As a nation state, Italy has emerged only in 1871. Until then the country was politically divided into a large number of independant cities, provinces and islands. The currently available evidences point out to a dominant Etruscan, Greek and Roman cultural influence on today's Italians.
I think it is since the Italian Surname dictionary makes a distinction between Italian surnames, foreign surnames and local dialect surnames with all their variations, alterations and derivations. The base names from which all these surname are derived is also included and date back to Italy Roman times and in Latin as well. I have a dictionary on my side and when it says the name is derived from French, German, Greek, Hebrew or Arabic then it is a aforeign surname and not of Italian origin. =Peter=
Why would a local dialect name not be considered "Italian"? What date is used to decide if a name is Italian or foreign. Are you saying that only names that can be traced to back to Latin are Italian?
I am not trying to be argumentative, I am trying to understand what an Italian name actually is, and who is empowered to make that decision?
Welcome to IG!!
It is usually better to post your own thread for research, that way we don't confuse subjects......
In the meantime, if you would like help tracing your family, post names, birthdates and area in which they lived, any children born to the immigrant ancestors, and year of immigration if known. By providing as many details as you do know enables researchers to track the right family, and hopefully discovering the exact town of origin in Italy.
"Cambiano i suonatori ma la musica Ã¨ sempre quella."
Home in 1930:
14 Â½ Hull Street
Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Head Michael Mochella 38, abt 1892 IT
- married age 28, abt 1920
- immig 1915
Wife Margaret Mochella 28, abt 1902 IT
- married age 18
Daughter Rosie Mochella 8, abt 1922 MA
Son Billy Mochella 7, abt 1923 MA
Daughter Antonietta Mochella 5, abt 1925 MA
Son Constantine Mochella 2, abt 1928 MA
Daughter Theresa Mochella ? MA
Mother (in-law?) Rosie Canale 60? IT
- immig 1913
If this is the correct family, then this is probably
Micheleâ€™s Petition for Naturalization Born 6 Feb 1890 in Chiusano San Domenico (Chiusano di San Domenico, Province of Avellino, Campania Region)
Publication Number: M1368
Publication Title: Petitions and Records of Naturalizations of the U.S. District and
Circuit Courts of the District of Massachusetts, 1906-1929
Court: U.S. District Court
Date: 16 Mar 1928 Immigrant Full Name: Michele Moschella Document Type: Petition for Naturalization
Home Country: Italy
Witness 1 Full Name: Domenik Tutela
Witness 2 Full Name: Theodoreo Moschella
Year Immigrated: 1913
From ancestry. com
Name: Michell Moschella Arrival Date: 22 Apr 1913 Age: 23 years Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890
Gender: Male Ethnic Background: Italian (South) (Italian)
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Ship Name: Canopic
Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts
Last Residence: Italy
Birthplace: S Margo, Italy
Microfilm Roll Number: 192
- last residence Chiusano
- in Chiusano, mother Rosa - joining brother Teodoro at 183? North Street, Boston
(note Teodoro may have been one of the witnesses on Micheleâ€™s Petition)
edit: added It appears that Michele was naturalized in 1940
Publication Number: M1545
Publication Title: Index to Petitions and Records of Naturalizations of the U.S. and
District Courts for the District of Massachusetts, 1907-1966
Admission Year: 1940
Immigrant Full Name: MOSCHELLA Michele Court: D.C.
Birth Year: 1892
Home in 1920:
197? Salem Street
Boston Ward 5, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Head Pelligrino Cannale 57, abt 1863 IT
- immig 1915 Al (alien)
Wife Ruffaelo Cannale 53, abt 1867 IT
- immig 1915 Al
Daughter Ammaculate Cannale 15, abt 1905 IT
- immig 1915 Al
Daughter Teresa Cannale 12, abt 1918 IT
- immig 1915 Al