Italian Roots and Genealogy

Send us a text Maria Laurino is the author of The Italian Americans: A History (December 2014), the companion to a forthcoming PBS documentary series, as well as the memoirs Old World Daughter, New World Mother and the national bestseller Were You Always an Italian? ( all published by W.W. Norton).  In addition to teaching at NYU, Laurino serves as Assistant to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.  She...

Send us a text There are over 300,000 Italian surnames and the origins are really very interesting.  Have you ever thought about the origin of your Italian surname?  If so, I’d like to recommend the book “Our Italian Surnames” by Joseph G. Fucilla.  While this book does not list all 300,000 Italian Surnames, it does give us great insight into the evolution of both given names and surnames. Our Ita...

Send us a text Riveting discussion with Professor Carla A. Simonini Paul and Ann Rubino Endowed Associate Professor and Founding Director Italian American Studies Program Loyola University Chicago On the roots of Italian Unification, the differences between the North and South, the Padrone system and much more. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commissio...

Send us a text Bob interviews Karen Haid who lived and taught in Italy and wrote a fascinating book about her travels through Calabria.  Karen gives insight into the food, customs, things to do and much much more. ONCE THE HUB OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, Calabria now dangles, largely ignored, at the bottom of the Italian boot, struggling for survival, acceptance and a place in modern Italy and the world...

Send us a text Cousins Linda, Gene and Bob discuss how they found each other after 60 years and how closely their families were connected  from the 1920's through 1970's.  They also talk about the Petix and Speziale family cookbook with over 100 recipes.  Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost...

Send us a text Bob gets a free consultation with Debbie Gurtler from familysearch.org.  Very simple process using the link below to schedule.  He was stuck trying to find the parents of his 4th Great Grandmother Maria Angela De Riso, and Debbie was able to find her father's will.  Schedule a consultation ( reservation page ) Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may recei...

Send us a text Joel Cole who works on the indexing of Italian records explains how familysearch.org  process and how you can help.  He also discusses his family and being an American citizen, with 400 year roots in the USA, and being born and raised in Italy.  A unique and interesting story. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made...

Send us a text Bob talks with Erick Lucera about his family research in Biccari Puglia.  Erick gives some great research tips on how to find photos of ancestral villages.  Erick also tells us how he connected with his cousin, who turned out to be the town scribe and historian. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these...

Send us a text Bob talks with Paul Nauta Sr Marketing and PR Manger from Familysearch.org about his quest to find his roots.  Paul has some very interesting stories about how he found some of his documentation. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift...

Send us a text Bob talks to Paul Nauta about the wide array of free tools available from FamilySearch.org Paul Nauta is a blatantly proud second generation Italian-American who still speaks “la lingua” and has wonderful Italian family history stories for an amateur.  His paternal grandfather immigrated to Ellis Island just before WWI and maternal grandparents in the 1890s.  His Italian roots origi...

Send us a text In this episode Bob talks to Theresa Sayers on her difficulty finding records in Oneglia as she attempts to get Italian citizenship. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are your spirits. Italian Marketplace LLC Online tee shirts, ho...

Send us a text Bob talks with Charlene Scime on how her Sicilian and Calabria families found there way to Niagra Falls NY. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are your spirits. Italian Marketplace LLC Online tee shirts, hoodies and more for Italia...

Send us a text Join Bob as he interviews Dr. Joseph Scelsa the founder and president of the Italian-American Museum to be completed in Oct 2021.   Professor Joseph V. Scelsa, (a Bronx native) received his doctorate in Sociology and Education from Columbia University Teachers College, his dissertation topic being “Constructive Pluralism”. In addition, he holds three Masters’ degrees in Sociology, S...

Send us a text Join Bob as he interviews Tony Detzi and how he researched his family in Calabria an  Marche.  Tony has some interesting stories, especially popping in on a long lost relative for espresso. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are yo...

Send us a text Bob talks with his cousin Paul about family and Paul's days with the NY Daily News Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are your spirits. Growing Up Italian American-Visco Wonderful book the chronicles two Italian Americans over seve...

Send us a text Jacqueline Jannotta is a writer, mom, informed educator, experienced traveler, and eternal optimist who inspires others to break free from the ordinary. Her own career path has been anything but conventional, beginning with her work in television for entertainment industry giants like Warner Bros and Walt Disney. She went on to develop and write content for trailblazing internet fir...

Send us a text Join Bob as he interviews Suzanne Russo Adams about her Sicilian Family.  Suzanne is also a genealogist with Familysearch.org and gives us an in depth look at all the features available. FamilySearch is FREE. Anyone can sign up for an account to use the site.  The access might be different for different people dependent on our contracts with the original repository/archives. An exam...

Send us a text Join Bob and Laura Lee Watson as she discusses how she found that Frank Sinatra is her 3rd cousin from the same town in Sicily.  Laura Lee also talks about her company located in Calabria "Digging Up Roots In The Boot" Laura Lee Watson is a proud third-generation Italian American who ventured abroad to Italy in 2005 with the intention of digging a little deeper into her Italian root...

Send us a text Join Bob as he interviews Francisco Andragnes about his Italian roots from Trentino, Campania, Liguria and Sicily.  Not to mention a special mention on his great story about his Basque surname. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift ar...

Send us a text Bob and Desire talk about her family roots in Matera Puglia and Campoli Appennino Lazio. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are your spirits. Italian Marketplace LLC Online tee shirts, hoodies and more for Italians Under The Light...

Send us a text Pat (Bava) Zielinski joins Bob and talks about when and why she started her research, and the meaning of her surname Bava. Grandfather Francesco Bava - from San Nicola, village outside Caulonia proper Paternal Grandmother  was born Anna Sorriente In Bracigliano, a village In the hills above Salerno/Sorrento Maternal Grandfather - Angelo DeCarlo, Massafra, in the province of Torano i...

Send us a text Bob talks to Gerald Dichiara Jr. about his roots in Greci and applying for Italian citizenship. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are your spirits. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Italian Marketplace L...

Send us a text Join Franco Chinappi and his Grisanelli cousins as we discuss finding an adopted relative and how they found each other.  Visit Franco's website Chinappi Family Tree . Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are your spirits. Italian Ma...

Send us a text Bob and Annmarie discuss her roots from several towns in Avellino province.  Annmarie also talks about finding the history of her godmother, who was a native American from upstate NY. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Turnkey. The only thing you’ll lift are your spi...

Send us a text Paul Trahan is a High School teacher in the Boston Ma. area who started his research just recently.  Paul talks about finding his family in Campania and his Acadian family from Nova Scotia.  Paul is starting a genealogy class for his students this coming year, which sounds like a lot of fun. Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for...