Assuming name of deceased sibling?

[sacesta]

Was it customary in Sicily for a sibling to assume the given name of an elder deceased sibling?

One roadblock I have in my family tree involved the mother of Antonina Sparacino. On Antonina's record of marriage it clearly states that her parents were Vito Sparacino and Giovanna Amoroso.

I have never been able to locate the marriage record for Vito and Giovanna, but I did find that Vito married Catarina Amoroso. For the longest time, I thought maybe Giovanna and Catarina could be sisters and that Vito had married them both.

Some time ago I found a record of baptism for Catarina Amoroso and her parents agreed with those on her marriage record to Vito Sparacino.

Today, I located Giovanna's record of baptism, and lo and behold, her parents are the same as those of Catarina. Giovanna and Catarina are sisters. Giovanna's full name on this record is Giovanna Carmela Amoroso and she is three years younger than Catarina.

Still, no record of marriage for Vito and Giovanna, Antonina Sparacino's parents. Just one for Vito and Catarina.

So, my question is this - Is it possible that Catarina died young and that Giovanna assumed her name and married as Catarina?

Of course, I know my next step is to look for the death record for Catarina. That may take some time to find as I have no clue as to when that may have happened.

Thanks again for all your help.

Steve

[sacesta]

Well, I found Catarina's record of death and she did, in fact, die at the young age of 14 in 1769. It seems almost certain that her younger sister Giovanna assumed her name and married Vito Sparacino as Catarina.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1 ... cat=730834