Names with i or o

[joyse]

can anyone tell me whether a name ending with an i or an o has any significance?
My great grandfather's name sometimes has been spelt with either letter Borrino and Borrini. I notice on another site that both spellings are in use.

Thanks
Joy

[nuccia]

My great grandfathers name had the same problem. I believe his father originally spelled it with an i and it changed when he was born. I think it was just he way things were transcribed...remember, a lot of immigrants couldn;t read or write so spelling was difficult for many in the smaller, less educated villages.

This is just my opinion from what I've gathered over time. Someone else may offer a different point of view.

Nuccia

[joyse]

Thank you Nuccia. Yes I understand the problems of years ago of not reading and writing.
I just wonder whether like in the French language le and la, male and female parts of speech. Is it like this in Italian, for instance?

Joy

[nuccia]

Hi Joy,

It is the same...examples of first names....Mario and Maria.

This website sums it up a bit and has other useful information.

http://genealogy.about.com/od/italy/p/word_list.htm

Of course, our members posting from Italy are probably the best persons to explain the language.

Nuccia

[joyse]

Hi Nuccia

That's a good site - thank you - it explains a lot.
My next step is to find what town they came from. This may prove to be rather difficult, unless I am able to find a clue from naturalization etc. I will soldier on!!!

Best wishes
Joy

[GeoFan49]

I've heard it said that Italian surnames ending with i are more common in Toscana and the north, and names ending with o are more common in the south...

Is that true?

[nuccia]

Here's a listing of Borrini's in the Italian phone listings:

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

They seem to be from all over the place!

And as for the Borrino's:

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

They seem to come mainly from Napoli. Do you speak Italian? If so, what dialect do you speak? This might give you a clue.

Good luck and keep us posted, ok?

Nuccia

[GeoFan49]

You may find these maps interesting:

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... me=Borrini

Many locations, mostly in the North.

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... me=Borrino

Mainly found in Campania province, in the south.

[Incipit]

I've heard it said that Italian surnames ending with i are more common in Toscana and the north, and names ending with o are more common in the south...

Is that true?

Yes, this is nearly true.
In some cases the -i surnames derives from the latin:

f.e.

Benedetto di Lorenzo >
Benedictus Laurentii >
Benedetto Lorenzi

or

Domenico di Piero>
Dominicus Pieri>
Domenico Pieri

etc. etc.

Regards
Tommaso

[joyse]

Thank you everyone. I have seen the location maps - I think they are very interesting.
I don't speak Italian unfortunately!
My father had said his grandfather was from Naples but other relatives have given other places so at present I don't know!

Joy

[nuccia]

Hi again,

You could try using this site to guide you is you wish to contact anyone on the above lists.

http://italiangenealogy.atspace.com/Dav ... #relatives

Or you could write a standard letter in English and post here. Someone will help translate it!

Do you have any first names of ancestors or years of birth? If you start with yourself and work backwards we can try and help trace back your family. This is the best way to start. Then you can begin viewing ship manifests for clues such as parents, siblings, etc. You'll be surprised at how much you can pick up.

Good luck and don't give up.

Nuccia

[joyse]

Hi Nuccia

My great-grandfather was Antonio Borini (Borrino) not sure as there have been different spellings. He was born approx. 1851. He was an ice cream maker and came to England in the 1860's with his brother Serafino born about 1847 who was an organ man. Their father was Angelo a farmer. This is all the definate info I have on them for their early life.
I am going to (Kew) London soon to see if they had naturalization and see if there is any record there of place of origin.
I think this is the only way I am going to move forward.

Joy

[nuccia]

Hi joyse,

Are these your relatives?

iew Record Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island View Image
View Record Emma Borrino abt 1846 London, England Wife Salford Lancashire
View Record Fred Borrino abt 1880 Salford, Lancashire, England Son Salford Lancashire
View Record Joseph Borrino abt 1875 Manchester, Lancashire, England Son Salford Lancashire
View Record Secraffina Borrino abt 1849 Italy Head Salford Lancashire

http://img427.imageshack.us/img427/1374/imagex8iy.gif

Nuccia

[nuccia]

Hi Again,

Here's the death info for Serafino
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1983 Recordinfo
about Serafino Borrino
Name: Serafino Borrino
Birth Date: abt 1847
Year of Registration: 1908
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at death: 61
District: Salford
County: Greater Manchester, Lancashire
Volume: 8d
Page: 108 (click to see others on page)

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/9429/i ... rge2da.gif

Nuccia

[Marisa6]

Hi Joy

You mentioned going to Kew. You might already know this but many of the records held at Kew are searchable online - including some for naturalisations. Go to http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ and then to 'catalogue'.

Marisa