FRANZE: No, it's Sicilian, really.

[mbwillard]

Hello all,

My great-grandparents were Santo and Girolama Franze, and according to my family, they hailed from Sicily before settling near Pittsburgh sometime in the early 1920s, I think. (My grandfather Natale is American-born and 75 or so.)

Now for the question: Franze doesn't sound very Italian. I'm not sure what their U.S. port-of-entry was, but has anyone heard of Franze either a) as a Sicilian surname or b) an Americanization of a more common surname?

[suanj]

Hello all,

My great-grandparents were Santo and Girolama Franze, and according to my family, they hailed from Sicily before settling near Pittsburgh sometime in the early 1920s, I think. (My grandfather Natale is American-born and 75 or so.)

Now for the question: Franze doesn't sound very Italian. I'm not sure what their U.S. port-of-entry was, but has anyone heard of Franze either a) as a Sicilian surname or b) an Americanization of a more common surname?

the italian correct spell is Franzè and some Franzè people also emigrated in Pittsburgh, however this are the records by ellis island:

15 Frange,Santo Pittsburg, Pa. 1912 47 1865
16 Fransi,Santo Termini, Sicily 1907 18 1889
18 Franze,Santo Termini 1906 18 1888
19 Franze,Santo Termini 1906 18 1888
20 Franze,Santo Termini 1906 41 1865
21 Franze,Santo Termini 1906 41 1865

regards, suanj

[ricbru]

Hello,
these are all the Franzè in the Palermo province phone book

http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... a&ind=&nc=

bye Riccardo

[nuccia]

I couldn't resist posting this..is this your Santo?

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Recordinfo
about Santo Franze
Name: Santo Franze
City: Pittsburgh
County: Allegheny
State: Pennsylvania
Birthplace: Italy
Birth Date: Sep 1889
Race: Caucasian
Roll: 1907961
DraftBoard: 1

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3034/imagex3aw.gif

And here's an interesting manifest of a gentleman going to visit Santo who was married to Grazia Franze..an aunt or uncle maybe?

Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945 Recordinfo
about Raffaele Dipietro
Name: Raffaele Dipietro
Arrival Date: 7 Aug 1914
Age: 39 Years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Gender: Male
Ethnic Background: Italian (South)
Port of Departure: Palermo, Italy
Ship Name: Ancona
Port of Arrival: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Friend's Name: Santo Franze
Last Residence: Sicily
Birthplace: Comuio, Sicily
Microfilm Roll Number: T840_128

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/3351/imagex0dn.gif

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/3788/imagex5ca.gif

Nuccia

[nuccia]

SSDI for Santo..

Social Security Death Index Recordinfo
about Santo Franze
Name: Santo Franze
SSN: 191-40-2280
Last Residence: 15212 Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Born: 2 Feb 1889
Died: Jan 1974
State (Year) SSN issued: Pennsylvania (1965-1966 )

Nuccia

[mbwillard]

Nuccia, could be! I'll get the birth and death dates from my mom. We're having a family reunion this year and it would be really neat if I found an old draft card!

[nuccia]

I also think I may have found his census info...let me know if it's the correct info so far and I'll link them for you.

Nuccia

[suanj]

HI nuccia great find: the birthplace is listed as palermo, but really Palermo is the province, also Raffaele Di Pietro husband of Ignazia FRANZE' is born in termini.. I believe that also Santo was born in Termini Imerese... kisses, suanj

[mbwillard]

The birth and death date of the SSDI concurs with what my mother remembers. This is a different birth date than the draft card, but the 'wife and baby' and working location is about right for my great-aunt Angelina to be born.

Thank you so much for your help!

[nuccia]

Not a problem mbwillard.

You'll often find that records are slightly off here and there so I wouldn't concern myself so much with that. Suanj makes a good point about the possible birth place.

Let me try and link a few census and see if it helps you further.

Nuccia

[nuccia]

Here is Girolama's SSDI info..

Social Security Death Index Recordinfo
about Girolama Franze
Name: Girolama Franze
SSN: 178-38-2192
Last Residence: 15212 Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Born: 6 Jun 1897
Died: 15 Feb 1975
State (Year) SSN issued: Pennsylvania (1963-1964 )

Can you tell us some of the childrens name born to this couple?

Nuccia

[nuccia]

Bingo..I think I've found the 1930 census for Santo and family although it's a bit blurred.

1930 United States Federal Census Recordinfo
about Sarita Franze
Name: Sarita Franze
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1890
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to head-of-house: Head
Race: White
Home in 1930: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Family and neighbors: View Results

View Record George Franze Sarita Franze Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1897 Daughter
View Record Catherine Franze Sarita Franze Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1918 Daughter
View Record Josephine Franze Sarita Franze Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1920 Daughter
View Record Andomis Franze Sarita Franze Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1923 Daughter
View Record Augustine Franze Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1922 Sister
View Record Augustina Franze Sarita Franze Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1925 Daughter
View Record Matslie Franze Sarita Franze Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA abt 1927 Son

Here's the link..Page One:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/2810/imagex1ie.gif

Page Two:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6306/imagex9jk.gif

Still searching for a 1920 census.

Nuccia

[mbwillard]

Children's names are Angelina, Natale, Josephina, August, Antonette (?), oh goodness, that's all I have. 8 or 9 kids total -- one died young.

There are also cousins in the area, too.

[MaxIT]

I can ensure you that the surname

Franzè and Franzì are italian, and are present in Italy (in Calabria) since 300 years or more.

Franze can be a variation of Franzè.

[suanj]

Franze can be a variation of Franzè

I don't know if in english language are the è or the é, and I believe that in english Franze and Franzè are the same thing..
suanj