Baptismal Naming Tradtions

[Lettorio]

I am deep into Napoli records-late 700's-1800's.

I do know about the naming traditions for children, what I don't understand are the repetitive middle names in children who have very long Baptimal names-some as many as 5.
e.g.-- Pasquale Antnio Raffaele or Pasqualina Antonia Geltrude....
The names Raffaele (F- Raffaela) and Geltrude appear in many of the baptismal names of the family.
Could these names be long dead ancestors that apply directly to this family?
In another family (same last name) there is a different male and female name repeated many times over.
Can anyone advise on this "tradition"?

[Italysearcher]

There is a tradition of baptizing a child with the name of the Godparent or his/her father or mother in addition to traditional family names. The family may be dedicated to a certain Saint and give that name to every child. Mary or Giuseppe or Antonio.

[PippoM]

St. Geltrude was a very important Saint in Naples in the 1800's. That's why so many children were added Geltrude as a "middle" name. She became one of the (secondary, and there a lot) patrons of Naples in 1927.

[Lettorio]

Thank you. That's a big help.
Here's another question-these large families all have the same address (Montecalvario) for many years.
How big were the homes to have gparents, aunts, uncles, children all living under the same roof?
Carolyn

[PippoM]

Montecalvario is just the district of Naples where they lived.
But even if the address was the same (i.e. "Vico del Sole, 13") that could just be something like an apartment building of our time.
Don't you have an accurate address for them?

[Lettorio]

I do.
in Montecalvario-S Liborio #34-Marusciello family-brothers, aunts, g parents.....early 1800-1830 or so.