names: Double Surname

[alidacastorano]

I have a unique name situation and hope that someone can help shed some light on the reason for such naming.

My maternal grandfather is Gregorio Zambuto Sitra, from Agrigento (Girgenti) Sicily. I have found many Zambutos but only a few with the Sitra ending. I have traced the family, so far, back to the mid-1700. All have Zambuto Sitra.

My question is: Why a double name? It does not seem to be the usual custom, although I've seen other Zambutos with a different Suffix, and also another ancestor's surname is Rizzo Zangali.

Why two surnames? Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Alida

[erudita74]

There is some info in the following thread about the topic of double surnames. I am still baffled by them, quite frankly, as I've traced ancestry in another part of Sicily.

http://www.italiangenealogy.com/forum/topic25178.html