“Casalis Molina”

[Kwgenea]

I have attached the 1757 marriage record for Salvatore Fiore. He was married in and then lived in Vignola, Potenza. I believe it identifies his residence/birthplace as “Casalis Molina” in Latin, but I’m not having luck identifying the Italian place name at the time. I’m pretty certain he was not born in Vignola. Any thoughts?

[darkerhorse]

Casale means estate or village in Latin.

Casalis might be the genitive form (3rd declension) meaning of the village (Molina) or the village of (Molina).

Just a guess.

[darkerhorse]

There appear to be several villages named Molina in Italy.

[AngelaGrace56]

I basically agree with darkerhorse. I've just seen his response.

My thinking is that the word Casalis may be referring to a group of houses, village/hamlet named Molino/Molina, belonging to Vignola/Pignola? Just my thinking. I don’t read Latin but I know that the name Fiore appears in Potenza province.

Angela

[darkerhorse]

Italian wasn't offered in my high school so I took Latin, but I can hardly say that I read it either.

Since the record is from 1757 there might have been a feudal system in place.

I suppose Molina could be the surname of a landowner - "of the estate of Molina".

Not to add to the confusion, but the term "estate" can also refer to social categories.

Finally, the root "casa", of course, refers to housing.

[PippoM]

"Molina" is a very common toponym.
My guess is that it was initially used to mean a place with a mill, and was then extended to a whole village.
Mulino=Mill, hence the surname Molinaro=Miller.
I want to add that, in this case, the correct reading is "Casalis Molinae", with the final diphthong pronounced as an Italian "e".

[darkerhorse]

"Molina" is a very common toponym.
My guess is that it was initially used to mean a place with a mill, and was then extended to a whole village.
Mulino=Mill, hence the surname Molinaro=Miller.
I want to add that, in this case, the correct reading is "Casalis Molinae", with the final diphthong pronounced as an Italian "e".

Does that mean both words, casalis and Molinae, are in the genitive case?

[PippoM]

Yes, because it literally means "del Casale della Molina" = "of the village of the mill"