I've made feeble efforts to trace my stepdaughter's ancestry. Her paternal side, believed to be from Calabria, all immigrated to Utica NY from 1898 (apparently widowed 2nd ggm with son and his spouse) to the 1920's (paternal gf and then the other ggps). Surnames Scarpino, Mancusco, Lia, and unknown, plus a cousin line Brigano, many of the latter still in Calabria. So I would make some effort to take it back further if the opportunity offers.
Funny the remarks about cannoli. I'd assume that the variety made in North Boston is more authentic than the extremely different ones elsewhere in the USA.