His last name is Zingo but his father was Restivo and mother was Scaluigi - what gives?

Question

I have the death record for a Giuseppe Zingo, born in Italy c. 1880 and died in Baltimore in 1918. His death certificate, completed by his brother-in-law, gives his father's name ad Giuseppe Restivo and his mother's name as Filippa Scaluigi (I think - it is difficult to read the handwriting)

I am curious about his seemingly unrelated surname. If his father and mother were never married, wouldn't he have used his mother's surname, if he wasn't entitled to use his father's surname?

Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Such a mix of names suggests to me that his brother-in-law was using stage names to describe the parentage. I think you will find that they were married if they were Italian as they are likely to have been of the Roman Catholic faith.

If he has a b-in-l then he also had a sister. It seems likely that her family also lived in Baltimore. Possibly her family has the information you seek.

Comments

"If he had a brother in law, he also had a sister"

Or his wife had a brother.

Margaret

Answer 2

Probably he changed his name to arrive in the U.S., starting from the port of Santos, in Brasil.

There are a couple of immigrants who arrive here on July 25, 1891, the ship Rosario, Giuseppo Restibo aged 35 (so born 1856) and his wife Filippa, 35.

No progeny registered in Brazil for this couple.

See: http://www.museudaimigracao.org.br/acervodigital/livrodetalhe.php?livro=027&pagina=258&familia=04692
 

After death, the family should have honored the tradition and rescued the true name of the deceased.

Answer 3

From what I was told Guisippe Zingo was the son of Guisippe Ristivo, a Priest,  who married a women whose last name was Zingo.  Because of the scandle,  they took the woman's last name.  They did not come to America but the son, Guisippe Zingo, came to American with his wife Rosina (Rose) in 1909.