My Aunts and Uncles were some of the funniest people I knew.  They were natural comedians and had us laughing all the time.  Ever since I remember there have been great Italian American comedians.  I thought today that I would lighten things up a bit and post some of my favorites.  I hope that you enjoy. “We were raised in an Italian-American household, although we didn’t speak Italian in the house. We were very proud of being Italian, and had Italian music, ate Italian food.” ~ Francis Ford Coppola “I grew up within Italian-American neighborhoods, everybody was coming into the house all the time, kids running around, that sort of stuff, so when I finally got into my own area, so to speak, to make films, I still carried on.” ~ Martin Scorsese “Italian-Americans are not the Mafia.” ~ Chazz Palminteri I never had the horn in the car, but did have a small one on a chain.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUY5p9k8TAchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvthrY_lLMs&index=8&list=PL6l0NtRKdBKnmEH7z-4EXVoIeqUMHC1Z5 I’m sure that everyone that grew up in the 50’s and 60’s in  the Northeast can relate to this bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1b8T0Gce5I&list=PL6l0NtRKdBKnmEH7z-4EXVoIeqUMHC1Z5&index=14https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaplMMFp9HMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkoyh5K2gmg&list=PLIp2ZKf4F3KyyIVpIyfqPr08JNGgkQNYb&index=2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-0z0zKNWc0&list=PLIp2ZKf4F3KyyIVpIyfqPr08JNGgkQNYb&index=21https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ8plFxMp40 For me one of the funniest Italian American comedians.  I remember him way back to the old Smothers Brothers show and later as a regular on SNL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYQ4uw7sY_Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0ITXBWpHEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR8hKgzgDNs

A short video on how one piece of information helped me to find my Caracciolo Great Grandmother’s entire line back to 976.  This is part 1 of what will be three videos.  Part 2 will be Piromallo family and Part 3 will be how I traced Caracciolo back to the rest of Europe.

My 17th Great Grandfather was Vitaliano de’Vitaliani he came to Milan in 1396 after having sold his Paduan properties; he assumed the surname Borromeo having been appointed a heir by his  uncle Giovanni in 1421;He was  Treasurer of Milan, Gentleman of Arona with Rocca d’ Arona, Mercurago,  14-11-1439, Gentleman of Camairago and San Vito 20-11-1440, Ducal Advisor in 1441, Gentleman of Damaged and Cannobio, infeudato of Palestro 3-8-1437 of the Duke of Milan, 1st Conte di Arona according to ducal decree of 26-5-1446 (real 26-5-1455), Patrician of Genoa in 1445, Gentleman of Vogogna with Marozzo 1446, of XII of Power in 1447, ambassador of Milan. He married  Ambrosina Fagnani, daughter of Giacomo Fagnani, Patrizio Milanese Vitaliano de Vitaliani’s relation to you: Direct ancestor (19 generations) Here’s how: 1. Nicholas Victor Sorrentino is your father 2. Maria Luigia Piromallo is the mother of Nicholas Victor Sorrentino 3. Maria Emilia Caracciolo is the mother of Maria Luigia Piromallo 4. Filippo Caracciolo is the father of Maria Emilia Caracciolo 5. Prince Luigi Caracciolo is the father of Filippo Caracciolo 6. Prince Ambrogio II Caracciolo is the father of Prince Luigi Caracciolo 7. Prince Luigi Caracciolo is the father of Prince Ambrogio II Caracciolo 8. Ambrogio Caracciolo is the father of Prince Luigi Caracciolo 9. Antonia Spinola is the mother of Ambrogio Caracciolo 10. Anna Colonna ( Colonna Y Gioeni ) is the mother of Antonia Spinola 11. Marcantonio V Colonna, VI Principe di Paliano is the father of Anna Colonna ( Colonna Y Gioeni ) 12. Filippo I (Prince of Paliano) Colonna, IV Principe di Paliano is the father of Marcantonio V Colonna, VI Principe di Paliano 13. Princess Anna of di Borromeo is the mother of Filippo I (Prince of Paliano) Colonna, IV Principe di Paliano 14. Giberto II Borromeo VII. is the father of Princess Anna of di Borromeo 15. Frederico Borromeo is the father of Giberto II Borromeo VII. 16. Gilberto Borromeo is the father of Frederico Borromeo 17. Giovanni Borromeo is the father of Gilberto Borromeo 18. Filippo Borromeo is the father of Giovanni Borromeo 19. Vitaliano de Vitaliani is the father of Filippo Borromeo The aristocraticBorromeofamily were merchants at San Miniatoaround 1300 and became bankers at Milan after 1370. Vitaliano de’ Vitaliani, who acquired the name of Borromeo from his uncle Giovanni, became count of Aronain 1445. His descendants played important roles in the politics of the Duchy of Milanand as cardinals in the Catholic Reformation. In 1916 the head of the family was granted the title Prince of Angera. The best-known members of the family were the cardinalsand Archbishopsof Milan; Carlo(1538–1584), who was canonizedby Pope Paul Vin 1610, and Federico(1564–1631), who founded the Ambrosian Library. The figure of the Borromean rings, which forms part of the family’s coat of arms, is well known in the diverse fields of topology, psychoanalysisand theology. Link to Part 1 of Borromeo Tree Link to Part 2 of Borromeo Tree Around 1300 this was one of a number of merchant families in San Miniatoto carry the name “‘Buon Romei'” (or ‘Borromei’) because of their origins from Rome.[1] The first member of the family to come to prominence was Filippo who, backed by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IVand Gian Galeazzo Visconti(later to become Duke of Milan), led the Ghibellinesof San Miniatoin their 1367 revolt against the FlorentineGuelphs. In 1370 he was taken prisoner by the Florentines and decapitated. He left five children who had taken refuge in Milan at the time of the revolt. The sons Borromeo and Giovanni founded the Borromei Bankat Milan, with other family members running banks in Veniceand Florence.  The Borromeo Palace at Milan Filippo Buonromei married Talda di Tenda, sister of Beatrice di Tenda(the hero of a tragic opera by Vincenzo Belliniand wife of the Milanese duke Filippo Maria Visconti). Filippos daughter Margherita Borromeo († 1429) married Giacobino Vitaliani († 1409), a patricianfrom Padua, their son Vitaliano Vitaliani(1390-1449) was adopted in 1406 by his childless uncle Giovanni Borromeo, the owner of the Milan bank. The Vitaliani family traces its origins back to Giovanni dei Vitaliani in the 11th century and had been Lords of Bosco, Bojone und Sant’Angelosince c. 1100. In 1418 Vitaliano I Borromeobecame treasurer of his uncle, duke Filippo Maria, who also made him Count of Aronain 1446.[2][3]He acquired the fiefs and castles of Arona and in 1449 of Angeraon the banks of Lago Maggiore. (The castle of Angera is still today owned by the family.) Ever since, the Borromeos were the leading land owners (and at times Milanese governors) around the Lago Maggiore. Vitaliano Borromeo († 1449) had built a castle at Peschiera Borromeonear Milan in 1437. In 1450 Francesco I Sforzawas backed by the family in his struggle to become heir and successor of the Visconti dukes and used the castle as a base for his siege of Milan. When he became duke, his gratitude for the family’s services overwhelmed them with rewards and honors, among which was the title of acount of Peschierafor Vitaliano’s son Filippo Borromeo (1419–1464) in 1461. Filippo expanded the bank as far as Brugesand London. The business was run at least until 1455.[4] In 1520 Ludovico Borromeo built the castle Rocca Vitalianaat Castelli di Cannero, a fortification against the Old Swiss Confederacy. Giberto II Borromeo(† 1558), Milanese governor at the Lago Maggiore, married Margherita Medici di Marignano, the sister of pope Pius IVand of condottieroGian Giacomo Medici, Duke of Marignano. One of their sons, Carlo Borromeo(1538−1584), became a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, archbishop of Milan, and a canonized saint.  Lake Maggiore, with the Borromean Islands, the majority still owned by the family, although now open to the public. The family has owned the Borromean Islandssince the 16th century. The islands have beautiful gardens. Two of the islands have grand palaces, still owned by the family. Vitaliano Borromeo built a summer palace on the Isola Bellafor his wife Isabella between 1650 and 1671 which was later enlarged by cardinal Giberto III. (1615–1672) and count Vitaliano VI. (1620–1690). Count Carlo IV. (1657–1734) had the garden terraces added. The family still owns the majority of the Borromean Islands. There were 7 Cardinals from the Borremo Family Princess Anna de Borremeo 11th GG Frederico 12th GG  Federico (* Rocca d’ Arona 1536 Rome 19-8-1562), Conte di Arona, Gentleman of Angera, Gentleman of Laveno, Vigezzo, Cannobio, Damaged, Camairago, Ceresolo, Cellina, Palestro, Arolo, Ispra, Consignore of Omegna and Milanese Patrician; Prince and Marquis of Oria 1562, Duke of Dressing room and General Captain of Holy Roman Church in 1562; Gentleman of Tossignano, Gilberto 13th GG Giberto (* Milan 11-11-1511 there 27-7-1558), Conte di Arona, Gentleman of Angera, Gentleman of Laveno, Vigezzo, Cannobio, Ceresolo, Camairago, Palestro, Damaged and Ispra, Consignore di Omegna (confirmed in 1536 of the Emperor Carlo V) and Patrizio Milanese; Senator of Milan in 1549, Governor of the Greatest Lake in 1551, ambassador in 1557, Decurione Perpetuo of Milan.

As promised we are constantly on the lookout to find new links to help you with your research.  Whether you have been researching your Italian Roots for a week or for years, there is always something new that pops up.  Here are our newest finds, you can also go to our LINKS page to find our complete list. We also would welcome comments, if you have links that we have not yet uncovered.  Please comment and subscribe to our mailing list on the right, and for push updates by selecting the bell in the lower left corner for major updates like this.  Thanks for all the view as we now show up as number 2 on GOOGLE when you search for Italian Genealogy Research. Bob. NYPL 5 Ways to Research your Italian Heritage without leaving home — New York Public Library For research in the UK — Anglo-Italian Family History Society Sant’Ippolito — Sant’Ippolito Genealogy Society Jewish Roots in Italy — Jewish Genealogy in Italy Families from Marano Marchesato, Cosenza, Calabria, Italia —  Rootsweb Most Common Surnames in Italy — Surnames Italian Genealogy Group — Databases  Multiple Links — Italian Genealogy Home

I have been posting almost daily and I really appreciate the response from people ( over 5000 views in 2 months), both on the tips and links I have provided and the enthusiasim on my family roots.  My goal is to help people to find their families either in the US or in Italy.  I am constantly searching for new links or websites to help people to uncover their roots. As you can see this as become a passion of mine, and if you like detective work, searching for you families past certainly fulfills that mission.  There are many of us out there, and more coming everyday.  If you are enjoying the history, or want to be updated as I find more links, please subscribe by clicking the little bell on the lower left. Thanks Bob. You never know what you will uncover. Since publishing the original post above we now have over 244,000 hits not the site, 5000 on our Facebook Group started a podcast and YouTube Channel.  Thanks for all the support!  Bob. Prince Marino Caracciolo c1630 3rd Prince of Avellino, 1st Count of Serino, 4th Duke of Atripalda, 1st Marqui of Sanseverino, Knight of the Golden Fleece and my 8th great grandfather Me 1977 Blogger