Paul, or a derivation of it, is a frequent first or middle
name in the Sparaco lineage. I was given
that first name, and according to my father, it was in honor of his older
brother. Little else was ever said about
family names in our house.
Paul Strong circa 2007
Paul Strong circa 1959
Paul Strong circa 1962
Paul Strong circa 1986
My Uncle Paul, it turns out, was given the name Paolo
Bartolo Sparaco when he was born in 1909.
In census records (taken by English speaking and writing people) in New
York City, he was “Paul Sparaco” and he went by Paul his whole life. His passport, which he acquired in the 1970’s,
listed his name as Paul Bertil Sparaco.
Unfortunately, he had no children to whom he could pass on names.
Paul B. Sparaco circa 1915
Paul B. Sparaco circa 1922
Paul B. Sparaco circa 1966
My father’s only sister Ingeborg Jean (Aunt Inga) married
Tullio D’Angelo. While they chose more
Americanized names for their three sons (Steven, Phillip, and Russell), Russ got
Paul as a middle name. Despite several
sons sired by Russ and Steve, the name Paul disappeared in that generation for
those two. Philip, on the other hand,
chose Paul as a middle name for his son Mark.
Russell Paul D'Angelo circa 2012
Russell Paul D'Angelo around age 40
Mark Paul D'Angelo
My grandfather’s name was Calogero and none of his brothers
were named Paul, but his father was Paolo Sparaco of Caltabellotta, Sicily and
many grandchildren, great grandchildren and others received his first name.
Paolo Sparaco
One of Paolo’s sons was Giacomo (Jack) Sparaco. He named his only son Antonino Paulo (Anthony
Paul). Anthony named his son Paul James,
and he in turn named one of his sons the same.
I met the elder Paul J. in 2013 at his home in Baltimore after finding
his son on Facebook. He had never seen
some of the family history and was happy to learn of some family members,
locations, and names. I had the pleasure
of meeting his son, Paul Jr. at the same time.
Anthony Paul Sparaco
Anthony Paul Sparaco
Paul J. Sparaco, Jr., Paul J. Sparaco Sr., and Paul Strong - 2013
Giacomo’s brother Antonino (Anthony) had two sons, Paul and
Vito. Paul passed along the first name
to his only son.
My grandfather Paolo’s other brother Carmelo found the name
Paul to be important and gave it as a middle name to one of his sons,
Francesco. His other son, Giacomo, gave
it as a middle name to his son Frank who did the same to his son Frank Jr. who
did the same to Frank Paul Sparaco III.
Frank Paul Sparaco
Frank Paul Sparaco III
Frank Paul Sparaco Jr. and Frank Paul Sparaco III
Where the first Paul originated remains a mystery as records
for older relatives are incomplete. Giacomo,
Carmelo, and Antonino are the common male names on the Sparaco side. Perhaps it came from great-grandfather Paolo’s
mother’s side. Her side was responsible
for my grandfather’s first name Calogero.
A mystery for future family genealogists to uncover.
