Frank, I found the info regarding the different spellings very interesting.
My dad has a plaque of our original name and it is De Spuches. (it is like a coat of arms, and is on the front door of his house).
The story I have of how our name changed over to Spucces is that my Uncle Nino who came thru Ellis Island in the early 50's from Sicily, had the name shortened to Spucches, eventually the "h" was dropped and it ended up being Spucces.
We are originally from Astoria and Jackson Hts. New York, and have been in San Diego for the past 14 years.
The correct pronunciation is "SpooChez", but the common pronunciation (indeed this is how I pronounce my name, "Americanized" if you wish, LOL!) is "SpewSees".
I am sure we are all related one way or another, this is NOT a common name, no matter what the spelling.
My dad's family is mostly from Palermo, but we do have some relatives from around Agrigento and Catania.
I have been to Sicily and seen the castle and street with our name. My dad told me that in the 1700's and 1800's our family was quite wealthy and high ranking, and said there was a baron or two in our ancestry.
Alas, by the time he was born, the family money and "prestige" was gone and he had a very humble upbringing. Indeed on the edge of poverty.
The info that I am reading here, is giving me goosebumps, as it jives with the "family legends" that my dad has told me about.
Pretty cool stuff!