Italian name complex

[nsicignano]

My great grandfather was always known as Matteo Sicignano. He wrote it on many records. I was able to obtain his birth record. It read that his "firstnames" were "Pasquale Matteo" Sicignano. I am trying to figure out if Matteo's real name is Pasquale, and he just went by his "middle name" Matteo. Because the record also read that his father's name was Francesco Sicignano and his mother's name as "Maria Assunta" Malafronte. Matteo named one of his son's Francesco, presumably, after his father and one of his daughter's "Assunta."

Do the italian birth records invert the two names making "Pasquale Matteo" really "Matteo Pasquale"?

If so, Matteo's mother's name would be "Assunta Maria"
If not, then his daughter Assunta was just named his mothers middle name out of coincidence?

I hope this wasn't too complicated. The birth certificate is in Italian/French obtained through a website, my cousin paid to find, which name I forget.

Thanks Nick

[ursulamezza]

Italian birth records don't, in my experience, invert the first names, so it could be simply that your great grandfather was known, or wished to be known as Matteo, rather than Pasquale.

It's very common for female Italian children to be named Maria something, in honour of Mary, the mother of Jesus. My grandfather's sisters, for example, were named Maria Felice, Maria Amelia and Maria Lucia. The children are then generally known by their 'second' names.

[PeterTimber]

Perhaps this website can clarify Italian naming traditons for you and help you sort things out for you.

Go to www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwisdom/italiannaming.html


=Peter=

[nsicignano]

Thanks you guys rock