Introduction

The purpose of this web page is to document as much information as possible on my parents' families and ancestors for future generations. By publishing this information on the World Wibe Web, I am hoping that other people can contribute historical information on the Palumbo and Marano families or their places of origin. ( Ancestral Database )
 

Origin of the Surnames

Palumbo

The surname Palumbo has two possible origins. It can be of nickname origin, that is based on a personal or physical characteristic of the original bearer, or of local origin, that is, derived from the place where a man onced lived or held land. This name is derived from the Italian word "palombo", a ring dove, or "palombella", a wood pigeon. As a nickname it was used to describe one with the characteristics of a butterfly, a flighty, frivolous fellow, and as a local name, a dweller at the sign of the wood pigeon or ring dove (i.e. near a shop or inn sign which bore the name and picture of a dove or pigeon).

This surname, in all its variant forms, is found mainly in the south of Italy. The form Palumbo is particularly associated with Naples while Palombo is the more usual form in central Italy and Palomberi in Sicily. The earliest recorded instance of the name occurs in a Neopolitan document dated 820 in which one Palumbus is mentioned.
 

Marano

The Italian surname Marano is a regional variant of the name Mariani. It is patronymic in origin, being one of those names based on the first name of a father or mother. In this instance the name is derived from the personal name marianus, which in turn was derived from the name Marius, an old Etruscan name. The name was made popular through the cult of San Mariano, a martyr, as during the spread of Christianity parents were encouraged to name their children after well-known saints, so that later in life the child would enjoy that saint's patronage. The difference in regional accents eventually affected the spelling of the name and so the medial "i" was dropped. Alternately, the surname Marano may be of toponymic origin, being derived from the place where the original bearer lived or held land. In this case, the surname signifies "one from Marano", the name of many places in Italy, including Venezia, Napoli, and Verona.

References to this surname are found in Italian documents that date back to the thirteeth century, when one Ugolino Marano was recorded as a cavalier in 1260. Marco Marano of the same family is mentioned as being a jurisconsult in 1390. Towards the end of the seventeeth century it was reported that one Marano family was granted a noble title through the work of Gian-Domenico.
 

Family History

Parents

My father, Vincenzo Palumbo was born on November 6, 1927 in Roccaravindola (comune of Montaquila) in the province of Isernia in the Molise region of Italy. He was one of two children born to Pietro Palumbo and Carmela Palumbo. His sister, Rosina, was born on November 7, 1923. My grandmother died of turberculosis when my father was about 7 or 8 years old. He served in the military between 1946-47 and was an apprentice electrician working for the state telephone company prior to immigrating to Canada.

My mother, Antonietta Marano was born on December 9, 1931 in Santa Maria del Molise in the province of Isernia. She was the oldest of ten children (3 sisters and 6 brothers) born to Nicola Marano and Anna Colace. The first eight children were born in Italy and the last two were born in Montreal, Canada. My mother and her family moved to Cantalupo nel Sannio, the birthplace of her father, when she was about 8 years years old. My grandfather immigrated to Canada in 1949 to start a better life for his family.

My parents were married on September 9, 1951 in Canatalupo nel Sannio and immigrated to Canada by ship on the SS. Vulcania. The SS. Vulcania was one of two ships built by the Cosulich family in 1927. The other ship was Saturnia. They arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 24, 1952 and settled in Montreal, Quebec. The rest of my mother's family arrived later in 1953. My grandfather Pietro Palumbo, along with my aunt Rosina, her husband, and my cousin Rita, arrived in Canada on November 22, 1955.

My parents had three children; my brother Pietro Natale (December 25, 1954), myself Enzo Antonio (March 9, 1959) and my sister Maria Carmela (August 16, 1960).

My brother Peter married Suzanne Aymont on November 15, 1986. My sister Mary married Tony Limongi on August 25, 1979 and has two children; Anthony Phillip (March 30, 1984), and Cynthia Ann (October 16, 1987). I married Angela Incaini on September 4, 1993. My wife's parents are from Acquasanta Terme, Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region of Italy.
 

Paternal Grandparents

My grandfather Pietro Palumbo was born on November 17, 1892 in Roccaravindola, comune of Montaquila. He was one of seven boys born to Angela Milano and Ermisto Palumbo. Pietro Palumbo fought in WW1 and was held prisoner by the Germans for several years. He married Carmela Palumbo, who was a distant relative, in January 1923. Her mother's name was Bambina Benaventura and her father's name was Vincenzo Palumbo. Carmela Palumbo died of turberculosis when my father was about 7-8 years old. Pietro and Carmela Palumbo had two children, my father Vincenzo and his sister Rosina (November 7, 1923)

My great-grandmother, Angela Milano, had a brother named Andrea Milano. He lived in the Untied States for about 30 years and retuened to Italy before WWII. My parents still have the cedar chest he brought back from the U.S.

My grandfather immgrated to Canada in 1955 and lived with my parents until he passed away on September 8, 1983, a couple of months before his 91st birthday. He took care of us (my brother, sister and myself) while our parents worked and was a very popular person around our neighbourhood. Many of my friends liked to hang around my home just to talk to my grandfather.

Maternal Grandparents

My grandfather Nicola Marano was born on January 23, 1912 in Cantalupo nel Sannio, in the Molise region of Italy. He was the only child of Nicola Marano and Maria Marsillo. His father passed away before his birth and was raised by the Marsillo family. My grandfather grew up believing that his cousins were his brothers and sisters and still considered his cousins to be his brothers and sisters till the day he died.

My grandmother Anna Colace was born on June 4, 1912 in Santa Maria del Molise. Her father's name was Addolorato and her mother's was Domenica. My grandparents were married on December 12, 1929 in Santa Maria del Molise and had 10 children, two of which were born in Canada. My mother's family moved to Cantalupo nel Sannio around 1939 to live in my grandfather's birthplace. My mother and her sisters Carmela and Elvira were born in Santa Maria del Molise. Maria, Antonio, Domenico, Michele, and Addolorato were born in Cantalupo nel Sannio. In 1949, shortly after the birth of Addolorato, my grandfather immigrated to Canada to start a better life for his family. My parents followed in 1952 and my grandmother and the rest of her brothers and sisters arrived in 1953. My Mother's brother Pasquale was born on January 24, 1955, one month after the birth of my brother, and her brother Nicola was born on September 3, 1957, three days before the birth of my cousin Felice, son  of my mother's sister Carmela.

My Grandfather passed away on July 6, 1993 and My grandmother is currently living with my uncle Domenico.

Paternal great-grandparents

My great-grandfather, Ermisto Palumbo married Angela Milano and had 7 children. My Grandfather Pietro Palumbo was the oldest. One brother died at a very early age (possibly at birth) and his name is not known. The remaining brothers were  Luigi, Errenio, Domenico, Costantino, and Giovanni. Apparently Ermisto Palumbo had emmigrated to the United States in the late 1890's or early 1900's but returned to Italy shortly thereafter.

Father's Uncles and Cousins

One of my grandfather's brother's died at an early age and his name is not known. His brothers Errenio and Luigi died during WWI, while his brother Domenico died during WWII. Giovanni passed away a couple of years ago (1997). Costantino, the sole surviving brother, is in his mid-nineties and is living with his daugther Maria and her husband Rosario Cicerone in Roccaravindola.

Giovanni had a son named Domenico and a daughter named Angela. Domenico is living in Roccaravindola next to his cousin Maria and Uncle Costantino. Angela is believed to be living in Milano. Maria had 4 children (Costantino, Pietro, sabrina, and Luca). My father's cousin Domenico has one son (?) and one daughter (?).

My father's uncle Domenico Palumbo had two children, Ermisto and Errenio. Ermisto is living in Isernia and it is believed that Errenio is living in Cassino. Ermisto had one daughter, who died a few years ago in a car accident returning home from University.

My Paternal Aunt and Cousins

Rosina Palumbo married Michele Cerrone, also of Roccaravindola, and had one daughter named Rita. My cousin Rita was born in Roccaravindola and moved to Montreal when she was a couple years old. She married Benedetto Zegarelli on June 14, 1969 and has three children; Sandra, Rosalie, and Michael. Sandra married Paulo Alexandre in 1997

My Maternal Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

Carmela Marano married Umberto Laurelli. They have two children, Felice (Phil)  and Aldo. Phil married Guylaine and has 4 children; Melanie, Melissa, Nadia, and Umberto. Aldo is divorced and has two children; Julie and Stephanie.

Elivra Marano married Adriano Laurelli (no relation to Umberto). They have two children, Antonio (Tony) and Patrizia. Tony is divirced with no children.

Maria Marano married Nicola Petrillo. They have three children, Lucia (Lucy), Giuseppe (Joe), and Christina. Lucy married Nick DiRado and has two children; Amanda and Nicolas. Joe married Hülya and has two children; Talya and Sara.

Antonio Marano married Pasqualina DiRe. They have four children, Anna, Elena, Roberto, and Melinda. Anna married Rocco Cimino and has two children; Maria and Anthony. Elena is married to Shahine (Sean) Shafipour and has no children. Roberto is married to Patrizia and has one child named Luca Anthony.

Domenico Marano married Carmela DiRe (sister of Pasqualina). They have two Children, Mirella and Maria. Mirella is married to Mario Capogrosso and has one child, Sophia.

Michele Marano married Eileen. They are currently living in Edmonton, Alberta and have three children, Mike, Mark, and Matthew. Mike is married to Rhonda and has no children. Mark is married to Suzie and has a son named Ryan.

Aldo Marano is married to Angela and is living in Edmonton, Alberta. Aldo has three children from first marriage to Dale; Carlo, Anthony, and Nicolas. He has four children with his second wife Angela; Steve, Anna-Maria, John, Madalena.

Pasquale Marano is divorced, no children

Nicola Marano is married to Elda and has one child, Nicola,  from first wife Sandra.2