Savittieri family name

[brevhana]

For years I have tried to find information regarding the origins and meaning of my last name, Savittieri. It seems to be an uncommon last name as I have never met anyone in the US named Savittieri beyond my relatives. An Italian friend living in Italy once told me I won't find many people with this last name in Italy and that it definitely has southern origins. My family comes from Sicily, but I don't know much more than that.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[vj]

Welcome to the Forum!
We'll be happy to see what we can do to help find your family in Italy.
Do you have any of your family's US records?
(census, military)
We can help you look, but we would need a few names, dates & US locations for your family.
US records can provide clues to locations in Italy.
Thanks! Valarie

[vj]

The original spelling of your surname may have been different in Italy
From this site: http://italia.indettaglio.it/eng/cognomi/cognomi.html

Here is just one possibility for folks with similar names currently living in Sicily

Savitteri
15 people in Agrigento, Agrigento
11 people in San Cataldo, Caltanissetta
---

Another place to look
Ellis Island: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/EIDB/ellisgold.html
You can use partial and 'sounds like' searches

Valarie

[PeterTimber]

The Italian surname dictionary lists the Savatteri surname as being Sicilian in origin, rare and adapted from the French Savatier meaning "Ciabattino" in the sense of a bungler who works poorly. =Peter=

[brevhana]

Thank for the information so far. What I'd like to do is see how far back I can trace my family and the Savittieri name generally in Sicily.

My father was Chris Savittieri (dob 12/16/1944 in Chicago).

My paternal grandfather was John Savittieri (app. dob 9/11/1917); I think he was born in Chicago. He married Josephine Arnone (app. dob 1/1926) in Chicago in 1943.

My paternal great-grandfather was Christopher Savittieri. I don't know when he was born or when he came to the USA. He married Maria and had 7 or 8 kids with her (on being my grandfather), but I don't know if he married her here or there. I don't know Maria's maiden name; she remarried after his death, however. I do know that he came from the region of Caltanissetta, Sicily. I've tried to find him in the Ellis Island records, but have had no luck.

Any information, leads, or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

John Savittieri

[PeterTimber]

The earliest record is 1775 for Savittieri in Santa Ninfa, palermo and further research will be required due to its rarity in Sicily.=Peter=

[vj]

Thank you for the update
Sometimes census records can provide some clues
This is from ancestry. com, a subscription site
Could this be your family? (don’t worry too much about the spelling of the last name)
The information will be only as accurate as the knowledge of the person giving the information to the enumerator

1920 census image

Home in 1920:
1033 Orleans St
Chicago Ward 21, Cook (Chicago), Illinois

Head Christopher Salvatirre 33, abt 1887 in Palermo, IT
- immig 1912, Al (alien)
- packer, department store
Wife Mary Salvatirre 28, abt 1892 IT
- immig 1913
Son Philip Salvatirre 4 1/12, abt 1915 IL
Son (?) Santa Salvatirre 2 3/12, abt 1917 IL
Son John Salvatirre 2 3/12, abt 1917 IL
Daughter Rose Salvatirre 1 3/12, abt 1918 IL

Were John & Santa twins?

[PeterTimber]

There is a Savattieri coat of arms but not of Sicilian origin. A commercial company maybe able to give you the coat of arms.. Go to www.4crests.com/ind_490.html. Perhaps if you search some of the heraldic websites you may come across more information abut the originof the coat of arms. =Peter=

[PeterTimber]

There MIGHT BE a connection to the french surname Sabatier which has a coat of arms at www.family-crests.org/sabatier-french.html

I have not done any research on this altered spelling which may or may not relate to your family. =Peter=

[vj]

Possible Records from Cook County:
http://www.cookcountygenealogy.com/default.aspx
(requires one-time free registration)

SAVITTIERI, CHRISTPH
Death
Certificate 37557
12/29/1945

SAVITTIERI, JOHN
ARNONE, JOSEPHINE
Marriage
1786011
8/25/1943

SAVITTIERI, SANTO SALVATORE
SKINNER, SHIRLEY FAYE
Marriage
2014861
2/7/1948

[brevhana]

Peter:

In what record is Savittieri mentioned in 1775? I'll check out some of these websites you mention.

vj:

That's them! My grandfather's twin was Santo, and one of his sister's was Rose. What's interesting about this document is that the Phillip documented here must have died as a child (I never heard about him) because my grandfather had a brother Phillip, but the youngest of the 7 or 8 siblings, who was born in the late 1920s.

So how can I trace Christopher and Mary back to Sicily through Ellis Island?

Thanks to you both. John

[brevhana]

vj:

From the Cook County records you found . . .

John and Josephine are my paternal grandparents. Santo is my grandfather's twin, who was referenced in the 1920 census form. I'm assuming that death certificate is the Christopher I'm trying to trace. Would there be any information in that death certificate that would help me trace him back to Sicily through Ellis Island?

John

[vj]

Possible Marriage Record from:
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/rec ... 367819#p=0
(requires one time free registration)

1914 Marriage Certificate

Groom name: Cristopolo Savittieri
Groom age in years: 28
Groom estimated birth year: 1886
Groom birth place:
Bride name: Mary Castrianni
Bride age in years: 22
Bride estimated birth year: 1892
Bride birth place:
Event type: Marriage
Marriage date: 04 Aug 1914
Marriage place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Father of groom name:
Mother of groom name:
Father of bride name:
Mother of bride name:
Marital status:
Bride marital status:
Additional relatives:
Film number: 1030578
Digital GS number: 4272235
Image number: 471
Reference number: 672356
Collection: Illinois, Cook County Marriages 1871-1920

edit: added
Note: it does appear to be dated 1914, filed in 1943??

[vj]

vj:

From the Cook County records you found . . .

John and Josephine are my paternal grandparents. Santo is my grandfather's twin, who was referenced in the 1920 census form. I'm assuming that death certificate is the Christopher I'm trying to trace. Would there be any information in that death certificate that would help me trace him back to Sicily through Ellis Island?

John

Hi John,
Looks like we're making some progress
It depended upon the death certficate form - what questions were asked
And, who the informant was & how much they knew...
Valarie

[vj]

Another clue?

possible 1913 manifest
page 2

It appears that Maria Castrianni was from Alimena (comune of Alimena, province of Palermo, Sicily)
Traveling with her brother Antonio, joining another brother Filippo in Chicago
Father in Alimena, Santo

From ancestry. com
Lines 23-24
Ship Name: Venezia
Arrival Date: 2 Nov 1913
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Name: Maria Castrianni
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1891
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Italian (South) (Italian)
Nativity: Italy
Birth Location: Italy
Birth Location Other: atimens
Line: 24
Microfilm Serial: T715 Microfilm Roll: T715_2213
Page Number: 171

Note: On Ellis Island Site under the name
Maria Castrinanni