DeMarc

The DeMarc surname (and variants such as DeMarko and DiMarko), an Americanized version of the Italian surname Di Marco, is of Italian and possibly Spanish origin. Meaning “son of or descendant of Marco,” the surname was first found in Italy or northeast Sicily. It may have originated in Spain prior to 1400 and is possibly derived from the name of Pope Saint Marcellinus or Pope Saint Marcellus I – both of whom reigned near the beginning of the 4th century. It was popular for Italian families to name their children after the popular saints (such as Saint Mark) of the day.

The first mass migration of Italians began in the late 1870’s, when many uneducated rural peasants from poverty-stricken southern Italy (initially from around the city of Naples and then from the island of Sicily) began immigrating to the United States to seek improved economic conditions. A much smaller number of skilled workers and artisans came from the more industrialized northern half of Italy. Most departed from the ports of Naples or Palermo on the two to three week journey to the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Almost 80% of the initial immigrants (from 1876-1900) were men and teenage boys. Many were migrants who planned to return to Italy after saving enough money to start a business or purchase a farm. Eventually, about 25% may have returned to Italy (some made multiple trips to the United States) while others stayed on permanently to realize the American Dream. Those returning to Italy also brought new of prosperity in America and spurred others to make the trek.

Most of these immigrants, mostly poor farm workers back in rural Italy, found employment as unskilled urban laborers (rivaling the Irish) in such large cities as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Detroit, and Chicago. The Italian immigrants, most of which were devout Catholics, usually found immediate support by clustering in specific neighborhoods that often came to be referred to as “Little Italy.” The Italians were willing to work long hours for low wages and this caused severe strife with many in the “native” workforce.

From 1900 until the outbreak of the Great War (World War I) in 1914, an astonishing 2 million Italians immigrated to the United States. All told, from 1876 until 1924, a total of about 4.5 million Italians immigrated to the United States.

Our DeMarc ancestors were from the Caserta Province, Campania Region, of southern Italy. They came from small villages in the agricultural region to north of Naples. The 1920 U.S. Census shows a high concentration of DiMarco families in the New York-Pennsylvania area, but many others all over the country from Maine to California.

My earliest definitive record of our Demarc ancestors is Raffaele Di Marco – born and died in Italy and the father of our ancestor Marcellino “Charles” DeMarc. Charles DeMarc immigrated to the United States in 1903 and settled in western Pennsylvania. (See Charles DeMarc & Mary DeMatteo)

DeMatteo

The DeMatteo surname (and variants Mattei and Matteis), an Americanized version of the Italian surname Di Matteo, is of northern Italian origin. It’s pronounced “dee-ma-tay-oh” and is derived from the personal name Matteo, which is the Italian version of the English name Matthew. Matteo may ultimately come from a Hebrew name that means “Gift of God.” Di Matteo literally means “son of or descendant of Matteo.” The distinguished surname can be traced back to the mountainous area around the city of Turin in the Piedmont Region of northwest Italy.

There were very few Italian immigrants to America prior to 1870. The first mass migration of Italians began in the late 1870’s, when many uneducated rural peasants from poverty-stricken southern Italy began immigrating to the United States to seek improved economic conditions. All told, from 1876 until 1924, a total of about 4.5 million Italians immigrated to the United States.

Our DeMatteo ancestors were from the Caserta Province, Campania Region, of southern Italy. They came from the small villages in the agricultural region to north of Naples.

My earliest definitive record of our DeMatteo ancestors is Luigi Di Matteo – born and died in Italy and the father of our ancestor Domenica “Mary” DeMatteo. Mary DeMatteo immigrated to United States in 1906 and settled in western Pennsylvania. (See Charles DeMarc & Mary DeMatteo)

DeGeorgia

The DeGeorgia surname, pronounced “dee-jor-jah,” is an Americanized version of the Italian surname Di Georgia. The surname is derived from the personal name Georgia, which is the feminine Italian version of the English name George, and literally means “son of or descendant of Georgia.” It is a popular Italian surname but its exact origin is unknown.

The first mass migration of Italians began in the late 1870’s, when many uneducated rural peasants from poverty-stricken southern Italy (initially from around the city of Naples and then from the island of Sicily) began immigrating to the United States to seek improved economic conditions.

Our DeGeorgia ancestors were from the Caserta Province, Campania Region, of southern Italy. They came from small villages in the agricultural region to north of Naples. The 1920 U.S. Census shows about three DiGeorgia families living in New York or Connecticut.

My earliest definitive record of our DeGeorgia ancestors is Rosa Di Georgia – born and died in Italy and the mother of our ancestor Domenica “Mary” DeMatteo. Mary DeMatteo immigrated to United States in 1906 and settled in western Pennsylvania. (See Charles DeMarc & Mary DeMatteo)