George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Over 25 million Italians have emigrated between 1861 and 1960 with a migration boom between 1871 and 1915 when over 13,5 million emigrants left the country for European and overseas destinations.
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pizzagirl
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George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by pizzagirl »

I'm new to this website and to geneology research, so any help I can get will be appreciated. Bizarrely enough, I only recently found out that I have Italian ancestry, and I have no living relatives who can provide any insight. The family name is Lepre, and I believe they arrived in 1878 and 1879.

The only info I have so far is from the U.S. Census for 1990. My grandfather's name is George Lepre, and it says he was born in Italy in 1876 and emigrated in 1879. His family lived on Elizabeth Street in New York City. His father is Frank, who immigrated in 1878 at the age of 22. His mother is Catherine, who immigrated in 1879, at the age of 21, obviously with George and his brother Henry, born 1878. Other siblings were Tony (1886), Annie (1890), and Antoinetta (1896).

I can't seem to find much about the name. Also, 1879 sounds like it's a bit early for their arrival...does that give any clues as to where he might be from? His father's trade in the census is listed as Mechanic. Also, so far I can't find them in previous censuses.
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Biff83
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by Biff83 »

If this is your grandfather George's brother Henry, the place of birth is Petina in the province of Salerno, region of Campania.

WWII Draft Reg Card
Name: Henry B Lepre
Birth Date: 6 Jun 1879
RESIDENCE: Bronx, New York
Birth: Petina, Italy
Race: White
Occupation: Retired fireman

Interestingly, I also found a draft card for a George Lepre who likewise worked as a fireman for the NYFD.

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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by suanj »

Hi!

the George marriage:

Lepre George S Sep 4 1904 Manhattan #19163 groom
Schunrle Katherine Sep 4 1904 Manhattan # 19163 bride


Henry:

Lepre Henry B Nov 4 1906 Manhattan #27432 groom
Cappell Margaret R Nov 4 1906 Manhattan # 27432 bride



1910 George Lepre:

1910 United States Federal Census
about George Lepre
Name: George Lepre
Age in 1910: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy

Spouse's Name: Katherine
Home in 1910: Manhattan Ward 17, New York, New York
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1879
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
George Lepre 34
Katherine Lepre 28
Mabel Lepre 5
Katherine Lepre 3
Frank Lepre 1 6/12



World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Geo G Lepre
Name: Geo G Lepre
City: Brooklyn
County: Kings
State: New York
Birth Date: 20 Jul 1874
Race: White
Roll: 1754608
DraftBoard: 76

wife Catherine... no italian birthplace listed....

----------------------------------------------------------------------
1910 Henry Lepre:

1910 United States Federal Census
about Henry B Lepere
Name: Henry B Lepere
[Henry B Lepre]
Age in 1910: 31
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1879

Birthplace: New York
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Spouse's Name: Margaret
Home in 1910: Bronx Assembly District 33, New York, New York
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Henry B Lepere 31
Margaret Lepere 29
Katherine Lepere 2


1920 Henry Lepre:

1920 United States Federal Census
about Henry B Lepre
Name: Henry B Lepre
[Henry B. Lepre]
Home in 1920: Bronx Assembly District 3, Bronx, New York
Age: 40 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880

Birthplace: New York
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Margaret
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 131
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Henry B Lepre 40
Margaret Lepre 38
Catherine Lepre 11
Francis Lepre 8
Rita Lepre 6
Mary Stafford 22



World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Henry Bias Lepre
Name: Henry Bias Lepre
City: Bronx
County: Bronx
State: New York
Birth Date: 6 Jun 1879
Race: White
Roll: 1753944
DraftBoard: 9



U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
about Henry B Lepre
Name: Henry B Lepre
Birth Date: 6 Jun 1879
RESIDENCE: Bx, New York
Birth: Petina, Italy

Race: White
Roll: WWII_2247229

IF the WWI and WWII records of Henry Lepre are rights, well the family coming from PETINA town in Salerno province, Italy..
hoping helpful, regards,
suanj
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by suanj »

Oh biff sorry... you are so fast!
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by pizzagirl »

WOW...I'm overwhelmed...and I've got goosebumps! This is incredible. How did you people do that???

I DID know that my grandfather was a NYC fireman. He actually retired to Patchogue, Long Island (way out in Suffolk County) around 1920 or a little after, when it was really 'country'. He apparently was a heck of a gardener. My mother was born in 1917, so she's not on that 1910 census, but those are my aunts and uncles.

My Grandmother was American born, I believe, of German extraction, but I always thought the name was Scheurle, and never could find anything on her because of that. How do I track HER down, now that I have the proper spelling?

And what's with the name changing...his brother's children are listed as 'Lepere', NOT Lepre. The reason I never knew I was Italian is because somewhere along the line, after they relocated, one of his children decided to turn the name into something French (?!?!?!) --Le Pre -- and all the other siblings went along with it. Any way you can tell me if he shows up in a census with THAT name? How about a death record (again with the altered name).
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by pizzagirl »

So...is this name common to that town, or that province, or that region...or could it be found anywhere in Italy?
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by suanj »

It is Lepere on the cesus for wrong transcription... the family coming from PETINA town in Salerno province, Campania region, ITALY; the surname Lepre is common in the southern Italy, especially in Campania region...
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by pizzagirl »

Grazie...I am SO excited!
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by pizzagirl »

How accurate is this information. I found this link to a guy who has a database of family names from the town of Petina, from early 1800's to 1900...NO Lepre.
http://genforum.genealogy.com/quaranta/messages/5.html
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by pizzagirl »

Also, what's the meaning...is it rabbit? or leper?

Sorry to post so much...I'm just excited!
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by clepro »

Lepre means hare, or wild rabbit, in Italian.

My grandfather, Frank (or Francisco) Lepre, nee Lepro, immigrated from Carpineto, Italy. That's in the Lazio, Roma. Not sure of the exact date but probably around around the turn of the century, or perhaps around 1908.
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Re: George Lepre, arrived in 1879

Post by PeterTimber »

The base name is Lepri with Lepre, lepori lepore,leveri, levere and levera , lever and legori as variants. There are other altered and derive surnames as well. Lepri is found thruout Italy and Lepre is commonly found in Southern Italy as Suanj pointed out. The origin of the surname is actually Italian in oriign not being imported from abroad and moist likely the result of a nickname or description of someone who is timid, fearful, speedy. =Peter=
~Peter~
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