A town named Motta?

[tturci]

On my great grandfather's birth certificate, it says that he was basically brought to an orphanage by his mother's father Francesco Turci. It's written on the certificate, "Congregazione di Carita di Mirandola per mezzo di Turci Francesco di Motta."

I'm only assuming it must be a "Motta" nearby to Modena, Cavezzo, or Mirandola, which is where the rest of this side of the family is from. On maps I found a Motta right on the ER/Lombardy border which is pretty close to these other towns so maybe that's it? It could be farther but I could imagine people moving that much in rural Italy at the time (mid 1800's).

Not sure if anyone could help me, I know sometimes little towns come and go out of existence so there COULD have been another Motta but who knows. Thanks!

[TerraLavoro]

Cavezzo has three "frazioni" that contain the name Motta. "Cantone Motta", "Ponte Motta" and "Villa Motta".
See link:
http://www.comuni-italiani.it/036/009/

[TerraLavoro]

This link describes all three as basically the same location.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Motta

[darkerhorse]

Here's one in Connecticut from Villa Motta. His father is unknown. His mother is listed as Luigia Turci (b.1849 in Modena) and her father was Francesco Turci:

Harry Canuto Turci
1887–1981

Birth FEB 1887 • Villa Motta, Cavezzo, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Death 1981

[suanj]

the "Motta" place is Motta di Cavezzo, aka Motta sulla Secchia, aka Ponte Motta aka Villa Motta or just Motta (Villa on the name of a place don't means the villa, like palace with garden etc, but village), and more ancient name:

MOTTA DE AZZOLINIS, because there was a chapel called Mottae de Azolinis, in latin. The Azzolini was a noble family, and in past time the nobility had own chapel. So the land probably belonged to noble family Azzolini.

The church now is named Santa Maria ad Nives, but her old name was Santa Maria della Motta.

The word "Motta" is a medieval word and means low mound, small mound of land. In fact in Italy when there is a landslide we say "smottamento=landslide"

https://i.postimg.cc/qqrYbLjL/11181937- ... 0905-o.jpg

[Italysearcher]

Are you sure the birth records states that the mother's 'father' brought the baby. "Congregazione di Carita di Mirandola per mezzo di Turci Francesco di Motta." This phrase is usually used to indicate who actually brought the baby or 'found' the baby.