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Tocco Family, Sicily to St. Louis to San Diego

Tocco Family, Sicily to St. Louis to San Diego

Posted: 23 Jul 2001 3:12AM GMT
Edited: 26 Feb 2002 10:07PM GMT
In reading all the posts here, I see that only one person (my cousin Robyn) is of the Tocco's from Terrasini and Messina, Sicily. [Hi Robyn.]

But I do get the impression that many of you have researched enough and have talked with many other Tocco's outside your own families that possibly you know something of our clan.

My grandfather was Ambrogio ("Ambrose") Tocco and my grandmother was Vittoria Tocco -- yes, they had the same surname.

Amgbrogio's father was Leonardo Tocco and his mother was Rosalinda Orlando.

Vittoria's father was Giuseppe Tocco and her mother was Maria Daleo (originally d'Aleo).

I have quite a bit of information on my grandmother, Vittoria, researched for me by my cousin (Vittoria's nephew), Agostino Tocco, in Terrasini, Sicily. Vittoria was from Terrasini (confirmed).

Ambrogio came over on July 11, 1914 at the age of 16, POSSIBLY with his family, but the record seems to indicate that Rosalinda and Leonardo came over on January 27, 1913 (18 months earlier) with three other children (Salvatore - age 9, Margherita - age 7, Onofrio - age 4). Margherita was known by us as "Rita" and by some census as "Mary". Onofrio, we think, may have gone by the name Pietro (Peter).

On the Ellis Island site, Ambrogio is recorded as "Residence at time: Terrasini", although we've always been told that his home was Messina. Our cousin Agostino, in Terrasini, also comfirms the latter (but knows nothing else about that Tocco family).

From New York, this clan immediately moved to St. Louis where, it seems, other Toccos were already entrenced (on 7th Street).

Ambrogio married Vittoria July 25, 1910 and moved to San Diego sometime between 1926 and 1928.

Ambrogio and Vittoria had 11 children: Rose (Rosa Maria; my mother), Leo (Leonardo), Joseph (Giuseppe), Louie (Luigi), Vito, Mary, Anthony (Antonio; Robyn's father), Sam (Salvatore), Pete (Pietro), Margaret (Margareta), and Ambrocio Anthony, Jr. ("Junior").

Ambrogio's brother married a Francis and moved to San Diego, as well. They both died there.

Some of his sister Margarita's family have moved to San Diego but others elesewhere.

I know nothing about his brothers Luigi, Giuseppe, nor Leonardo.

Vittoria's sister married a Sam (Salvatore) Daleo and they moved to San Diego, as well. Her two brothers (Vito and Salvatore) remained in Terrasinsi; one of who JUST recently died, the other is still living.

I would very much love to hear from anyone who has bumped into relatives of these Tocco's (probably mostly in St. Louis).

Joe Seals (mother: Rose Tocco)
Santa Maria, CA (e: gardenguru@yahoo.com)

And other places too

Jim Tocco (View posts)
Posted: 13 Oct 2001 11:58PM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm sure you're aware that the Toccos also settled in Michigan from Terrasini, particularly in Detroit. (Just do a web search on Jack Tocco.)

I was born in Detroit, and believe I'm somehow related to this group of Tocco's, but not sure exactly how. In any case, Tocco's certainly settled all over from Terrasini.

I notice that in Pennsylvania and New York, there are a whole lot who pronounce the last name "taco." Does anyone else here pronounce it that way, or is everyone pronounce it with a long O?

Re: And other places too

Posted: 11 Nov 2001 8:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Feb 2002 10:07PM GMT
Surnames: D'Aleo, Palazzolo, Ciolino, Alonge, Bohmarito, Di Lisi, Mercurio, Cracchiolo. Aluia
Jim:

Thanks for the input. Yes, I'm aware that various Tocco clans/families ended up throughout the U.S.. I know of Toccos in New York, Detroit, Chicago, and St. Louis.

My grandmother and grandfather went to St. Louis immediately after coming through Ellis Island. They arrived at different times and married later.

I have an uncle who was born in St. Louis, came to San Diego with the rest of the family late in the 20's and moved to Trenton, Michigan probably just after 1960. He just passed away this last August but his family still lives there.

I have some info on my grandmother's line from Terrasini. Evidently "Tocco" is a very common name in the area and includes at least a few unrelated "clans".

I've always heard the name pronounced with the long "o". On a funny note, another uncle of mine, Louie, had a personalized license plate that read "L Tocco". Of course, those outside the family pronouced it as if it was Hispanic: "El Taco". He got rid of the license plate after being stopped in Las Vegas once -- the name "Tocco" is evidently known well enough by the police there to be worth their time following up on "relatives", if you know what I mean.

I'm still looking for some connection to my grandfather (his father's name was Leonardo, his mother's name was Rosalinda Orlando, and he had three brothers (Salvatore, Pietro, Onofrio) and one sister (Margherita).

Thanks,
Joe Seals

Re: And other places too

Posted: 13 Nov 2001 9:21PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have been researching my Tocco family for 7 years. My grandfather emigrated with his parents in 1887 to Yonkers,NY(just north of NYC). His name was Francesco(Frank) Paolo Tocco. His parents were Guiseppe and Bambinello Tocco. They were from Palena, a small town East of Rome near Chieti in Abruzzi. My father was Dr. Anthony J Tocco and he practiced medicine in Stone Ridge,NY as a family doctor for 50 yrs;retiring in 1993 and passing away in 1998. There are many Tocco's in the Yonkers area and most are from Palena or the surrounding area. There are Tocco from Palena in Youndstown Ohio who I have spoken with. My daughter went to grad school in St louis and met many of the Tocco's there.
John "Johnny" Tocco ran a boxing gym in Las Vegas.He was from St Louis.Johnny Tocco's gym... Mike Tyson trained there at times.

Regarding the pronounciation of the name......My family has aways pronounced it TOcco...long O ...like Toe...co...some of my Yonkers relatives Americanized the name and pronounced it Tacco....sound spanish....I have always been told that an O followed by cc was a long O....I have spent my life correcting it.

I have met Tocco's from detroit and St Louis & Ohio who pronouce as I do....in Miami where I went to college and in NYC it was Tacco!!!

I have not been able to link the Tocco's from the main land and those in Sicily....any ideas

Francis(Fran) Tocco
Ballston Lake,NY
tocc5@att.net

Tocco's -- Sicily to the mainland?

Posted: 13 Nov 2001 9:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Feb 2002 10:07PM GMT
I received a letter from my helpful cousin Agostino Tocco in Terrasini some time ago, in which he writes:

There is also a "brochure" in Carini ( a town next to Terrasini) where it was written: “in Sept. 23 of 1543, Vincenzo the 2nd La Grua Talamanca TOCCO Manriquez married Laura Lanza from Trabia”. He was Baron of Carini and feudatory of Terrasini.

This is the oldest reference to the name that I have found.

Before this, I had heard that the name "Tocco" was a Spanish/Tunisian name and ended up in Siciliy by way of North Africa during the time of the ebb and flow of conquering. It makes some sense -- and jibes with the reference mentioned above -- but I have not much else to back it up.

There is a city in mainland Italy that includes the word "Tocco" in it. I can't remember the full name of the city and I'm curious as to the date of founding of the city. Anybody know?

Joe Seals

Re: Tocco's -- Sicily to the mainland?

Posted: 14 Nov 2001 2:45AM GMT
Classification: Query
There are two towns that I have found with the name Tocco..
one is Tocco di Casuria...in Abruzzi...the other is Tocco di Claudio also in Abruzzi...near Palena

I have also found a reference to the Tocco name in the 1300...
a Byzantine Nobleman married a Greek woman with the name Tocco.....but I agree the name may be more Spanish.

Re: And other places too

Posted: 25 Apr 2002 2:35AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 25 Apr 2002 2:39AM GMT
My future father in law's name is Jim Tocco, from Wyandotte. My son and my boyfriend are Tocco's and everyone calls them TACO!!!

Re: And other places too

Posted: 10 Jul 2002 2:35AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Jim, my maiden name is Bommarito my Aunt married a Louis Tocco, I know we have relatives that lived in Detroit I know my dad had a Bommarito cousin that lived in Detroit named Joe and he also had Uncle Jack Bommarito my email is CertifiedMm if you would like to reply

Re: And other places too

Anthony F. Tocco (View posts)
Posted: 19 Oct 2002 9:12PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi,
I was just dabbling around on the computer when I ran accross your message. I am from NYC (Harlem). My Grandfather was Salvatore who is related to Vito William Tocco from Detroit Mi. Vito William is the father of Jack William Tocco of Groos point park Mi. I know all of this because when my father, Anthony J. Tocco was still alive he told me that his brother Jake Tocco was taken in by Vito William Tocco of Detroit Mi sometime during WW2 to hide out. He apparently went AWOL from the Navy and was hid there till the end od the war. My group of Tocco's is related to the group in Detroit Mi, and are from Terracini Sicily. I'm not sure if My Grandfather Salvatore is a cousin to Vito William or a brother (I think they were cousins). Vito William was also know as "Big Black Bill Tocco" underboss of his cousin's Mafia family (Joseph Zerilli).
Please e-mail me
Anthony F. Tocco ttocco@evergreenac.com

Re: And other places too

Posted: 20 Nov 2002 5:47PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 10 Nov 2003 11:10PM GMT
Dear Jim,
My name is Rosalie Rugnetta Tucker. My mother was Josephine Tocco. My maternal grandparents were Rosalia and Guiseppi Tocco. They were first cousins and were both born in Terrasini.We are the "New York" Toccos. Upon my marriage in 1954, I moved to the Detroit area where my husband was born. If you would like to expand on the above info, I'd love to hear from you....Sincerely, Rosalie Tucker
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