Page 15 - Italian American Herald - April 2021

ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
APRIL 2021 | ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM 15
ITALIAN MADE FUN & SIMPLE
You can research your surname on these two websites:
• surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/italian/ • cognomix.it/mappe-dei-cognomi-italiani.
In this issue we deviate from our regular alphabetic format and highlight the surnames associated with springtime culture, in keeping with our front-page article. What more appropriate way than to start with the surname Primavera, which means spring?
PRIMAVERA – This surname surprisingly
appears in the vital statistics files in 18 regions. It is most prevalent in Abruzzo, where 25 percent reside; Lazio, where 21 percent reside; and Marche, where 12 percent reside; and least in Sardinia. The two regions that show no presence are Trentino-Alto Adige in the Tyrolian Alps and the Aosta
Valley.
FRANCAVILLA – This surname is a
Southern Italian habitational surname from any of various places named with this word (from franc “free (of taxes)” + villa “place”
or “settlement”); for example, Francavilla Marittima (Cosenza), Francavilla Angitola (Vibo Valentia), Francavilla al Mare (Chieti), Francavilla d’Ete (Ascoli), Francavilla in Sinni (Potenza), Francavilla di Sicilia (Messina, Sicily). It is present in 19 regions with the highest number of families with the surname in Puglia. It is not present in Trentino-Alto Adige.
VIVALDI – The surname Vivaldi was first found in Treviso, anciently known as Tarvisium, a town in Venetia, capital of the province of Treviso. The cathedral of San Pietro is notable and dates back to 1141. It
is in the classical style with seven domes, and houses works by many notable painters and sculptors. In those ancient times, only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists and landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry.
PAUSINI – Singer Laura Pausini may be
popular, but her surname isn’t. It’s present
in only five regions: Lazio, Umbria, Emilia- Romagna, Lombardia, and Piemonte. Emilia-Romagna has the largest presence and Piemonte the smallest.
VILLA – This surname is spelled the same but pronounced slightly differently in Italian and Spanish. This surname is derived from the Latin word "villa," which originally meant a house or estate, but later came to denote a village. Thus, as a surname, Villa no doubt was used to describe "someone from the village." It is a widespread surname that appears in the vital statistics records in all 20 regions.
PIZZI – The surname Pizzi is derived from the Italian word "piccino," which means "small." Early origins of the Pizzi family date back to 1314 with Marco Picinini, the first of a long line of Picinini Senators. Picinini soon evolved into a number of variations, among which we find the surname Pizzi. It has a strong presence among Italian surnames having a presence in all 20 regions. It is most prevalent in Lombardia and least in the Aosta Valley.
In the May issue we’ll resume with our regular format and Italian surnames beginning with the letter “P.” IAH
PER I BAMBINI
Sara Esplora ‘le grotte di Pastena’
By Melissa Cannavo-Marino and Sara
E` primavera. (It’s spring). Il tempo sta cambiando. (The weather is changing). Nonno vuole visitare (wants to visit) some of the sites in “La Ciociaria,” the historic name of an area around La citta` di Frosinone, (the city of Frosinone). It’s a fairly warm giorno, (day) and mamma suggerisce (suggests)
la spiaggia (the beach). Il nonno ribadisce (replies), “We can do that anytime.” Facciamo qualcosa differente! (Let’s do something different!)
Nonna dice, (says) “Andiamo alle
Grotte di Pastena!”( Let’s go to the caverns in Pastena!) I thought to myself, I hope la famiglia, (the family agrees.) It seems molto interessante (very interesting). Va bene, dice il nonno e mamma. Andiamo! (OK, says
grandad and mom. Let’s go!) We’ll pack a pranzo, (lunch) and dopo facciamo una scampagniata and (after we’ll have a picnic.) Evviva! (Wow!) Was I excited!
Dopo (after) a half-hour ride
in la macchina, (the car) we arrive
at the biglietteria, (ticket booth.)
They let me go in gratis (for free.)
La guida, (the guide) explained
that l’entrata, (the entrance) to
the grotte was rather low, so we
would need to crouch down to
enter. However, when we were finalmente dentro, (finally inside),
we found ourselves in an area consisting of due camere enormi,
(two large chambers.) After a
short walk il sentiero, (the path)
led up into a huge hall with lots
of fantastic pillars and stalagmites.
Il sentiero, mostly an iron bridge, led us through these huge caverns.
We were really having a great time, when suddenly, as we entered a small side cavern and looked above, we saw something that scared me and mamma. Hanging from the
ceiling above were centinaia di pippistrelli, (hundreds of bats.) Mamma began to panic and wanted to run out of the caverns. I nonni convinced us that tourists go through the caverns every day. “These pippistrelli are used to people, and they won’t bother you”, dice il nonno. Mamma ed io ci calmiamo. (Mamma
and I calm down,) and we continue the tour. In the end, all went well. We made it
to the end of the tour, but Mamma said,
mai piu`! (Never again!) A questo punto (at this point) we were all famati, (famished.) Mangiamo, dice il nonno! (“Let’s eat,” says nonno.) It sure was a fun day. IAH