San Donato Val di Comino

San Donato Val di Comino is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region Lazio, located in the Comino Valley about 110 kilometres (68 mi) east of Rome and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of Frosinone. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,167 and an area of 35.8 square kilometres (13.8 sq mi). San Donato Val di Comino borders the following municipalities: Alvito, Gallinaro, Opi, Pescasseroli, Settefrati. Demographic evolution San Donatese in America Many San Donatese live in New England, specifically in Boston, Massachusetts, and in The Bronx, New York City as well as Westchester County, NY. The village of Nonantum, Massachusetts is home to many descendants of San Donato Val di Comino residents and a variant of the local Italian dialect is still heard there. Another American city that has a very large number of Italian Americans from the San Donato Val di Comino region is Wilmington, Delaware. The following surnames from San Donato can be found in Delaware, New Jersey and the Philadelphia suburbs: Cellucci, Pesce, Casale, Leone, Visco, Rufo (Ruffo), Pelligrini (Pellegrini), Cedrone. Baltimore, Maryland is home to many Pellegrini's from San Donato as well. In Massachusetts, family names include Cugini, Gentile, Coletti, Pellegrini, Peruzza, Salvucci, Tocci, Antonellis, Piselli, Cedrone, Cocuzzo, Marini, Rufo, Tempesta, DiBona, Cellucci, Cardarelli and Leone. These names are also found in Norwich, Connecticut where there is a large number of San Donatese Italians. An annual picnic was held every summer for many years. Many San Donatese also live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada such as Marini, Cedrone, Tramontozzi, Cellucci, Pellegrini. The San Donato Festival is celebrated every year courtesy of The San Donato Club and president Donato Tramontozzi. San Donatese in Ireland The first fish and chip shop in Ireland was set up by Giuseppe Cervi from Valle di Comino in Great Brunswick Street (now Pearse Street) in Dublin in 1885. The Irish fish and chip industry is dominated by an Italian–Irish community who are descended from Valle di Comino natives. Among the family names are Borza, Magliocco, Fusco, Fusciardi, De Vito, Coppola, Macari, and Cervi. Although the earliest Italian immigrants went to Ireland at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the main body arrived during the years immediately after the Second World War. Other families involved in the Irish fish and chips industry come from neighbouring areas in Frosinone in Italy such as Atina, Villa Latina, Cassino, Casalvieri and Casalattico. Family names from the region are Orlandi, Cafolla and Rocca. References ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat. Newton Free Library (330 Homer St., Newton, MA 02459), Special Collections. St. Mary of Carmen : 76th anniversary, 1935-2011. Special Collections, Newton Free Library, Newton, MA.