with John he was born 1886. Peter what do i need to look for.
thanks

Try Giovanni........

Giovanni translates into John. It is not so much "Americanized" as just a translation of the word.

suanj · Post by **suanj** » 23 Jul 2004, 18:05

ptimber wrote:Giuseppe is the name that was used exclusively up until this most recent time when you went to Italy and they wanted to let you know they spoike english and translated their names for you. I am sure all their documents, save for a few Italians born in the States are giuseppe. For your genealogy purposes stick with giuseppe. Peter

Just peter: Joseph= Giuseppe(also Guiseppe misspelling on ellis island)
diminutive of Giuseppe name= Peppe, Peppino, Pino..
hughs, suanj