Italian surname

[thkorman]

Can anybody help me? I have tried to research my Italian grandfather but do not know his original Italian surname. All I can find on him are U.S. census documents, and a few other documents using his American surname. We were told that he changed his name when he came over to America from Italy in the early 1900's but of course nobody in the family that is alive today, knows what his original name was. We have scoured all remaing family documents and have found no trace of his former name. He died in 1936 when his two sons were young.

I've tried the Dept. of Immigration and Naturalization but when they did a search on his American surname, they found nothing. None of the genealogy websites have any more information other than the documents I listed above with his American name. Would there be a way I could use his American name and possibly try to guess, or decipher what his Italian surname was? We THINK he originated from the Lago Lugano area of Italy - maybe the Lombardy region in either the province of Varese or Como. Has anybody else been in this situation and had any success? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help.

Teresa

[nuccia]

Is it possible for you to tell us his name? We might be able to help you figure out the original surname..stranger things have happened here!

It would also help if you told us his spouses name (maiden preferably if you know it) and any family members you know of. This would certainly help.

Where did he settle? All these little clues can go a long way in helping us find him.

[thkorman]

Yes - It was Vilfordi. Thanks.

[thkorman]

Sorry - I didn't see your other questions. He had brothers named Emile and Abel - I guess Emilio and Abele in Italian. We think his father's name was Joseph and his mother's name was Teresa like mine. We also think his father served in the military in Italy.

His wife's maiden name was Schell which was originally Augello or something like that. (Her family came from Sicily.) He originally settled in New York City but wound up in Texas which is where he died.

Thanks.

[nuccia]

So then your grandfather went by the name of George Lucis Vilfordi..correct?

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about George Lucis Vilfordi
Name: George Lucis Vilfordi
City: Not Stated
County: Dallas
State: Texas
Birth Date: 1 Mar 1884
Race: White
Roll: 1952850
DraftBoard: 2

So we need to be looking for someone perhaps with the name of Giorgio or Lucas (only a suggestion/possibility as this point)...born abt 1884 immigrated abt 1903..

[nuccia]

I'm going to link the WW1 Draft Cards..I zoomed in on how he spelled his name and it doesn't look at all like Vilfordi..more like Calfadi..many someone can give us their opinion.

Draft cards

[nuccia]

A close up of the signature//



Hopefully someone can make it out.

[thkorman]

His middle name was Louis, not Lucas. So in Italian that would have been Luigi. Whoever filled out his card must have made an error. I also have another birth date of May 14, 1885. So you see that this has been an impossible task. Regarding his signature, I think what you are seeing as a C is actually and L for his middle name. So I believe he signed it George L. Vilfordi.

I've got all the info on him from Ancestry.com and now am to the point where I need to figure out what his last name was or I can't go any further. Thanks!

Teresa

[suanj]

the middle name is LUCIO..

and here
http://hs.hpisd.org/hphs/VetPlaque1940.cfm

George L Vilfordi 1942 USN

.....?
suanj

[thkorman]

Thank you.

[suanj]

image census request:

1920 United States Federal Census
Census
View Image Name: George Vilfordi
Birth: abt 1886 - location
Arrival: year
Residence: 1920 - city, Dallas, Texas

just for to see the immigration date.. thanks, suanj

[vj]

suanj,
immig 1903
1920
note: 1930 census no immig year, b in NY
vj

[vj]

dup

[suanj]

thanks vj you are wonderful!
what mean Justice precinet.. he was lodger... what it means.. ? thanks, suanj

[vj]

suanj
I think in Dallas it was the method of dividing the city into sections:
1 or more 'justice precinct' per census enumeration district
vj