Ex Ignoti Cognoti - Palermo church records 1851

[catdiamond]

Hello. Hoping someone can help me clarify what "Ex Ignoti Cognoti" ? would mean on my great grandfathers "Zefferino Guarnera" church birth record - Palermo 1851. Was he orphaned? Illegitimate? A woman's name is listed... Joanny Baptista. Would this be a witness or possibly his mother? Never came across this before in my research... and this may be why I'm having difficulties tracing this side of my family. Also could be that I do not read or speak italian.

[erudita74]

This is an infant of unknown parents -ex parentibus ignotis-. Giovanni Battista Cavatajo (Cavataio) is the godfather. Saveria Varrio is the godmother.

This record is written in Latin and not Italian.
Erudita

[catdiamond]

Sorry do the late reply... but thank you very much.

[Italysearcher]

Don't be confused by the Godparents, these were often just parishioners who stood in for the child with no connection or intention to provide the responsibilites of a Godparent. If you see the same people in later documents, like witnessing a marriage, they just may be connected to the child in some way.