Surname "Tafolla"

Are you looking for an Italian surname? Do you need more information about your family heritage?
This is the right place to start your genealogy search.
Post Reply
User avatar
JOHN08
Master
Master
Posts: 560
Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 04:51

Surname "Tafolla"

Post by JOHN08 »

I need to find if the 'Tafolla" surname is common in Capistrano, Calabria, or Capestrano, Abruzzo. I have entered this surname for a regions search, but I have not had any luck.

Also, this surname was recorded on all the records that I have research as "Jafolla." The transcriber of these records thought that the first letter of this surname was a "J" (it was really a "T"). Has anyone else come across this in researching the "Jafolla' surname.

Appreciate any input.

John
User avatar
Tessa78
Master
Master
Posts: 17514
Joined: 07 Sep 2009, 18:09

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by Tessa78 »

I believe the correct spelling is IAFOLLA - and the "I" was written an a "J" :D

The surname Tafolla does not exist in Calabria or Abruzzo that I could find.

The surname Iafolla is found in the Comune of Capestrano, Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo

Hope that helps! :-)

T.
User avatar
JOHN08
Master
Master
Posts: 560
Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 04:51

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by JOHN08 »

Tessa,

The attached image is a passenger list from the S.S. Celtic sailing from Naples on the 30th of March 1911. It contains the surname in question.

To me, I thought the first letter, where the arrows are pointing is either a "T" or "F" (am I wrong ?). By the way, both Gennaro and Domenico are from Capestrano.

John

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad34 ... k52wd2.jpg
User avatar
Robin B Mc
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 162
Joined: 18 Jan 2015, 00:02
Location: CO (PA at heart)
Contact:

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by Robin B Mc »

It does look like a T but according to several name-origin sites, Tafolla is a Spanish name. And there's no horizontal line crossing through it to indicate an F.

Take a look at the example letters here: https://cdn.tutsplus.com/vector/uploads ... etters.jpg

Notice how the I and the T are almost exactly the same. That combined with the fact that the name Iafolla is from Capestrano, it seems very likely to be Iafolla.

Also check out: http://www.italyheritage.com/genealogy/ ... strano.htm
AngelaGrace56
Master
Master
Posts: 7077
Joined: 16 Oct 2012, 10:54

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by AngelaGrace56 »

Hi John

I'm with Tessa, the name is Iafolla. While I agree, that it does look like a T and possibly also an F, the letter “I” also looks very similar to this in some scripts. The fact that both these letters that you have highlighted go through the line also suggests to me that it is an “I”. Usually, from what I've observed, the letter “T” sits on the line and the “F” has a dash across it. (Also the name Iafolla still exists in the places mentioned whereas there are no instances of Tafolla or Fafolla anwhere that I can see.) Anyways, these are just my observations :)

Angela
User avatar
Tessa78
Master
Master
Posts: 17514
Joined: 07 Sep 2009, 18:09

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by Tessa78 »

Hi John,

Here is an index page from the Acts of Death for 1915 in Capestrano.
You can see that the name is Iafolla when listed aphabetically.
http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.i ... 0.jpg.html

Here is the link to Antonia Iafolla -
I have no idea if this is a relative of Domenico and Gennaro, but there were not many Iafolla in the records that I search. You might want to save the record just in case...
Antonia died in 1915 at age 86. She was the daughter of deceased Giuseppe Iafolla, and of deceased Maddalena Ottaviani.
She was also the widow of Pasquale Santini.
#22
http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.i ... 5.jpg.html

Also death of Ida Maria Italia Iafolla - in 1915
Notice the "I" in the given and surnames.
Ida was 4 years old at death, and the daughter of Flammino and of Teresa Pellegrini
http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.i ... 2.jpg.html

Same parents lost another child, age 8, the following year (1916)
Lisa Giuseppina Iafolla
http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.i ... 5.jpg.html

T.
User avatar
JOHN08
Master
Master
Posts: 560
Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 04:51

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by JOHN08 »

Angela, Tessa, Robin,

Thanks for you help. The evidence that you presented makes sense that the correct spelling is "IAFOLLA." This will, of course, help me as I continue my research.

Tessa,

Thanks for the Iafolla death records. I will save these records for my research.

Regards,

John
User avatar
Tessa78
Master
Master
Posts: 17514
Joined: 07 Sep 2009, 18:09

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by Tessa78 »

Hi John,

Happy to be of help!

Based on the age of Gennaro in the arrival manifest in 1911 (age about 22) - it would appear he was born about 1889..

Here is a POSSIBLE birth act for Gennaro Iafolla - born in Capestrano in 1889 :-D

#1
Dated 1 January 1889 in Capestrano
Appearing before the official was Antonio Iafolla, 40, peasant farmer, to declare that at 5:20 AM on the 1st of the current month, at the place at Via di Iulii #29, to Concetta Corsi, his wife, peasant farmer, residing with him, was born a male child who was presented to the official and to whom was given the name GENNARO.
Witnesses to the record: Concetta di Iulio, 53, midwife; Domenico Laccenta(?), 40, peasant farmer.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/T ... ,349660001

AND... Birth Act for Domenico in 1876.
This agrees with the ship manifest - age (about 34/35) and wife, Immacolata

Notation in margin indicates that Domenico married with Immacolata Caruso on 27 October 1901, Act #19.

#103
Dated 10 October 1876 in Capestrano
Father: Antonio Iafolla, 26, laborer residing Capestrano
Mother: Concetta Corsi, 24, his wife, peasant farmer, residing with him
Child born on 8 October at noon.
Given the name DOMENICO.
Witnesses to the recording of this birth: Bernadino Tressa, civil servant, 26; and Leopoldo Fontecchino, 4, civil servant.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/T ... ,349658302

MARRIAGE of Domenico Iafolla and Immacolata Caruso in 1901

#19
Dated 27 October in Capestrano
Domenico is age 25, peasant farmer, born and residing in Capestrano
Son of Antonio and of Concetta Corsi
Immacolata is age 23, peasant farmer, born and residing in Capestrano
Daughter of Domenico, and of Angela Spera
Banns of marriage were posted on 13 and 20 October
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/T ... ,349660001

T.
User avatar
JOHN08
Master
Master
Posts: 560
Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 04:51

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by JOHN08 »

Tessa,

I need some clarification with your earlier post: I believe the correct spelling is IAFOLLA - and the "I" was written as a "J"

1. Why was it written as a "J" ? Why not as an "I" ?
2. Where and when do this occur?

I have attached a passenger manifest, 19 March 1903, for Filomena Iafolla from Capestrano. The surname for this passenger list was generated in Italy (prob by the shipping agent/clerk) as "Iafolla." But, later it was changed to "Jafolla" (as shown on the passenger list image). This was surely done at the receiving station at Ellis Island because, I believe, the immigration inspector was confused by the Italian script for the first letter of the surname, and he changed this letter to a "J". Or, did he have written instructions to make this change ?

Filomena now had paperwork noting that her name in America: "Jafolla."

Tessa, What do you think ?

John

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad34 ... mruuzh.jpg
User avatar
Tessa78
Master
Master
Posts: 17514
Joined: 07 Sep 2009, 18:09

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by Tessa78 »

Hi John,

Your explanation is correct.
The letter "j" does not exist in the Italian alphabet. The "long I" when written is often confused with the letter "j" which may be why you have surnames like Di Julio instead of Di Iulio ( another name found in Capestrano) for Italians in other countries.
The "I" in Italian script is often interpreted as a "j " and may have been written that way on the manifest. Most of the immigrants were illiterate and not able to spell their surname. In fact, you will find that the surnames beginning with "I" in Italy were also written as beginning with "Y" in U.S.... for example, Yanni for Ianni, because of pronunciation.

T.
User avatar
JOHN08
Master
Master
Posts: 560
Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 04:51

Re: Surname "Tafolla"

Post by JOHN08 »

Tessa,

Thanks for your input. Now, this makes sense. Thank you!

John
Post Reply