Genealogy Chat

My grandfather was born Joseph Cardella in 1904. I've just bought his birth certificate and his parents were Joseph Cardella and Dorothy Ann Malcolm. I have searched Ancsetry BMDs for their marriage and found it in 1889, but Joseph's surname is now Cordelli. My mother has mentioned that the name was changed at some point to make it easier to pronounce. How can I find out if he made the name change official? Was it even possible to make it official back then? Also, I can't find any record of his birth, so he may have been the first Cardella/Cordelli from Italy. Where can I search for records of this?

Hmmmm.....He was born in Newcastle!! 1891: Dorothy Cardilly abt 1869 Quarrington, Durham, England Wife Coxhoe Durham Edward Cardilly abt 1891 Quarrington, Durham, England Son Coxhoe Durham Joseph Cardilly abt 1863 Newcastle Upon Tyne Head Coxhoe Durham Joseph was a coal miner. Merry

1901: Doratha A Cardella abt 1868 Durham, England Wife Westgate Durham Dorothy Cardella abt 1899 Newcastle Upon Tyne Daughter Westgate Durham Edward Cardella abt 1891 Durham, England Son Westgate Durham Elizabeth Cardella abt 1893 Durham, England Daughter Westgate Durham Ellen Cardella abt 1900 Newcastle Upon Tyne Daughter Westgate Durham Joseph Cardella abt 1863 Newcastle Upon Tyne Head Westgate Durham Coal miner again. Merry

Yes, you could change your name officially then - by deed poll, or whatever, but most probably did not (do it officially, I mean!) Merry

Which part of England were they living? There is one birth entry showing up for surname Cordelli - is she related to your family? Name: Mary Ellen Cordelli Year of Registration: 1894 Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep District: Easington County: Co. Durham Volume: 10a Page: 414 also this death - is it connected? Surname Cardella. Give you an idea that the name change happened at least as early as 1897. Name: Joseph Cardella Birth Date: abt 1897 Year of Registration: 1897 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec Age at death: 0 District: Newcastle Upon Tyne County: Northumberland Volume: 10b Page: 3

In 1881 he is a putter in a colliery and is boarding with a family named College. Joseph Cardelli abt 1864 Newcastle, Northumberland, England Boarder Haswell Durham Merry

But his dad was born in ITALY!!! 1871: James D Caradille abt 1862 Newcastle, Northumberland, England Son All Saints Northumberland Joseph Caradille abt 1864 Newcastle, Northumberland, England Son All Saints Northumberland Lusia C Caradille abt 1870 Newcastle, Northumberland, England Daughter All Saints Northumberland Mary Caradille abt 1839 Pelton Fell, Durham, England Wife All Saints Northumberland Mary E Caradille abt 1867 Newcastle, Northumberland, England Daughter All Saints Northumberland Michael Caradille abt 1834 Italy Head All Saints Northumberland Michael was a figure mould maker. Merry

1861: Mary Caradella abt 1839 Chester-le-Street, Durham, England Wife All Saints Northumberland Mary E Caradella abt 1860 Sunderland, Durham, England Daughter All Saints Northumberland Michael Caradella abt 1834 Italy Head All Saints Northumberland Guy Pelegrin abt 1811 Italy Boarder All Saints Northumberland Jane Pelegrin abt 1821 Scotland Boarder All Saints Northumberland Michael's occupation looks like, ''Whitening Figure W Image Maker'' Merry

I'm sure that one of the recent family tree magazines had an article about tracing Italian ancestors - I will have a look through them all when I get home and if I find anything, will let you know.

Merry - Thanks for all that. Forgot to mention we're all from Newcastle, so these results are great. Honestly never thought to check for more spellings beyond the two I had. Wonder which one is the proper spelling? We might have been getting it wrong for about a hundred and fifty years! Athena - If you can find that magazine, it might come in useful. I'd really like to know about the Italian side of my family.

Athena - You were on to something with that Joseph Cardella who died in 1897. I looked up his birth and found a twin, James Dominic, both born in Q3 1897. James died in Q3 1897, while Joseph survived to Q4. Once I mentioned this to my mother, she remembered all about them! If you hadn't found them, I might never have. Thanks.