Italian surnames

[BCer,Can]

hi all,I would like to know if anyone knows a web site that could help me find out if a family name is Italian or not ,I just became a member to day,and am stumbling along as best I can,would greatly appreciate any little bit of help any member could give me.many thanks. Arnie

[PippoM]

You might try with Italian White Pages:
www.paginebianche.it
but it won't tell you if the surname was Italian in the origin.
Or you can post the surname here, for an opinion of our experts.

[BCer,Can]

thank you Pippo for your reply its much appreciated, the name Im researching is Ponise,but on some documents it has 2 other spellings of it,Ponisi/Pinisi.So by not really knowing which one is right Im at a standstill.I just know my mother once told me as a little boy that my grandmother [her mother]was of Italian descent.many thanks.Arnie

[Tessa78]

Arnie

You might also try the Italian Surname Distribution Map at this site!
http://www.gens.info/italia/it/turismo- ... WWKozdNVIE

Put the name where it says "Cerca un Cognome" then click TROVA
If the name exists in Italy TODAY, you will see points on the map.

I am not familiar with the spellings you have posted, but I have seen PENNISI, PENNISE, PENNESE and PENNESI

T.

[BCer,Can]

hi tessa thank you so much for taking the time to send me your input on my query.I now have about 15 different spellings of it,I dont think I will ever find out the right one,but once again tessa thank you kindly,arnie

[BCer,Can]

hi Sabino,sorry dont speak a word of Italian can you or anyone translate what was written please?many thanks. arnie

[Tessa78]

Sabino is saying that the surname PONISIO exists [which is one of your spellings with an "o" at the end.]

If you put that surname into the Italian Surname Distribution Map, you will see that it is found in the north, close to Switzerland...

T.

[dmt1955]

along with Tessa's resource, I also have found avitree.com to also be useful in these searches.

good luck!
Donna

[BCer,Can]

thank you donna

[tonerfrank]

Hi, my mother was 4th generation Irish Ponisi. I've completed a fair amount of research on this family and their name. Ponisi/Ponisio = Northern Italy: Ponisi/Poniso Racalmuto Sicily. sincerely Frank

[darkerhorse]

If Italian, it's unlikely that "Ponise" is the original spelling.

[cedrone]

There is also the site cognomix.it with maps of distribution of surnames.