A New Direction: Ragusa and Messina provinces of Sicily

In preparation for a trip to Sicily with my husband Chuck, I'm resuming research on his Italian family. Both his maternal grandparents were born in Sicily.

• His grandmother Angela Russo Femminella (simplified later to "Russo") was born in Militello Rosmarino, in the western third of Messina Province. The nearest larger town is Sant'Agata, on the northern coast, about 8 km (5 mi) north of Militello Rosmarino.

• His grandfather John Iacono (Americanized to the spelling of "Iacano" sometime after his 1914 marriage) was born in or near Ragusa, the administrative seat of Ragusa Province. 

Militello Rosmarino

Italy, Sicily, Messina Province (modern map)

Militello Rosmarino is an Italian community in Sicily. Locally it is called Militeddu in Sicilian, and its antique name was Militello Valdemone. The town has 1334 inhabitants and is in the province of Messina. The town had its greatest number of inhabitants, 2600, in the mid-1930s. Nearby is the Parco dei Nebrodi (click on this link for more information from the Italian Wikipedia) and the larger coastal town Sant'Agata (di Militello), (also in Italian), of about 12,000 inhabitants. For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

Ragusa

Italy, Sicily, Ragusa Province (modern map)

Ragusa is an Italian community in Sicily. The accent in Italian is on the first syllable. Locally it is called Raùsa in Sicilian. The origin of the town name comes from the Byzantine era and Greek-derived language, Ρογος, Ragous, Rogos (meaning "barn") due to the agricultural wealth of the area. During Arab rule, the name became Ragus or Rakkusa  (meaning "place famous for an amazing event"). Later, under the rule of Norman and Aragon invaders, the name was Latinized to Ragusia and later simplified in the 18th Century to Ragusa.

The city has 72,967 inhabitants, and it is the seat of the province of Ragusa. From 1861 through 1921, the population grew from 29,000 to 56,000. However, for three decades afterward, the population remained around 51,000 and then resumed its growth in the 1950s to it present size. The town is nicknamed "the city of bridges," "the island in an island," and "the high Sicily." For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Russo Femminella Families

That the original family name is two-part makes research much easier for Russo Femminella. (The name Russo is as prevalent in Italy as the Johnson family is in the United States.) This image from Gens.info locates the presence of Russo Femminellas in 2020 Italy. A small number is in the city of Rome, as well as the provincial capital Messina. The largest concentrations are in Sant'Agata de Militello and Militello Rosmarino. So few inhabitants with the name are in the rest of Italy that they do not register on this site.

Both handed down family information and records research in the civil registries establish our family origin to be Militello Rosmarino.The family name was changed in America from Russo Femminella to Russo sometime after John Iacano married Angelina Russo Femminella in 1914.

The Family of Biagio Russo Femminella and Marie Pisa, Mary Coppolino, and Frances Arcidiacono

A brother to Grandmother Angelina Iacano was Biagio, who married (sequentially) Marie Pisa, Mary Coppolino, and Frances Arcidiacono. Their children were Biagio Russo, Salvatore Russo, Dee Dee Harris-Russo, William Russo, and Leon Russo. For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Family of Joseph Russo and Sarah Ferone

Another brother to Grandmother Angelina Iacano was Joseph, who married his first cousin Sara Ferone. Our family information says that the couple had no known children. However, only one Joe and Sara Russo family appears in the 1940 census of Cleveland. That couple's children were Frank, Joseph, Jeanne, Carl, and Ettore Russo. Further research in other censuses is clearly needed. For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Family of Tony Russo and Bertha Costanza

Another brother to Grandmother Angelina Iacano was Tony, who married Bertha Costanza. Two known children Rose Mary Russo-Eagle and Gaetana Russo-Parker. For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Family of Caroline Russo and Frank Palatrone

A sister to Grandmother Angelina Iacano was Caroline, who married Frank Palatrone. Their children Frank Palatrone II and Beverly Palatrone-Blaha. For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Iacano (Iacono) Families

Prevalence of the family name Iacono in Italy

That Ragusa is only one of many, many cities and towns that the Iacono family might have come from. This image from Gens.info locates the presence of Iaconos in 2020 Italy. A small concentration is in the city of Rome, and several enclaves are in northern Italy in the areas of Milano and Genoa. Larger concentrations are in Napoli and the Ischian islands off the Neapolitan coast. The largest concentrations are in Sicily, near the cities of Agrigento and Ragusa. However, almost all regions of Italy contain inhabitants with the Iacono family name.

Both handed down family information and records research in the civil registries establish our family origin to be Ragusa. The family name was changed in America from Iacono to "Iacano" sometime after John Iacano married Angelina Russo Femminella in 1914.

The Family of John Iacano and Angelina Russo Femminella

Chuck's parents are Rose Mary Iacano (1916-1976) and Charles Derry (1908-1974). Rose was the second oldest child in her family of seven brothers and sisters: Frannie Iacano-Ventura, Frank Iacano, Jimmy Iacano, Jennie Iacano-Flauto, John Iacano, Joe Sam Iacano, and Tannie Iacano-Cosiano. For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Family of Emanuel Iacano and Angelina Tumino

The eldest known brother to Grandfather John Iacano is Emanuel Iacano (1882-1952), who was married to Angelina Tumino (est 1883-1963). For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

Up to at least 1940, Cleveland Ohio was the home of two Emanuel Iacano families. The other couple was made up of the father Emanuel and mother Catherine LaTore. Continuing research in the United States censuses will clarify the names and births of children in each family. At this point, several children have the same given name, and they might be attributed to the wrong parents.

The Brother Sam Gacomo (Iacono)

The family information developed in the U.S. gives the spelling of "Gacomo" for this part of the family. Grandfather John's brother Sam was said to have immigrated to Argentina. His information is not certain, but his birth is estimated 1875 and death calculated to be 1940. 

I have begun contacting members of Facebook named Iacono who live in Argentina.

For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Brother George Gacomo (Iacono)

Another brother to Grandfather John Iacano was reported to be George Gacomo, estimated dates of 1875-1935. The family information developed in the U.S. gives the spelling of "Gacomo" for this part of the family. 

For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.

The Sister Georgia Gacomo (Iacono)

A sister Georgia is also reported without certain information. Her dates are estimated to be 1875-1940. The family information developed in the U.S. gives the spelling of "Gacomo" for this part of the family. 

For more information, click the title of this section to go to another blog page.