What’s in a Name?

The Curious Case of Italian Name Changes in the U.S.: From Brigandi to “Breprandie”

Immigrating to a new country isn’t easy—just ask the Italian families who crossed the Atlantic in search of opportunity only to have their names thrown into a linguistic blender. For families like the Brigandis and Ferruccios, arriving in the United States meant not just adapting to a new culture but also to new versions of their own names. And let’s be honest—some of these changes are nothing short of hilarious.

What’s in a Name? The Brigandi Saga


My sisters and I grew up hearing stories that our family name had been mysteriously changed upon arriving in America (cue the “mafia wink”). While that wasn’t exactly true, the Brigandi surname certainly came with its own colorful history. In Italian, “Brigandi” translates to “robber,” “ruffian,” or even “brigand”—quite the bold reputation for a family name. Unsurprisingly, this led to a bit of confusion at Ellis Island and in official records.

Their name was misspelled only a handful of times on official documents, though the variations range from logical to downright puzzling. Among the most creative? Breprandie—a spelling so off-course you can almost hear a harried census taker muttering, “Close enough.” More straightforward errors, like Brigand, made it look like the family was auditioning for a Wild West outlaw gang.

When it came to first names, though, the family opted for a softer landing. Guiseppe, for example, became the more American-friendly Joseph. Assimilation was the name of the game, even if it meant watering down a bit of Old World flair.

The Many Faces of Ferruccio

The Ferruccio family, on the other hand, did not have the same luck with consistency. Their surname morphed so many times that tracing their genealogy has been a puzzle worthy of a detective novel. Depending on who was taking the notes, where, and how tired they were, Ferruccio became:

  • Farico
  • Farrucca
  • Farucio
  • Ferucia
  • Ferrieccio
  • Ferruci
  • Ferucie
  • Ferrutcha
  • Fruiceo

One can only imagine the poor clerk trying to sound this out with a fountain pen in hand: “Wait, how many R’s and C’s again?

Of course, these names all lead back to the same proud Sicilian family. But these spelling adventures make modern genealogical research feel like you’re solving the Da Vinci Code.

The First Name Shuffle: Old World to New

First names weren’t immune to the renaming frenzy, either. While last names were often butchered accidentally, first names were deliberately altered to better fit into American culture. Italian immigrants understood that a name like “Guiseppe” might raise a few eyebrows in their new neighborhoods. The result? A wave of streamlined, Anglicized names.

Vanera became Fanny (a bold choice, let’s be honest).

Maria transformed into Mary—a classic American swap.

Francesca and Francesco morphed into the more familiar Frances and Frank, respectively.

Antonina, a name dripping with Italian charm, was shortened to the casual and friendly Annie.

• And, of course, Antonio became Tony, the ultimate Italian-American nickname.

While these changes made life easier in America, they also reflected a bittersweet loss of cultural identity. Names, after all, carry history, family pride, and a sense of belonging. Changing them was a sacrifice many immigrants made to blend in.

Why Names Were Changed

The reasons behind these alterations were a mix of miscommunication, practicality, and an attempt to avoid prejudice:

1. Language Barriers

Many Italian names were tough for English-speaking officials to pronounce or spell. When faced with a name like Ferruccio, they often guessed or wrote it phonetically.

2. Assimilation

Immigrants themselves sometimes changed their names intentionally to fit in. A simplified name made it easier to find work, gain acceptance, and avoid discrimination.

3. Clerical Errors

With millions of immigrants passing through ports like Ellis Island, clerks worked quickly, and mistakes were inevitable. In most recent history the misfortune of COVID-19 shutdowns lead many bored genealogists to help transcribe historical records. Census taker handwriting sometimes being suspect, many transcriptions fell victim to additional errors.

A Name Is More Than Letters

While some of these name changes are amusing, they’re also a reminder of the challenges faced by immigrant families. For the Brigandis and Ferruccios, their names—and the stories behind them—are a testament to their resilience and adaptability. Today, their descendants can look back and laugh at the creative spelling variations while cherishing the legacy of their original names.

So whether you’re a Breprandie or a Ferrieccio, these quirks in family history are worth celebrating. After all, every name—misspelled or not—has a story to tell.