Every Saturday I discuss one surname. I will talk about the people in my family who belong to this name and the places they have lived. If you happen to have one of these surnames in your family tree please, please, please, let me know in the comments! As a genealogist I am always eager to hear about new potential relatives! This week I am discussing the surname ‘Rapisarda’. It is the maiden name of my Nonna on my paternal side. It has its roots deeply embedded in Ramacca, a town in the province of Catania, which I discussed in Those Places Thursday: Ramacca, A Beautiful Small Town. The earliest ancestor that I have been able to find with the Rapisarda name is Simone Rapisarda, who was born in the 1700s. He was married to a Lucia (unknown maiden name). His son was Francesco Rapisarda who was born in 1807 and died 15 JAN 1867 in Ramacca. This is a very early time to be a resident of Ramacca. In 1861 there were only 1981 people living in Ramacca.
Rapisarda Pedigree Chart
One of the most notable family members in the Rapisarda family tree is Francesco Rapisarda who was born on 19th December 1887 in Ramacca, Catania, Sicily, Italy. For a longer post on him check out my Ramacca post. He married Giuseppa Oglialoro on the 18th of September 1912 in Ramacca. He was a farm labourer. He also visited the United States. According to his son, his plan was live in America. He left from the port of Messina on the ship San Giovanni. (Pictured below.) On the 30th of September 1913 he arrived in New York . Francesco stayed for one year before the war started. He stayed with a cousin who lived in Ohio, Cleveland who was named Salvatore Privitera and lived at the address 1991 East 126th Street Cleveland Ohio.Franceso Rapisarda also served between 1916-1918 in the first world war.
San Giovanni
An Extract of the San Giovanni Ship Manifest. Francesco was 25 years old at the time of travel, married to Giuseppa Oglialoro. He had a dark complexion, and chestnut coloured eyes and hair. He was 5 ft 3 inches.
Francesco Rapisarda 1887 – 1943
You can view all of their marriage, and birth records at FamilySearch by clicking on the image below:
On the 5th of July, 1943, Ramacca was showered by bombs from the Allied forces (Americans specifically). Giuseppa and Francesco hid their children underneath the staircase in their house to protect them. During this time Francesco went outside to help their cousin Lucia Librizi who had 2 children one around 3 years old and one who was around 6moths. Hee tried to save them to bring them inside for shelter but this is when the bomb went off. The mother and her six month old son who she held in her arms died along with Francecso, but Francesca the daughter of Lucia survived and later immigrated to Australia .There is a memorial plaque in the Commune of Ramacca. It lists all of the people who died on that day. Giuseppa Oglialoro is mistakenly listed. She didn’t die until 1968. Francesco is now buried alongside his wife, daughter Giovanna and Giovanna’s husband in Ramacca’s Cemetery. Note: Many thanks to my Nonna’s brother, son of Francesco Rapisarda, who gave me the facts of his death and told me of his involvement in the world war. I would not know these things without him. 
My dad always told me that the first “Rapisarda” were coming from Biancavilla in the province of Catania
Hi Zio 🙂 That’s interesting that he told you that they came from Biancavilla. Perhaps they did a really long time ago? I have records that show that Francesco’s father at least came from Ramacca. This is the marriage record for Salvatore Rapisarda and Giovanna Muri. (Francesco’s parents) Here is the link: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-26519-26103-29?cc=1493344&wc=M997-9HN:n1034985665 It is in Latin because it’s a catholic church record. I can’t seem to find the records that go further back, but I must have seen them at some point because I have them in my family tree. This is what I know about the Rapisarda family: http://oi62.tinypic.com/346az4h.jpg BUT I will start to look to see if there are Rapisarda’s in Biancavilla. Maybe they were originally from there 🙂 Thank you.
Our family came here with Anthony Rapisarda, lived in Cleveland ohio, maybe we are a connection…Francesco looks quite similar to my photos of Anthony.
Hi Joséphine,
I live in France. My origins are from Valguarnera, Sicily too.
I do research about my family too and I wonder if the Oglialoro from Ramacca and Valguarnera are relatives.
Do you know something about it?
Thank you. If you have an answer, or just want to contact me, I’ll be glad. You have my e-mail.
Patricia
Every so often I like to Google my family’s Surnames just to see what I can find. Your article popped up! My grandmother, Archangela Stagno was from a town called Delia in the provence of Caltanessetta, Sicily. She was born about 1880 or so. From what I’ve been told she had reddish hair and beautiful grayish eyes. She also had about 5 brothers. She ended up in Niagara Falls, NY. Any info. You have about this family would be greatly appreciated
Hello I am in Aderno, Sicily Catania Italy visiting from America and am researching my family history. My Ancestor Alfio Rapisarda was born in Aderno, Sicily 1895 amd immigrated to Kings NY 1914 and his name got changed to Rapisardi which is my last name. Alfios Father was Cirino Rapisarda and Angelina D Amico. Your article is very interesting and wonder if we may be related, and if you have any more history about the Rapisarda surname and its meaning. If you get this comment while I am still here in Sicily that qould be great because it would really help my search of the municipal records. Ciao!