Looking for Southern Italian Names

[SouthernItalianNana]

Buon Giorno:

I'm new to this wonderful site. Hopefully, through communication and research on this site, I will be able to find others looking for similar names.

I have a pretty extensive family tree already, but always looking . . .

Names on my tree are Baggetta, Compani (changed from Campenni), Alvaro, Arietta, Conte, DeRenzi, Mazzaferro, Punturiero (Puntoriero) Cosentino, Addiego and more . . .

My research has been in Verbicaro, Cosenza, Calabria - Siderno Marina, Reggio Calabria. Some research in San Ferdinando, Calabria and now I need to start researching Nicotera, Vibo Valente.

I have wonderful pictures from Verbicaro that a cousin gave to me from his trip. My husband and I took a trip to Calabria in 1982 and visited family in Siderno Marina and San Ferdinando.

Anyone with any interest in these names or towns? I'd love to hear from you since I have two databases - one with actual attachment to my family tree and another one that are loose "branches" that I'm trying to find out if they should be attached or not.

Ciao -

[vj]

Welcome to the Forum Bettina!
Love your blog
Valarie

[daidai]

Bettina,

My grandfather was born near Cosenza in Celico. His surname was Caligiuri. I don't know whether or not that fits into your puzzle, but if you do have information I would greatly appreciate it.

Joel

[SouthernItalianNana]

Thanks for your replay, Joel.

Unfortunately, the name you are researching isn't within my extensive research. But, I guess we all have to keep looking! Good Luck.

Bettina

[italyjuve]

Hello my father and his family are from Cosenza and our last name is Mallamace.

Andrew

[nuccia]

I have a few films on permanent loan at the FHC from Reggio (and they include records from Siderno Marina which is located the next town over from where my father was born-Locri or once known as Gerace Marina)and the surname Mazzaferro is common in that area. I noticed the ship manifests from people with my surname that they traveled often with Mazzaferro's...rumor is my paternal grandmother's parents may have been from there originally. The last name is FUDA and her mother's maiden name was FERRARA(O).

I'm slowly attempting to transcribe the records from the films...you can email me your Mazzaferro info and dates and perhaps I have the records. Let me know.

[drivingalong]

Hi all. I'm new here - first post. Been working on all BUT the Italian side because I know soo little to start with. Maybe Nuccia and Betty or others can help.

My great grandfather was:
Antonio Mazzaferro, b: 13 Jan 1870 in Italy - likely Verbicaro
... d: Feb 1947 in California
His mother's maiden name is believed to be Saveria or Sylvalia Scamba
He married Angelina xxxx - we don't know her maiden name, but...

Angelina's mother's first name was Elizabeth. Her full name was Elizabeth Spingola - but is Spingola her maiden name or married name (and hence Angelina's maiden name is Spingola)?

Clues where I can get some answers?

Jim

[pink67]

Hi Jim!!
and welcome to this great forum!

This is Saveria Sgamba 1892 arrival ... Age 49, coming from Verbicaro to USA travelling with Rosa Mazzaferro age 10.....
Is she your great great grandmother?

[img=http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4711 ... xc0.th.jpg]

I found also her 1910 census, living with her son Antonio Mazzaferro in San Francisco:

1910 United States Federal Census
about Saveria Sgamba
Name: Saveria Sgamba
Age in 1910: 60
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Mother
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Home in 1910: San Francisco Assembly District 45, San Francisco, California
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Gender: Female
Year of Immigration: 1896
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Antonio Mazzaferro 40
Anziolo Mazzaferro 33
Maria Mazzaferro 12
Rosina Mazzaferro 9
Giovannina Mazzaferro 4
Giuseppe Mazzaferro 2/12
Saveria Sgamba 60
Angelo Raimondo 45
Francisco Raimondo 20
Giuseppe Guadagno 42
Salvaro Cirinello 21
Giuseppe Cirinello 30

[img=http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6821 ... rz5.th.jpg]

Laura

[drivingalong]

Thanks pink67. I've seen this. the living older family members threw me a curve suggesting Sylvalia was her first name, not Saveria, but maybe there's some translation involved? Very likely the last name is Sgamba, not Scamba as I was told - I think people's memory is fading and their facts were not so good to start with.

I suspect Antonio had siblings, and quite possibly Rosa was one, as he named a daughter (my grandmother) Rosa as well. This is what I'm after - the rest of the story. Who Antonio's siblings, what was Angelina's last name? And of course the rest going back in time.

Jim

[pink67]

Hi Jim,

although from 1910 Census it seems Antonio's child Maria(1898), Rosina (1901), and Giovannina (1906) were born in the State of New York, I found the 1900 Census about this family already living in San Francisco:

1900 United States Federal Census
about Antonio Mazzaferri
Name: Antonio Mazzaferri
Home in 1900: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Birthplace: Italy
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Spouse's Name: Angela
Race: White
Occupation: View Image
Immigration Year: 1890
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Antonio Mazzaferri 25
Angela Mazzaferri 20
Marie Mazzaferri 2

[img=http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8109 ... gd6.th.jpg]

1920 United States Federal Census
about Antonia Mazzferr
Name: Antonia Mazzferr
[Antoni Mazzferr]
Home in 1920: San Francisco Assembly District 23, San Francisco, California
Age: 50 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Angelina
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1899
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 242
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Antonia Mazzferr 50
Angelina Mazzferr 61
Rose Mazzferr 14
Jennie Mazzferr 13
Joseph Mazzferr 10
France Mazzferr 5
Frank Mazzferr 2 1/12
Laznaba Saoeria 75 mother in law Sagnaba? Saveria

[img=http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/8673 ... lj4.th.jpg]

California Death Index, 1940-1997
about Mary Severia Lucia
Name: Mary Severia Lucia possible first daughter Mary?
[Mary Severia Mazzaferro]
Social Security #: 545072435
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 5 May 1902
Birthplace: New York
Death Date: 29 Oct 1997
Death Place: San Mateo
Mother's Maiden Name: Aloise
FATHER'S SURNAME: Mazzaferro

California Birth Index, 1905-1995
about Florence C Mazzaferro
Name: Florence C Mazzaferro
Birth Date: 7 Nov 1914
Gender: Female
Mother's Maiden Name: Spingola
Birth County: San Francisco

California Death Index, 1940-1997
about Florence Clementina Mazzaferro
Name: Florence Clementina Mazzaferro
Social Security #: 571030158
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 7 Nov 1914
Birthplace: California
Death Date: 12 Sep 1946
Death Place: San Francisco
Mother's Maiden Name: Spingola
FATHER'S SURNAME: Mazzaferro

California Birth Index, 1905-1995
about Frank R Mazzaferro
Name: Frank R Mazzaferro
Birth Date: 11 Dec 1917
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Spengla
Birth County: San Francisco

So, it seems Angelina's last name was Spingola.....

I found several Mazzaferro's and Spingola's coming from Verbicaro....
What do you think about these found?
laura

[drivingalong]

Hmmm. I'm going to call my mom and Joseph Mazzaferro's wife and see if either can get me a birthdate for Florence Mazzaferro and/or her middle name.

The only siblings known to us were Rosa, Florence, Jenny/Giovannina, Mary/Maria, Joey, and an unnamed brother that died very young.

The data above lists Spingola and Aloise as maiden name for Angelina. One is wrong of course.

I'm leaving for the LDS library here in town in a few minutes to order microfilms regarding people from Verbicaro.

Jim

[drivingalong]

OK, new facts. confirmed Angelina Spingola married Antonio Mazzaferro. since their first two children were born in Italy, I assume they were married in Verbicaro, Italy. Anxious to find records n them and their parents.

Angelina's mother's first name was Elizabeth.
Looks like Antonio's mother was Saveria Scambo or Scamba.

I now have birth dates for their children from family members to confirm the findings. Jennie 14 May 1906; Joseph 26 JAN 1910; Florence 7 Nov 1914; Maria 4 April - not sure of year yet, ABT 1898; Frank 11 Dec 1917... we know he died very young but I have not found his death info yet. I'll have to search the Italian Cemetery in San Francisco/Colma.

My trip to the local LDS center today was useless. They answer no phones, they have no online contact info, and there was no one there - no info on any doors. I'll try the Sacramento one tomorrow... with my pocket translator. while I await a response thru Utah how to contact the center near my house.

Jim.

[pink67]

Hi Jim,
thanks for the update...

Searching this site:
http://www.vitalsearch-ca.com/

in the section 1905-1929 California Deaths found a record about a Frank Mazzaferro died on May 26, 1923 at the age of 5 in the county of San Francisco, I think it could be your relative....
State file number is 24167.
Let's us know how it goes with the FHC center....
Laura

[drivingalong]

Thanks Laura... I can't find that data. I'm using a "guest pass" login - are you? I brought up the search for the 1905-1929 California Deaths and searched on Mazzaferro - none found. Other search tool that claim to have CA death info do not find him either. Strange.

[pink67]

Hi Jim,

here is the image:



Hope is clear....

Laura