Home
Surname List
Name Index
Sources
Gedcom File
Email Us

Seventh Generation


120. Photo Giuseppe Antonio GRAZIANI57,60,123,124,238,239,240 was born on 10 Jun 1754 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.241 He was baptized on 10 Jun 1754 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.241 He died on 12 Jun 1817 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.230,242

Una nota sobre la ortografía del apellido [English follows]:

Según Isabel BESTEIRO GRACCIANI -- bisnieta de Romano GRAZIANI -- "originalmente nuestro apellido se escribía con dos zetas, pero lo españolizaron debido a las equivocaciones que con frecuencia surgían en documentos legales con los trastornos consecuentes, se escribió con dos ces o sea GRACCIANI y más tarde se le quitó una c por el mismo motivo" (1975).

Esperanza GRACIANI CASTILLA, bisnieta de Flavio GRAZIANI, dijo que "No hay ninguna duda, la ortografía original era con dos zetas."

Después de mis investigaciones no creo más en esta teoría. Sin embargo, es cierto que en el siglo XIX se usaron consonantes dobles, ZZ y también CC. Según Isabel BESTEIRO, "El abuelo [Francisco GRACIANI PASTOR] se firmaba en sus obras F. GRAZZIANI." Esperanza GRACIANI nota que su padre y sus tíos y también su abuelo, usaron GRAZZIANI. Actualmente (2003) los hijos de Esperanza usan MARTÍNEZ GRAZZIANI.

De los hijos de Victorina GRACIANI LORENZO, nieta de Romano, Domingo (1883), Josefa (1884) y Emilio (1886) son inscritos en sus actos de nacimiento, como "GRACIANI," mientras Jorge (1889) e Isabel (1896) son "GRACCIANI". En los padrones de 1890 y 1895 todos están inscritos como GRACCIANI, y en 1905 como GRACIANI (todavía falta investigar el padrón de 1900). Las familias de los hijos de Flavio - Domingo y Manuel - son inscritos en los padrones como GRACIANI MARTíN.

Lo que si está claro ahora es que en Italia se usaron GRAZIANI (y, antes de 1700, GRATIANI).

A note about the spelling of the surname:

Isabel BESTEIRO GRACCIANI -- a great-granddaughter of Romano GRAZIANI -- wrote in 1975 that originally the name was spelled with two z's, but to make it Spanish and in order to avoid consequences on legal documents, it was written with two c's, that is GRACCIANI, and later they took off a c for the same reason."

Esperanza GRACIANI CASTILLA -- a great-granddaughter of Flavio GRAZIANI -- and whose father spelled his name GRAZZIANI wrote, "there is no doubt that the name was originally spelled with two z's."

I no longer believe this theory. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that double consonants -- both ZZ and CC - were used in the 19th century. According to Isabel BESTEIRO GRACIANI, her grandfather signed his name "F. GRAZZIANI," and Esperanza GRACIANI CASTILLA notes that not only her father, but also his siblings and his father, spelled their names GRAZZIANI. Despite the spelling of her name, her children now spell their name MARTÍNEZ GRAZZIANI.

Although all of her children used BESTEIRO GRACCIANI as their personal spelling of choice, the spelling change seems to have begun in the late 1880s: on their birth certificates, Domingo (1883), Josefa (1884), and Emilo (1886), are listed as "GRACIANI," whereas Jorge (1889) and Isabel (1896) are listed as "GRACCIANI." In the 1890 and 1895 Madrid censuses all are listed as GRACCIANI, and in 1905 as GRACIANI (the 1900 census is yet to be investigated). In the Madrid censuses of the time, the families of Flavio's sons - Domingo and Manuel - were spelled GRACIANI MARTÍN.

What is now clear is that in Italy the name was spelled GRAZIANI (and before approximately 1700, GRATIANI).. Giuseppe Antonio GRAZIANI and Maria Lucia MARCHI were married on 29 Sep 1783 in Villa a Roggio, Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.230,243

121. Photo Maria Lucia MARCHI was born on 24 Sep 1756 in Villa a Roggio, Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.230,244 She died on 28 Mar 1809 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.245 Children were:

i.

Maria Teresa GRAZIANI230 was born on 8 Jul 1784 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.246 She was baptized on 8 Jul 1784 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.246 She died between 1830 and 1836. Was in 1824 census but not 1936 census. Not found in death records, searched until 1830. Possibly moved elsewhere and lived past 1836 but unlikely.

ii.

Maria Maddalena GRAZIANI230 was born on 28 Oct 1785 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.247 She was born at 10 AM. She was baptized on 28 Oct 1785 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.247 She died after 1836.230 Still living in the family home as of the 1836 census. Did not examine death records after 1836.

60

iii.

Romano GRAZIANI.

iv.

Olimpia Paolina GRAZIANI was born on 13 Jul 1791 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.248 Nata le ore 3; born at 3 AM. She was baptized on 13 Jul 1791 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.248 She died on 11 Mar 1793 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.249

v.

Photo Agata Olimpia GRAZIANI was born on 5 Feb 1795 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.250 Nata circa le ore 12 (born about noon). She was baptized on 5 Feb 1795 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.250,251 Instead of being baptized in the parish church of Pescaglia, as was the norm, Agata was baptized in Villabuona. The Rector explains that she was "baptized by my permission - due to bad weather - in the Chapel of Villabuona." Fu battezzata –per il tempo cattivo- nell’Oratorio di Villabuona.

Antonio Graciani Vázquez's 1978 note to his nephew Ramón Graciani Ruiz says that Flavio was born in "Vilabona." There is no indication of that on Flavio's baptismal certificate. Fortunately, there is one document - this baptism - that ties the Graziani siblings to Villabuona as opposed to the other areas of the parish of Pescaglia.

She died on 18 Jan 1796 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.252

vi.

Photo Flavio GRAZIANI238,253,254 was born on 1 Feb 1797 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.251,255,256

Una nota de Antonio GRACIANI VÁZQUEZ a Ramón GRACIANI RUIZ en 1978 nota que Flavio era "natural de Vilabona, provincia de Lucca (Italia)." Villabuona es parte de Pescaglia, comunidad donde se registró su bautismo. Como una hermana fue bautizada en Villabuona (a causa de mal tiempo), es casi seguro que Flavio nació allí también). Nació a las 21 horas.

According to a 1978 note from Antonio GRACIANI VÁZQUEZ to Ramón GRACIANI RUIZ, Flavio was born in "Vilabona, provincia de Lucca (Italia)". Villabuona is part of the parish of Pescaglia, where his baptism record is found. As one of his sisters was baptized in Villabuona (due to bad weather), it is pretty certain that Flavio was born here as well. He was born at 9 PM.

He was baptized on 2 Feb 1797 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.256 He immigrated between 1815 and 1827 to Spain.238,253,255

Era refugiado político de Italia, probablemente revolucionario de izquierda. Vino con unos hermanos y/o primos. Según la tradición oral de Esperanza GRACIANI CASTILLA, llegó c. 1820-1830 con 3 hermanos (de los cuatro, dos fueron inmediatamente a las Americas). Ramón GRACIANI RUIZ piensa que vino con un primo. Según la información de 2006, es casi seguro que vino con su [único] hermano Romano; no hay ninguna indicación de ningún primo.

Domingo GRACIANI MARTÍN, hijo de Flavio, nació en 1828, así que llegó antes de este año.

According to family lore, Flavio was a revolutionary of the left, a refugee from one of the Italian revolutions in the 1820-1830 time frame. Esperanza GRACIANI CASTILLA said in her branch of the family it was believed he was one of 4 brothers, of whom 2 went to the Americas and 2 stayed in Spain. Ramón GRACIANI RUIZ believed he came with a cousin. As of now (2006) the only two we know that went to Spain were Flavio and his [only] brother Romano.

Flavio's son Domingo was born in 1828, so he would have arrived by then.

vii.

Mª Irene GRAZIANI230,257,258 was born on 12 Jun 1801 in Pescaglia [Villabuona], Lucca, Toscana, Italy.258 She was baptized on 13 Jun 1801 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.258 She died on 21 Apr 1802 in Pescaglia, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.259