Adoptee Searching Just Discovered Italian Ancestry

[nolnacsj]

Thanks. I know that most countries contain many faiths, but I did assume that more Italians are Catholic, than Protestant. One thing I am sure of is that I need to maintain an open mind to any and all possibilities. It would be nice to know though as it is a part of my history.

[nolnacsj]

It has been may years since I first posted on this site and I wanted to post an update. Because of autosomal DNA testing, I have finally learned the identity of my birth mother, and through her family members who I have met, I learned who she was dating at the time of my conception and birth. I also now know that the name "Marie Jones" that was on my adoption papers, was a complete alias. I waisted decades researching Jones and a woman who did not exist.

I now have a surname for my Italian birth father, and can begin my genealogy research of my paternal side. He is now 88 years old, and I had the amazing opportunity to meet him last December. It was a wonderful experience. However, unfortunately he knows very little about his roots back in Southern Italy.

My paternal surname is ALERIO with connections to NY and PA. My birth father is the 1st generation born in the USA, and I have only been able to research the ALERIO line back a few generations, but I am excited to now be able to learn more about my Italian roots.

I have done autosomal DNA testing (requires just a simple saliva sample) with all three companies, 23andMe, FTDNA and Ancestry.com, and I have several thousand matches with genetic cousins. Most are predicted 4th and 5th-distant cousins, but I have now received some 2nd and third cousin matches on my maternal side, as well as a 1st cousin and 1C1X which was key in discovering my maternal side. However, though I have a significant number of matches with people with Italian ancestry, so far a close match (closer than a predicted 4th cousin) has not come in, and I have yet to be able to connect any of these matches to the ALERIO surname. Unfortunately not as many Italians do autosomal DNA testing. It is unfortunate as they would learn about relatives they did not know they had! If you have ever considered adding autosomal DNA testing as a genealogy tool ("genetic genealogy"), Ancestry is running a sale now on their autosomal DNA kit for 89.00 through Father's Day. Anyway, I wanted to post an update since I now have a surname to research. Other surnames on my paternal side include Caso, DeRosa/DeRose and Barberia. So my journey of discovery continues!

Thank you for your interest.

Cordially,

Judy (birth name Cecelia)