Italian names

The Custom of Naming children

Certain names in Italian families seam to run down through many generations. This is because most Italians named their children in a particular way.

It is often hard to keep track of which generation a person is in. However, though it can not be assumed that every family followed this practice, the genealogist may temporarily use this method to name an unknown ancestor, until documents prove otherwise.

• First son was named after the Father’s Father
• Second son was named after the Mother’s Father
• First daughter was named after the Mother’s Mother
• Second son was named after the Father’s Mother

Children born after these were often named after a favorite aunt or uncle.

The term "junior" is an Anglican one, not used in Italian families. Italians referred to two persons in the same family with the same name as big and little, i.e. "Big Giovanni" and "Little GIovanni" or they used nicknames, as for Rosa, "Big Ro" and "Little Ro".

Surnames & Maiden names

In many regions of Italy, the wife retained and often used her maiden name, rather than her husband’s surname. Although this is not always the case across Italy, it was a woman's legal right to use her maiden name.

Often, this is why a husband and children may have the same surname, t but the wife has a different surname on a Ship Manuscript. This also happens when a wife and children travel alone.

This is also Spanish tradition, and is more prevalent in southern Italy of the “Two Sicily’s” which was under Spanish rule until 1861.

See Also Married and maiden names Surnames Given name Personal name Family name