Help with last name origin

[Pelaia]

I know we have relative is Calabria, Italy. The name is not very common..Pelaia. Any help out there?

[Tessa78]

Hi and welcome!

Use this link to see where in Calabria you will find the surname "Pelaia"
More common than you think...

http://italia.indettaglio.it/eng/cognom ... abria.html

Then...
Check the listings in the Italian Phone Book at this site...
There are 42 listings for "Pelaia" throughout Calabria...
http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... &om=0&td=4

T.

[johnnyonthespot]

I know we have relative is Calabria, Italy. The name is not very common..Pelaia. Any help out there?

While not entirely definitive, it is worth noting that there is just a single telephone listing for Pelaia (Giuseppe) in modern Reggio di Calabria. See http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... &td=3&l=en

This map ( http://www.gens.labo.net/en/cognomi/gen ... ome=PELAIA ) will give you an indication of the distribution of Pelaia's throughout Italy.

[johnnyonthespot]

But, of course, "Calabria" is a region of Italy of which Reggio di Calabria is just one of five provinces. There are Pelaia's in the other provinces of Calabria as well:

Provincia di Vibo Valentia - 20 listings: http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... laia&dv=vv

Provincia di Catanzaro - 13 listings: http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... laia&dv=cz

Provincia di Cosenza - 2 listings: http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... laia&dv=cs

Provincia di Crotone: (none)

[Pelaia]

Thank you so much!

[Pelaia]

I found the great grandfather's name on the ellis island website stefano on the ship Konig Albert, he was 14. That is where it stops. Do you have any recommendations on how to acquire more information in Italy? I'm sorry I am so needy but I truly appreciate your help.

[Joannsalvo]

Have you tried.

http://88.59.143.158/ascs_web/index.fac ... 5346.node1

it is free to register.

[Pelaia]

I just saw that there are 3 of them on the same boat:
Bruno - age 10 arrived in 1905 from Naples
Stefano - age 14 ""
Raffaele - age 62 ""
Domenico - age 35""

All Pelaia's.

[Tessa78]

What month ? Maybe I can post the manifest for all of us to view

T.

[Tessa78]

Got it!!

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0014

Stefano on line 14...
It states that he was a US Citizen discharged at the Pier. Likewise for Raffaele and Bruno.
Domenico not listed as US Citizen...

Notation on line below Stefano's name looks like a notation relative to Naturalization. Probably a reference to a Certificate of Arrival being issued. Looks like Chicago in 1915 or could be 1925.

Their destination seems to be a friend named Giuseppe Moleo at 174 Hester St., New York City.

T.

[maestra36]

Comune di Serra San Bruno (Provincia di Vibo Valentia, Regione Calabria)

This is the town for Domenico on the manfest

[Tessa78]

Yes... Serra San Bruno

This site includes the City hall email and street address...

http://en.comuni-italiani.it/102/037/

T.

[Pelaia]

You guys are Awesome!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!

[Pelaia]

Not to sound really stupid but what do you mean "notation relative to naturalization?"

Also, would I email the city hall about their birthcertificates? I'm so sorry but I am so new to this. What would you recommend that I do?

[Tessa78]

Not to sound really stupid but what do you mean "notation relative to naturalization?"

Also, would I email the city hall about their birthcertificates? I'm so sorry but I am so new to this. What would you recommend that I do?

When a Declaration of Intent to naturalize was made, there was a search for the ship manifest or border crossing to verify legal entry. When the arrival manifest was found a notation was made next to/near the person's name to indicate that the naturalization process has been started. There are numbers and a date. Most often those numbers relate to a certificate that was then issued to verify the arrival, and the date the certificate was issued.

As for the birth records...
You can email, but that is not the suggested way to request records.

You can write directly to the city hall.
You should write in Italian.
Help with letters in Italian at these sites:
http://www.circolocalabrese.org/resourc ... civile.asp
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwi ... talrecords

Address:
Ufficio dello Stato Civile
Piazza C. Tucci
89822 Serra San Bruno (VV)
ITALY

T.