There is a story in my family...
My grandfather, Giovanni Iacobucci, came to American in 1930 from the province of Abbruzzi, where we still have a great many relatives with that surname. He came bearing a story about our origins... that we were Jews (Iacob = Jacob, ucci = son) who came to Italy from Spain when we were kicked out by Queen Isabella in the 15th century. Another story for the meaning of the name came from a "history of names" book which recounted a supposedly old story that the name meant "smaller than Jacob," meaning Esau, his younger brother, who stole his brother's inheritance, and the book said that the name Iacobucci meant "heel", because Esau was born holding onto Jacob's heel. (they were twins.) Interstingly enough there are loads of fraternal twins in our family. Also, there are lots of redheads ( I am one).
Anyone ever heard any of this stuff who can confirm it?
grace@northlink.com