relatively new project

[vinnie]

Hi All,

I started a new project in November '07 focusing on my grandfather's village and two neighboring ones:

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Villavallelonga

If you know of anyone with the surnames below, which are the most deeply rooted in this area, please let them know about the project; I'm now waiting for the first Ferrari results from the GP to be uploaded. Thanks!

Project surnames:

Annunziata, Bianchi, Coccia, Cocuzzi, Di Cesare, Ferrari, Gizzi, Grande,
Lippa, Lo Bene, Mastrella, Palozzi, Ricci, Serafini, Tantalo

[cacio]

As you know, some of these surnames are very common in Italy, especially Ferrari, which is ubiquitous (it means smith), and Bianchi. But others are more local (like Palozzi, I assume).

How far is that from Avezzano or L'Aquila? The di Giacomo paper has a sample from both towns.

cacio

[vinnie]

Hi Cacio,

As you know, Ricci is also fairly common. But it would be interesting to see how many Bianchi's, Ferrari's, etc. may indeed be related to others of the same surname.

I'm very fortunate to have the Ferrari sample that I do because I got it from an 82 year old man whom I cornered at a "Villa" reunion this summer; thankfully, his daughter was very interested and talked him into the testing. My great-grandmother told us 30 years ago that he was a cousin to us through her husband, my father's maternal grandfather. So I'm moving one generation back in time on that male line, and trying to connect us with the paper trail using the names he gave me at the reunion. I hope to do the same at Christmas with at least one of my Sicilian relatives.

It's been several years since I've been to Italy, but if I remember correctly, it took us about 45 minutes to drive south from Avezzano, and I believe l'Aquila is about 2 hours or so north.

Thanks much for the paper reference - I'll have to look it up.