Mersi surname

[novamike6130]

I am researching the name Mersi. Sabato Mersi married Maria Paruola on 4 January 1880 at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Manhattan in New York City. According to the transcription of the church records that I found on Findmypast.com, his parents were Angelo Mersi and Trenae Paolino. Maria's parents were Lucae Paruola and Josephae (Giuseppa?) Capo. I am hoping that they were from the same village in Italy and were married in New York, meaning that the surnames are from the same area. I have been told that the Mersi family was from Florence/Firenze. Does anyone have a feeling where the Mersi family might be from?

[PippoM]

If you have an image, can you post it?

[novamike6130]

I don't have an image but the information above is a transcription of what was in the marriage record from the church.

[novamike6130]

I have also seen the surname Mersi as Emmerso.

[PippoM]

Is this him?

https://it.findagrave.com/memorial/1325 ... bato-merso

[suanj]

The Mersi surname is a probale short version of a different italian surname, wrote like pronounced in english, so Mersi, could be Marsi in italian, and by my opinion, could br something like Marsicano ot Marsillo tc... the first name Sabato istypical of Salerno and Naples provinces. Ab Mary, the italian surname spelling is Paruolo, and I believe she coming from also from alerno area, Laurino town specifically.
Paolino is also a surname of same Salerno area.
Just my opinion,
regards,
suanj

[PippoM]

The original surname might be Immerso or Immersi, that can be found in some municipalities near Salerno.

[novamike6130]

Thank you Suanj and Giuseppe Moccaldi. I thought that the Mersi family was from southern Italy even though I had been told that they were from Florence. Also, Giuseppe, that is indeed his grave at Our Lady of Victories Cemetery in Landisville, New Jersey.

[PippoM]

This is his 1930 census:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... ction=view

It says he was 78 in 1930, so, born about 1852, and Mary 1855.
It also says he moved to the USA in 1874. So, even if we found hi ship manifest, it wouldn't tell us his town of origin.