A good portion of Calabria and Sicilia were Jewish before the Inquisition. These areas were Spanish territories and the Edict of Expulsion applied to them. Jews were forced to flee or convert. Their are many descendants of those forced to convert living in Calabria and Sicilia today. It has been my experience that many refuse to admit to their heritage or it has been forgotten. Check out Rabbi Barbara Aiello's site:
www.rabbibarbara.com for more information on this important history.
Surnames once contained the prefix Lo or Di, etc. in Jewish families to preserve their Jewishness in the same way they do with names such as Ben Ruben (Son of Ruben), etc. Many of these prefixes were dropped over time. Does this mean that all families with such prefixes were Jewish? Probably not. But when the surname is connected to records of the Inquisition, you have solid evidence.
The Jews in Italy are the oldest of the diaspora. Much has been done to erase the history of our people over the centuries. Fortunately, there is an awakening in some parts of Italy, Spain, Mexico, Central America and the Southwestern United States.
Shalom
Ebrei