BLANDINI FAMILY TREE
The surname Blandini is derived from the Roman cognomen Blandinus from Ancient Rome. The earliest use of this surname was a Roman inscription left by a Roman soldier named Flavius Blandinus, in Roman Britain's Lydney Park and dating back to the 3rd century AD:
D(eo) M(arti) Nodonti Flavius Blandinus armatura v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)
(To the god Mars Nodons, Flavius Blandinus, weapon-instructor, gladly and deservedly fulfilled his vow).
However, In Italy, surnames began to be used between the 13th and 14th century. The earliest known record of Blandino in Sicily dates back to 1141, with a Benedictine monk from the city of Catania, named Blandino. He was the writer who documented the life of Saint Agatha, the most venerated saint and martyr from Catania and one of the most revered figures in the Catholic Church since Roman times. The family name Blandino seems to be native of Sicily, where it is mostly found according to this map:
896 Blandino families are found in Italy today, 448 are in the island of Sicily
The earliest record of this family clan in the town of Pietraperzia, a declaration of possessions and assets from 1593, shows the family name as 'Brandino,' with the letter 'r' pronounced as 'l,' a common feature in the Sicilian language.
However, before 1758, the surname of this family was written as Blandino, directly derived from the Latin Blandinus. In fact, the transformation of the Latin suffix -us into the Italian vowel -o is part of a broader process of phonological evolution from Latin to the Romance languages, particularly in the development of Italian.
This family clan lived in Pietraperzia at least since 1500, even though the family likely lived there long before. Additionally, a transcription error likely occurred in 1758 at the birth of Rosario Blandini, son of Michele Blandino and Emma Prudenza, possibly due to the fact that Michele's parents, Francesco Blandino and Rosaria Alù, were not married, and their son Michele was likely raised by someone else unfamiliar with the correct spelling, as Blandini started to become more common at the time. Upon his death in 1777, Michele was recorded with both of his parents' surnames as Michele Alù et Blandino, reflecting the names of his mother, Rosaria Alù, and father, Francesco Blandino. After 1777, all of his descendants were recorded as Blandini.
The Genealogy of Richard Blandini's Paternal Lineage
from the town of Pietraperzia
Location of Pietraperzia in the map of Sicily
The Cathedral of Pietraperzia, XVI century, which houses all church records.
We know that some members of this family were already living in Pietraperzia in the 1500s, possibly even earlier. However, the documented patriarch of this clan is Giuseppe Blandino, born in the first half of 1500.
GIUSEPPE BLANDINO (1530 - )
The only information we have about him is found in the record of possessions and properties declared by his son Alfio Blandino in 1593. Master Don Giuseppe Blandino is listed as his father.
ALFIO BLANDINO (1565 - 1611)
The earliest record of this family goes back to the year 1593, in the asset inventories of Alfio Blandino, 28 years old, the son of Master Don Giuseppe Blandino, Richard's 11th great grandfather. In that year, Alfio lived with his first wife Filippa, and his children Filippo, 6 years old, and Paolina. From the record, we also know their house was located at "A Funtana", a neighborhood on the border between Pietraperzia and the road that today leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Cava. which I consider very interesting given that not only did I ascertain that most of the Blandini families of Pietraperzia lived in that neighborhood, but also because that is the road that leads to our current country house. Besides his house, Alfio also owned a donkey, valued at the price of five onze.
"A Funtana" meaning "fountain" in Sicilian, is also commonly known today as "U Canali". This area of Pietraperzia is still referred to by that name today, where the house of Alfio Blandino was located in 1593.
Interestingly, most of the other Blandini families from Pietraperzia lived in the same neighborhood, as attested in other records from the same period, suggesting that they were all members of the same clan.
GIUSEPPE BLANDINO (1596 - 1659)
About him, we have two important information. First, from the record of his possessions and properties dated 1623, we know that his wife's name was Sebastiana. His 18 years old son Silvestro is also listed in the family status record. His house was located at the same address "A Funtana" as his father, which likely was the same. We also have his death record, dated the year 1659.
SILVESTRO BLANDINO (1633 - 1676)
In 1639, from the Cathedral of Pietraperzia, we find the birth of Gabriella Bellomo, the daughter of Giacinto and Vincenza Bellomo, baptized on September 23.
On April 30, 1657, Gabriella married Silvestro Blandino. The absence of the birth record for Silvestro, who was born in about 1633, as well as the marriage and death records for his parents, initially seemed impossible to explain. After much research, I found a marriage record from 1666 for a different Giuseppe Blandino, son of Giuseppe. This led to the discovery that this branch of the Blandini family came from Modica, with Silvestro and later his younger brother Giuseppe relocating to Pietraperzia. It is possible, given their connections to the town, that the family had earlier roots in Pietraperzia, but there is no documentary evidence to confirm this.
Silvestro died on October 1, 1676. He was 45.
We find the assets inventory dated 1681, when Silvestro was already deceased. His wife Gabriella lived in a house located in the neighborhood of San Rocco, along with her children Michele, Antonino, Giuseppe, Francesca e Sebastiana.
Gabriella Bellomo died on February 5th, 1700. She was 61.
GIUSEPPE BLANDINO (1676 - 1717)
Silvestro and Gabriella had several children, including Giuseppe Biagio Blandino, who was baptized on January 13, 1676.
On September 14, 1682, Anna Maria, the daughter of Francesco and Francesca Tamburello, was baptized. Silvestro and Gabriella's son Giuseppe Blandini married Anna Maria Tamburello on September 9, 1698.
Giuseppe Blandini died on January 17, 1717 at the age of 41.
Anna Tamburello, widow of Giuseppe and mother of Francesco Blandini, passed away on September 6, 1759. Though her age was recorded as "about 80," she was actually 71. Age at death, as noted in these records, was often inaccurately estimated.
FRANCESCO BLANDINO (1704 - 1770)
On March 12, 1704, Francesco Filippo Felice Blandino, the son of Giuseppe and Anna Tamburello, was baptized. On October 18, 1712, Rosaria Maria Giovanna, daughter of Giuseppe and Francesca Alù, was baptized.
Francesco Blandini died on October 5, 1770.
MICHELE BLANDINO (1734 - 1775)
At this point, a significant detail must be clarified: Francesco Blandini and Rosaria Alù were not married. When their son, Michele Vincenzo, was born on March 30, 1734, he was recorded as *Michele Ignoti Parenti* (parents unknown) in the birth index of that year. His baptismal record, however, specifies that he was the son of Rosaria Alù and an unknown father. Professor Giovanni Culmone, an historian of Pietraperzia, unable to find a baptismal record for "Blandino Michael ex Francisco" or a marriage record for Francesco and Rosaria, mistakenly concluded that they were from outside Pietraperzia.
On February 13, 1735, after a carefree youth, Francesco Blandino married Giovanna Mancuso at the age of 31, leaving both Rosaria and their son Michele behind. Rosaria Alù died a few years later on August 17, 1742, at the age of 30, leaving eight-year-old Michele. We have no information about who cared for him after his mother's death. Some information written on Rosaria's death record suggests a suicide.
On August 13, 1752, Master Michele Blandino married Prudenzia Emma. His marriage record highlights his status as the natural son of Francesco Blandini, as the term "legitimate son" is omitted, since his parents were not legally married. Furthermore, Michele is recorded with his mother's surname, which would not have happened had Rosaria and Francesco been married. Prudenzia, on the other hand, is recorded as the legitimate and natural daughter of Don Domenico and Donna Filippa Emma. This marriage record is the only mention of Francesco as Michele’s father.
On November 12, 1775, Michele Blandini passed away. His death record lists his surname as "Alù et Blandino," referencing his mother's name while acknowledging his father only through the surname. The surname Blandini was then passed down to his children in its current form.
On May 2, 1778, Prudenzia Emma, now widowed, remarried Tommaso Cocci. She passed away on August 26, 1786.
ROSARIO BLANDINO (1750 - 1790)
On July 10, 1752, Rosaria Giovanna Vincenza Ruffina, daughter of Cosimo Di Natale (from an ancient family of craftsmen and sculptors) and Rosa Salvaggio, was baptized. On April 7, 1758, Rosario Francesco Paolo Gabriele Blandino, son of Michele Blandino and Prudenzia Emma, was baptized.
On August 25, 1777, Rosario, son of Michele Blandini and Prudenzia Emma, married Rosaria, daughter of Cosimo and Rosa Di Natale.
Interestingly, we find a document dated 1779 in which Don Rosario Blandini, 22 years as a member of the Third Order of a religious confraternity, appears as a witness to a statement made by a certain Rosario Nicoletti:
"Rosario Nicoletti, from the day he was born until the year fifteen, always lived in this (Pietraperzia) in a free state, without any marriage bond or religious vow. This is testified by the fact that he always practiced such a state with the aforementioned Nicoletti. It remains the obligation of the Reverend Vicar of Mazzarino to prove the free state of the aforementioned Don Nicoletti from the year fifteen onwards, during which Nicoletti stayed in Naples, as indicated in his letter dated Mazzarino, February 27, 1779."
In that year, Don Rosario Blandini had been married for two years to Donna Rosaria Di Natale.
MICHELE BLANDINI (1780 - 1832)
On March 15, 1780, Michele Giovanni Francesco, son of Rosario Blandini and Rosaria Di Natale, was baptized.
On December 10, 1805, Michele married Margherita Turino, daughter of Giuseppe Turino and Colomba Oddo. Carlo Turino, Margherita's grandfather came from the city of Palermo. We find some details about Michele in the birth record of his son Calogero, dated 1821. In that time Don Michele worked as a scribe. This job involved tasks related to writing, drafting, and managing official documents. At that time, a scribe could work for government offices, notaries, or other institutions that required the writing and preservation of legal documents, contracts, and administrative records. A "scribe" is more general and historical, while "clerk" refers to someone who handles documents or bureaucratic work in a more modern sense. In a document drafted two years later, Don Michele is simply described as a "landowner."
ROSARIO BLANDINI (1816 - 1863)
In 1816, Rosario Fortunato, son of Michele Blandini and Margherita Turino, was baptized. On 20 August 1848, Rosario married Donna Anna Bartoli, the daughter of Rocco Bartoli and Angela Miccichè. In their marriage certificate, Don Rosario Blandini is referred to as an "usher" and "landowner". In the 1800s, the titles "Don" and "Donna" were used as marks of respect for individuals of certain social status. Don Rosario Blandini was addressed as "Don" due to his noble standing, while his wife, Anna Bartoli, was referred to as "Donna," reflecting her respectability and position in society.
MICHELE BLANDINI (1859 - 1917)
Their son, Don Michele Blandini, was born on 10 February 1859 and baptized the same day. On March 8th, 1887, Michele married Caterina Giarrizzo, the daughter of Don Giovanni Giarrizzo and Donna Maria Calogera Candiano (an orphan). Donna Caterina Giarrizzo came from the noble Giarrizzo family, which had distinguished personalities over the centuries. Additionally, Donna Caterina was named after her grandmother, Donna Caterina Fiore, the daughter of the Neapolitan noblewoman Anna Maria Ghedini and Liborio Fiore, a surgeon from Pietraperzia in Naples.
Don Michele Blandini worked as a campiere, serving as the guardian of the fields. The role of the campiere in Sicily between the 1800s and 1900s was quite emblematic, as it represented a vital link between landowners and laborers. A campiere was responsible for overseeing agricultural activities, managing workers, and ensuring the efficient operation of the farms. Their position not only involved supervision but also required a deep understanding of agricultural practices and local customs. Additionally, some campiere became linked to organized crime, as their authority and influence in rural communities sometimes led to collaboration with the Mafia.
In the birth record of their son Giovanni, Don Michele Blandini is referred as a "landowner".
GIOVANNI BLANDINI (1899 - 1978)
Giovanni Blandini, Richard's grandfather, was born on October 17, 1899.
At a young age, Giovanni worked at the service of the King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele III.
Certificate issued in 1929 by the office of the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III (1900 - 1946), in favor of Giovanni Blandini, grandfather of Richard.
A few years later, following his brothers Rosario and Filippo, Giovanni Blandini became a police officer. When World War II broke out, he had to flee with his wife to the city of Palermo due to the bombings, where their firstborn, Michele, was born. After the war ended, the family returned to Pietraperzia, where their second son, Paolo, was born. Eventually, Giovanni moved with his family to Caltanissetta, where their youngest son, Attilio, was born, and where Giovanni began working as an employee at the INAIL office, the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work.
On 3 July 1941 he married Filippa Fede, a dressmaker also from Pietraperzia, descendant of the ancient Nicoletti family, a historic lineage of notaries.
Richard's great grandfather Don Michele Blandini
campiere, landowner and winemaker
1859-1917
Declaration of properties and possessions made by Alfio Blandino, Richard's 10th great grandfather
Pietraperzia, 1593
Church Baptism of Giuseppe Blandino
Richard's 7th great grandfather
Pietraperzia, 13 January 1676
Marshall Don Filippo Blandini
Police Detective
Richard's great uncle
Don Rosario Blandini,
Police Detective
Richard's great uncle
From left to right:
Marshall Filippo Blandini, his sister Angela and his older brother Giovanni Blandini, Richard's grandfather.
Year 1930 circa
The Blandini family tree can be traced back to the year 1500 through original church records (baptism, marriage, death) from the Catholic Church. Currently, a collection of 1.122 records about Blandini individuals are found in the archives.
All the Blandini individuals in the church records of the town of Pietraperzia, includes the following:
571 Baptism Records
133 Marriage Records
518 Death Records
Although church records started to exist after the Council of Trent (1545), the presence of other individuals with this family name is attested as early as 1400 in notary records and declaration of properties. This family boasts an ancient Catholic tradition, with at least 8 ecclesiastics who have been a pillar of the Christian community in the town of Pietraperzia:
Rev. Francesco Blandini (1621 - 1681), Catholic Presbyter and Vicar
Born in 1621, died on October 8, 1681. He was buried in the Cathedral of Pietraperzia.
Don Giuseppe Blandini (1650 - 1690), Franciscan Monk and Writer
He was highly praised for his preaching, captivating audiences from the pulpit. He traveled to several cities across Sicily, where he delivered sermons denouncing the dangers of voluptuousness and vice, which he considered poisonous to the soul. He led a truly philosophical life and, despite dying of old age, he was deeply mourned by many at the start of the 1600s.
Don Giacomo Blandini (1656 - 1691), Dominican Monk
Born on October 9, 1656, died on July 3, 1691. He was buried in the Cathedral of Pietraperzia.
Rev. Giacomo Blandini (1679 - 1741), Catholic Priest
Born on April 1, 1679, died on July 18, 1741. He was buried in the Monastery of San Domenico.
Don Raffaele Blandini ( - 1740), Franciscan Monk
Rev. Ludovico Blandini (1668 - 1749), Catholic Priest
Sister Caterina Blandini (1732 - 1775), Franciscan Nun
Born as Angela Blandini in 1732, she died on April 15, 1775, reputed for her holiness. She was buried to the left of the altar of San Silvestro the Pope in the Church of Santa Maria Santissima del Soccorso.
Rev. Filipponeri Blandini (1750 - 1838), Archpriest
Born on November 30, 1750, died on May 29, 1838. He was buried in the Cathedral of Pietraperzia.
Rev. Filipponeri Blandini (1750 - 1838) Archpriest
Original Portrait (1838) - Cathedral of Pietraperzia
(Click the button below to see the painting restoration)
Letterhead bearing the name of Filippo Neri Blandini in church records
Cathedral of Pietraperzia (1750-1848)
AI-generated image of the franciscan nun Caterina Blandini (1732 - 1755)
Death record of Caterina Blandini, Franciscan tertiary nun who died in the odor of sanctity and passed away on April 15, 1775. She was buried to the left of the Church of the Carmine's altar of St. Sylvester the Pope.
