I want to find out a little more about where my grandfather came from?

Question

I only met my grandfather like 3 times in my life, he's passed away now and this is all I know. He came from Italy with my great grandfather his name was Tristiano Falone but he got in trouble in Chicago supposedly and changed it...lol....(deep dark family secret)which i only recently found out so how do I go about finding more info on my ancestors?

Answer 1

The name is diffused in the Abruzzo region in Italy . Almost 70% of Falone come from  Pescara and Pescara Province (Pescara city, towns like Montesilvano and Penne, villages like Civita Aquana, Castel Castagna) Teramo and  Ancona

The given name is quite unusual, and should be Tristano (Tristan) and probably his parents loved opera or literature and had quite a culture (Tristan and Isolde, Wagner) or even Cristiano  (Christian): in that period  certificates were handwritten, so may be  someone confused  C and T.

You may find hints about his original town from papers or letters, or your parents memories (now you have some names to compare) and may be from the name he choose :usually when people change it they use some reference to their memory or past

Answer 2

I suppose he was baptised in Italy.  If he received any of the other sacraments, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage in the U.S., the church records probably will show the name and city of the parish where he was baptised.  In our Diocese, these registers are sent periodically to the Diocesan Chancery Office to be microfilmed.   This might be a resource.

Another good resource is the National Archives.   I have a friend whose mother came from Calabria and father from Sicily..

She has gone to the National Archives in Washington several times and she states she has found a wealth of information.  She stated when you first go there, you have to go through a lot of rigamarole to be registered and get a name tag.  Once you have your name tag, you just have it on when you go in.  She said there are volunteers to help you.

Another good free source is a Family History Center at a Latter Day Saints(Mormon) Church.  They have records on people all over the world, not just Mormons.

In Salt Lake City, they have the world's largest genealogical collection. Their Family History Centers can order microfilm for you to view at a nominal fee. Just call your nearest Mormon Church or visit there free website at FamilySearch.org to find their hours for the general public.

I have never had them to try and convert me or send their missionaries by to ring my doorbell.  I haven't heard of them doing that to anyone else that has used their resources.

Cyndi'sList.Com is a website with links to many websites, some free and some not, that can be helpful in genealogical research.