Three months ago, I wrote about “my visit to Montefalcione“, where my great grandfather was born. After writing that post, four people with ties to Montefalcione left comments on my blog. I have also noticed quite a few hits on my Irish, Scottish, English side of the family post and hope one day to find a connection there.
So, today, I decided to write about the town of Lapio where my great-grandmother was born, with the hope that this post may help me to find connections to Lapio and possible relatives from there. I have not yet visited Lapio but hope to go there someday.
Here is one of the few photos I have found of Lapio:
(link to the source of this photo – Lapio town website – no longer works)
Like Montefalcione, Lapio is also located in the Campania region of Italy. It is 22 kilometers from from Avellino and is very close to Montefalcione. I can’t believe I was so close to Lapio but did not visit!
(I can’t seem to find the source of this map anymore.)
According to the 2008 Lapio website, there were 1,750 inhabitants living in Lapio during the 2001 national census. The inhabitants were distributed in 590 families with an average of 2.97 people per family.
I found this interesting bit of information on the ten most common surnames in town of Lapio.
Key to the chart: The left hand column displays the estimated number of individuals with the given surname displayed in the right hand column. For example, 106.10 estimates there are at least 106 people in the town with that name.
*edited in 2022: All of my direct ancestor names that I have discovered: Caprio, Carbone, Cataldo, Coluccio, Costanza, d’Alelio, Forte, Galante, del Grosso, di Ioanna, Membrino, Mottola, Padrona, Palladino, Perrotta, di Sessa, Statuto, Romano, Vozella and Zarrella.
The popular names above: Lepore, Cristofaro, Pasquale, Melchionno, Trodella & Iovine are all names of spouses – so basically, I’m related to almost every family name in Lapio in some way
Here again are my great-grandfather, Angelo and my great-grandmother, Giovanna on their wedding day. They were married at Sacred Heart Church, in Boston’s North End in 1902.
**EDITED April 2018 – I am back into genealogy now that I am retired! Comments continue to be welcomed. Hopefully we can make more connections!
I wrote this post years ago. My intention at the time was just to share a little about my family ties to Lapio. I have been amazed and a little overwhelmed with the number of comments left for this blog post. I apologize again for not being more active in replying to every comment.
shave ice & gelato 
Hi, I was just looking to see if I could find anything about Lapio, the town that I was born in, and came across this great post. I know at least one person with each surname that you mention above. I left Lapio in 1966 at the age of 12. Went back just twice, once to bury my mother in 1987. I could not wait to get out of Lapio and come to America, and I’m so happy I did, but the town where you are born never leaves your mind. It is the most beautiful little town with one big happy family.
My surname is Giglio. I know the Melchionno’s they are owners of an old castle in Lapio. My Godmother’s name is Carbone. I knew the Iovines that now have passed away. my mother’s maiden name was Cristofaro, and on and on I can go.
My email address is dgiglio@mfa.org if you want to chat about Lapio.
Thanks
LikeLike
Wow i love reading all these posts.My mother is from Lapio her maiden name was Costanza and my grandmothers maiden name was Carbone too..Who knows how many relatives i have around the world. Ive been back to Lapio 8 times i still have aunts uncles and cousins living there and its my favorite place in the world…
LikeLiked by 1 person
María, somehow lost track of this blog post and comments. It sure would be fun if my family was related to the Romano wine estate :)
Domenic, I apologize that I did not reply much sooner. As I mentioned earlier, I somehow lost track of this thread over the holidays. I will send you an email. Thanks so much for your comment.
margherita, it was so nice of you to leave a comment on my blog. I do hope someday to visit Lapio. How lucky you are to be able to go back for visits.
LikeLike
I have been to Lapio three times and plan to visit again soon. I am a member of the Carbone family, that is my grandparents name. Lapio is so beautiful and I think of it always, I fell in love with it. The people are so wonderful, the town is beautiful and the food is indescribeable. My grandfather was Angelo Raphael Carbone and my grandmother was Fioenza Membrino. If you can go to Lapio, it will give you a feeling you’ve never experienced in your life. It is wonderful.
LikeLike
I am researching Cataldos, Carbones, and Membrinos from Lapio as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carbone e Membrino ce ne sono sono tantissimi a Lapio qualche dato in piu (sui nonni ) e se posso ti do una mano
il mio sito web: www,lapio.org
LikeLike
grande PAT
LikeLike
Pasquale, it is really nice to hear from you. I wish I knew more about the Carbone part of my family history. All I know is that my great great great grandmother was named Concetta Carbone, I am guessing she was born around 1820 and a great great great great grandmother named Angela Carbone who was born before 1800. I do hope to get to Lapio one day. I am sure we are probably related somehow. Thank you so much for your comments.
LikeLike
Hi,
I was excited to see your post about Lapio. My grandfather and his descendants were from Lapio. Their last name was Vozella. My Grandfather’s name was Pasquale Vozella. He had brothers named John, Raffaele and Adolino. Their father’s name was Francesco and their mother’s name was Marie or Maria and I believe her maiden name may have been Bonnelli. My grandfather and his brothers came to the United States when they were young and settled in the Boston Massachusetts area. Any information you mayhave on this family would be greatly appreciated.
Gail Vozella McDowell
LikeLike
Hi Gail, thanks for stopping by. Our families probably knew each other at one point in time. Unfortunately none of your family names match the names of my family members that I have found so far. The info from the LDS records is how I have acquired most of my info. It may help you with your quest. Good luck.
LikeLike
I was so excited to see your blog when I googled Lapio. I just learned in Aug that my ggparents married in Lapio in Apr 1882 Raffaele Frasca (parents Giuseppe Frasca and Columba CARBONE (her parents are Giovanni Carbone and Teresa ?) to Luigia Ardolino. I also have a Angelo Vito Carbone b abt 1864-1868 who married in Dec 1891 to Angelina Frasca my ggf sister.
I also have some Cristofaro, although the relationship is more distant.
I hope to go to Italy for the first time sometime this year including Lapio and would appreciate networking with anyone that has been there or knows about these families.
Also I belong to NEHGS and am happy to do look-ups in the online records (births, marriages to 1915 and deaths to 1910. Claudia
LikeLike
My fathers name was Pasquale Membrino born in Lapio 1885 and my mother was Angela Pesa born in Lapio 1890. I was born in Fitchburg, MA in 1931. This August I will be taking my four children and their spouses to Italy and intend to make a visit to Lapio a top priority. The wife and I were very friendly with Giuseppe Cardinale Caprio whom we visited with numerous times here in USA as well as at the Vatican in Rome. His wish was to be burried in Lapio which is one of many reasons we want to visit Lapio. I have completely lost track of both my fathers and mothers family if any are left there in Lapio. I’d truly appreciate any assistance you might give me in ways I might get to know what if any relatives remain there in Lapio. Thank you for any assistance you might give me prior to our August 10th trip to Italy.
LikeLike
I am not sure if this post is still active but I would be interested in communicating because I am from Lapio and have gone back numerous times and have lots of relatives there. My mom is from a family of 10 and only 3 of the 10 came to America the rest are in Lapio. I recognize the majority of the names in your posts.
LikeLike
Maria my name is Jackie and recently visited Lapio looking for family. We had a wonderful visit with relatives who own the olive mill in town. One of the gentlemen a relative of the owners was a carbone and he mentioned relatives in Wakefield MA. I am trying to find this family connection. Not sure if you can help. My great grandfather was Giuseppe Nutile married Lauretanna Melchionno April 1, 1894 in the North end of Boston.
LikeLike
This is for George Membrino, Fitchburg. George, my mother was Fiorina (Lena) Membrino of Fitchburg, born in Lapio 1898, her mother Pasqualina Ricci, her father Orazio Membrino both of Lapio. We are somehow related. Do you know the Membrinos of Fitchburg, Solomitos, Morleys, all of St. Bernard’s church, Fitchburg. I also had a cousin, Dr. John Membrino (deceased) Leominster. If you would like to email, ccvoicedynamics@cs.com
LikeLike
My great-great grandfather was Orazio Membrino and my great-grandfather was Carmen Membrino (both of Fitchburg, MA). I tried sending you an e-mail, but it looks like that e-mail address no longer works.
LikeLike
My husband’s grandfather was Eugenio Caprio born in Lapio, Italy in 1898. I was told there is a family home with the CAPRIO name on the front of the house. Has anyone seen this house? I would love to see a picture of it. I have tried to find out his parent’s name, but can’t connect anyone. We do know that he had several brothers and sisters. Cardinal Guiseppe Caprio was his cousin. He had a sister named Carmillena, a brother Arturo, another brother who was a priest and several others. Can anyone tell me any more? My email address is tabu3821@att.net.
LikeLike
I may be a bit late to this dance but it’s worth a try. Small town like Lapio may not be too hard to trace our ancestors.
Dont let my last name throw you off, I am a grandson of Angelo Pasquale from Lapio.
Angelo came to the Boston area in the 1900’s and became US citizen at District Court in Salem Ma on Jan 13 1920. Came to Boston via Ellis Island as many have back in the day.
My grandfather Angelo Pasquale was from Lapio and our family is trying to find some history on the family. His dob 10/25/1894 son of Giusseppe Pasquale 5/12/1868 and Giovanna Zarrella born 4/19/68 both from Lapio.
I see from above, the name Maria Teresa Zarella and wonder if Maria and Giovanna may have been sisters or cousins?
Our family search only brings us back to our great grandparents, but would love to hear about any other relatives.
LikeLike
Not sure if anyone is still active on this blog, but will see;
My grandfather was Pasquale Zarrella. He immigrated to the US in 1901 at age 11. I surmise he was born in 1890. He arrived on the ship; Bolivia with (based on the manifest from Ellis Island.org) an expressed destination of Boston, MA. The ship embarked from Naples and his last residence is listed as Lapio, Campania, Italy. My assumption is that he was born in Lapio. My understanding is he made it to E.Providence, RI and eventually made residence in Attleboro, MA as a Barber.
Pasquale married Mary Cafaro and had two sons; Mattias and Armand along with 4 daughters; Felicia, Anita, (my mom; Martha) and the youngest daughter; ? (brain cramp).
It is my intention to visit Lapio (2021) so I’m trying to uncover more info on the Zarrela and/or Cafaro family in this area.
Thank You
LikeLike
Hi, I am the author if this blog. I also have Zarrella ancestors from Lapio. Do you know the name of Pasquale’s father? I just looked in the birth records for Lapio in 1889,1890, and 1891 and don’t see a Pasquale Zarrella listed. I did find some of his US records in Ancestry with a wife, Mary Cafaro but would need more info regarding his parents to see if/where we are related. This is the site for the Avellino records: http://dl.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/v/Archivio+di+Stato+di+Avellino/ You need to click on a time period and then the town.
LikeLike
Thank You, Susan.
I did not see your reply until today…
Since the time of my inquiry, I did visit Italy, but not make it to Lapio. We spent a week in Praiano without renting a car so did not venture out to LAPIO as I was told it was a long 1.5hr drive. (Maybe next time.)
I do not know my grandparents, parents names. Thank you for the link. I will check it out to see if there is any additional information that I may discover.
Again, thank you. Dale Viens (Zarrella)
LikeLike
Hi Dale,
I did a little checking since I have expanded my tree since my last reply to your comment in 2020. No new Pasquale Zarrella. I then did a search on Ancestry for a Pasquale Zarrella and Maria Cafaro. An Oct 1911 Manhattan, NYC wedding record popped up. Many of the early NYC vital records are now searchable. This record states that Pasquale Zarella was born in Casacalenda (region Molise / province Campobasso). According to this record, Maria was born in NYC. https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/8888073
I then searched for other family trees and found a tree that seems to match your family – Pasquale Zarrelli (looks like he changed his surname to Zarrella/Zarella) married to a Maria Cafaro with children in this tree matching the children you named in your 2020 comment. If you are on ancestry or can get access/know someone on ancestry… here’s the link to this tree with lots of info on Pasquale. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15717676/person/302208330/facts
I haven’t checked it all to see if everything is accurate (some people just copy other trees without confirming correct info) but from what I can see, it looks like a legit tree. According to this tree, Pasquale started out in NYC (the passenger record does not indicate Lapio so not sure about that?), then Pasqulae was in Providence, RI as a barber and finally ended up in Attleboro, MA.
Hope this helps!!
susan
LikeLike
thank you again, Susan.
I need to digest all of what you sent.
I got most of my info from the Ellis Island website back in 2001 where they provide a digital copy of the manifest page indicating his place of birth is listed as Lapio. Before uncovering that info most of the family were under the impression Pasquale’s place of birth was Naples. The manifest cleared that up.
again, thank you.
DALE
LikeLike
You are very welcome. Let me know if you would like me to delete the tree link since it gives more info about your family.
Pasquale’s marriage record does indicate Casacalenda as Pasquale’s birthplace, along with looking at all the supporting documents in the tree I found, so I’m pretty sure that’s where he was born .
I often see records listing Naples as place of birth since when that was the port where their ship departed and it’s also a well known place in Italy vs a small Italian village. I was surprised to see Casacalenda listed on Pasquale’s marriage record (although it is listed as Casa Calenda).
My guess is either the passenger record you found was for another Pasquale Zarrella or perhaps Pasquale stopped in Lapio to work there for a while on his way to Naples and the place listed on the passenger record was last place of residence.
LikeLike
GD MORNING , SUSAN.
Tks for you new input. I could not obtain the “family tree” doc you mentioned as I do not have an account. I’m assuming this is a .pdf file that is only obtainable from Ancestry, correct ?
in regards to Pasquale’s birth place being Lapio, I determined this to be credible since it is entered on what is considered a government immigration document. He came to the US sponsored by another family (Zito) at 10 yrs old. this was confirmed by my eldest Uncle Armando years ago. (He passed several years ago.)
Dale
LikeLike
Hi Dale,
I found the passenger record (ship Bolivia) – passenger Pasquale Zarella – age 11. The record states last residence Lapio and that he was joining relative: father, Angelantonio – Endicott St, Boston.
I did a search in the Lapio records. I checked the indexes for births in Lapio from 1880-1895. The only Pasquale Zarrella (or similar name) born during that time period was a Pasquale born in 1893 to an Ippolito Zarrella. This Pasquale died a month later.
Maybe Pasquale was staying in Lapio with cousins (last residence) before heading to the US… making it his last residence.
The family tree I linked is a tree on Ancestry. It’s not a pdf file. It’s a public tree and available for viewing with an Ancestry account. You could sign up with Ancestry for a free 14 day trial to look at the tree … just make sure to cancel before the 14th day! The tree has numerous documents linked to it, all matching your family.
Family genealogy is a fun mystery to solve! I wish you luck!
susan
LikeLike
hi i just came across this blog and was wondering if dominic giglio is still around im very interested to find out more about the melchionno’s owning an old castle in lapio. i believe that is where my great grandfather was born.
thanks
LikeLike
Hello, I am Louise DeLuca. My grandfather, Joseph Caprio was born in Lapio, im guessing some time around 1900. He married Louise Dellio and they had 4 children born in Everett Ma, Frank Caprio, Ralph Caprio, Carmella (my mother) Caprio-DeLuca and Annette (chickie) Caprio-Bono. I do not know a lot of the history of when he came to US, but can find out. My grandfather had two sisters Carmella and Frances. I know we still have Caprio family in Lapio.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Louse i’m Theresa Lepore and i live in Lapio. I know all story of your grandfather and i was plesuare to met your grandmother Luisa in Stoneahm to Chickie Bono. You did a mistake because your grandfather Joso had another sister: Mariannina. Mariannina was the first sister and she arrived for first in USA and called all the family in USA. Mariannina is my grand grand mother and i know all the story. I know all the family names, my father, my grand mother lived togheter in Everett with ancle Joso. I knew Anti Carmella and we have relations with her daughters, i know Chickie Bono and all her family, i met Ralph and the other brother. Everybody all this big family came visit Lapio and Stayed with my family. My grand grand mother lived in Everett for a period after she came back to Italy, after my grand mother and my father came back to Everett toghter my grand grand mother. My grand grand father Luigi Moccia that bring all the family in USA Died in Everett and stay in Everett cimitery. I know your Surname and i remember that your mother Died before we came in 1988 Year. I stayed last time in Everett past Christmas and i visited your cousin Louse (Chickie daughter) and other relatives of Capio Family.
LikeLike
Dear Louise you did a mistake. Your grandfather Joso was another sister: the biggest and she called Mariannina, my grand grand mother. I know all story of Caprio fsmily and i met anti Louise in Stoneham to Chickie Bono family. I knew all family, anti Carmella, Ralph, Carmella daughters. Everybody came to visit Us in Lapio. My family lived in Everett all toghter. My father lived with your grand father for a period. You have to know that the first person that arrived in USA was my grand grand father Luigi Moccia. He called my grand grand mother Marianna and after she called all the Caprio Family. I stayed past Christmas in Everett and visited all the family Caprio. My name is Theresa Lepore. I live in Lapio. My e mail is t.lepore@studioalaia.it
LikeLike
Dear Louise i’m Theresa Lepore i live in Lapio and my grand grand mother Marianna was another sister of ancle Joso. Your ancle arrived in USA after my grand grand mother called him and all the family. The first person that arrived in USA (ellis island) was my grand grsnd father Luigi Moccia, after He called Marianna his girlfriend and she called all the family. Me, my father know all the family. I met anti Louisa, Anti Carmella, Ralph, Frankie and Chickie Bono. I met them past Chistmas. Everybody came in italy to visit my family. I know all the history. My email is: t.lepore@studioalaia.it
LikeLike
Hi Louise De Luca. I’m Trisa Lepore and i live in Lapio. Reading your message i understud that you spoke about people of our family. You spoke about ancle Joseph. He had 3 sisters and not 2. The first sister called Mariannina and she was ther first person in Caprio family that arrived to Everett i think more or less in 1913-1914. I don’t know. She called every Caprio Family. I know all the story. Mariannina arrived in Everett because called from Luigi Moccia her boy-friend. Mariannina is my great grand mother. After she came back to italy but after 20 years with all the family came back in Everett (1954). My father lived some period to your grand father. After Mariannina and all family came back to Italy in 1970. I knew all people of Caprio family: anti Carmella and her daughters Lilly and Cickie Lucci, Anti Louise and her daughter Cickie Bono, her doms Ralph and Frank. When i came in USA in 1988 i met them and i remember a picture of your mother Died to Anti Carmella home. Past christmas i came and visit lucci family and bono family. Everybody came to visit Us, your grand father Joseph too. My father knows all the story and dated if all people of Caprio Family. If you want speak with me my e mail is: t.lepore@studioalaia.it.
LikeLike
hello. I’m a distant relative of yours. I am building the tree of my family. your grandmother is definitely in this tree. the father of your grandmother (Gennaro Romano) was a brother to my great(2)-grandfather. I’m Amerino Romano. my email: info@romanonicola.com. bye
LikeLike
Hello, My grandparents were both born in Lapio (grandfather = Michael Trodella (1896), grandmother = Rose Costanza (1902). They were married and emigrated to Massachusettes where they lived in Stoneham. I am going to travel to Lipio this year and am looking forward to finding some of my relatives living there. It sounds like a wonderful place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have read with interest all your past posts. Having done extensive research on relatives from Lapio, I may be able to give some of your followers information for their family trees. jcelata@verizon.net
Jim
LikeLike
Thanks Jim!!
LikeLike
Hello. I am related to Jim Celata. He helped me find about 50 relatives (decendents of my grandmother (Costanza) and my grandfather (Trodella) in Lapio this spring. My family and I visited and they just could not have been nicer – giving us a tour, showing us the homes of my grandparents and the church where they were married. After the tour, they threw an amazing 17 course meal with the amazing Fianno di Avellino and Taurasi wines (from the region) for us, complete with slide show made just for my family and gifts. It was a magical day. Lapio is a magical place. I do hope you are able to visit sometime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, how are you, my name is Giuseppe De Angelis, from New York, I was born in Avellino Italy, my grandparents was from Lapio. My grandfather is last name was Carbone Giuseppe, his father Giovanni Carbone, came from Boston MA. You can reach me at 917 770 8728
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Giuseppe,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comment. I am busy working right now (winter job) but once spring comes, I will check on my family relatives as I am sure we are related somehow and contact you.
LikeLike
Hi, I am not sure if this blog is still active or not but I found it shocking, in a good way, when I saw the photo of your great grandparents. I have the exact same photo in my house only because my great grandmother (Giuseppa Romano Lepore) is your great grandmothers older sister. I am wondering if you have any more old photos of the family? Most of ours were lost in fires in Chelsea MA. Hope I hear from you soon and thank you for the valuable info on Lapio, I hope to go there some day.
LikeLike
Hi Ryan! YES, I think we are related! How cool!! I will send you an email with more info. :)
LikeLike
Hi my ancestors were from Lapio. My great great Grandparents were Nicolangelo Simone and Emmanuela Iovanna. Nicolas parents were Severio Simone and Maria Giuseppe Iannino.
Nicolangelo and Emmanuela had alot of kids. The ones I do know are Giuseppe Simone (my great grandfather), Maria Carmella (Katie), Olympia Margherita and Nicholangelo. There were 2 more born in the US. Albert and Alfred.
Nicolangelo Sr was a Podiatrist.
Does anyone know anything about this family? Anything is appreciated
Thanks, Christi
LikeLike
Hi, My great grandmother was Teresa Romano, from Lapio. b. about 1883. Her parents were Orazio Romano & Filomena Carbone. She ended up in Lynn, Massachusetts. I’ve not been to Italy, but would love to go. If anyone here recognizes the names, I’d love to connect with you.
LikeLike
Hi Jeff,
Sorry for the delay in getting to your comment. My blog app does not seem to be alerting me for new comments. I think we definitely have common relatives from Lapio. The more I research, the more I am convinced we are all probably related to half the town! I’m still hoping to get to Lapio one day!
LikeLike
My great great Grand father, Pietro DiPesa was born there in 1852! He married my GG grandmother Angella Dellorfino (name?) from Chiusano di San Domenico, Provincia di Avellino and eventually moved to Massachusetts turn of the 20th century (1901 I think). I was born in Brockton myself and didn’t realize how much common history we all have from Avellino! Even Tony Soprano mentions his Avellino roots lol…
LikeLike
All my grandparents came from Lapio and Taurasi. They were the Melchionno”s and the Christoforo’s, some used Cristoforo, They all came to the US in the late 1800 s. There are a lot of Christoforo;s in Brazil, in the state of Parana,
Any family,s with these names there now ?
LikeLike
Hi Richard, so sorry for the delay in approving your comment & replying. I have a few Cristofaro (spelling from the Lapio records), di Cristofaro and Melchionno spouses married to some of my direct ancestors in my tree. We just may be related! I just did a google search and still see the names Cristofaro and Melchionno in Lapio today. Lapio is a pretty tiny place and it seems that most of us with roots there are related in some way to everyone else from there (at least back in the 1800s). I did not know about the Brazil connection! Thanks for the comment.
LikeLike
Ciao a tutti! I am in Italy as we speak for the first time enjoying the land of our people and I started researching Avellino, Lapio, and Chiusano di San Dominico because tomorrow I am going to Avellino to look for my family roots so by chance I came across your post! My name is Angelina Mottola and my family came to America and settled in the North End of Boston as well. Small world! Each one of my aunts and uncles came over at different times but my father came over in 1954. Our other family last name is Riccio. Maybe someone will know something who knows…I am so happy to find so many other people with similar stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ciao Angelina!
How wonderful that you are heading to Avellino tomorrow! Will you visit Lapio? I’m so excited for you and a little jealous.
I have a 6th great grandmother named Carmina Mottola and a 7th great grandmother named Angela Mottola (different lines). I’ve been finding that almost everyone in Lapio seemed to be related in some way. It’s a small place with a tiny population. I do not have any Riccio direct ancestors that I know of though. Good luck and I hope you will meet some relatives.
Have a fabulous time!!
susan
LikeLike
Buongiorno Susan! We will try to visit Lapio but I’m not sure exactly what we will do until we get there. It is definitely a learning experience to travel within Italy. Avellino is not as easily accessible to get to as other places I’ve been told. If I find information on the Mottola family I will keep you posted. And by the way I’ve been finding I agree that most of the people in those towns are related. I hope I am able to find some family. Fingers crossed!
LikeLike
🤞🤞🤞🤞
LikeLike