No doubt any Italian immigrant family will find they have connections to an older royal or noble family if they dig back past their 2nd great grandparents. So, in a way, this isn’t at all remarkable or even unlikely. Actually finding a sound link is another story altogether.
The family story is that we were connected to some Dukes, minor royalty, somehow. I’ve seen this shield first some 60 years ago. The Ruggiero name is derived from Roger of Sicily who around 1000 CE generally consolidated a few kingdoms and was also said to have been assigned during the first census, I believe in the late 1700’s of Southern Italy. The crosses and Fleur-de-lis do suggest those Normans.
Monteleone sits through history back and forth on the borders of Avellino, Campania, and Apulia, on a nice high hill with a great vista across the surrounding plains. Great place for a fortress or outpost. Monteleone of course means Mount of Lions, and is more likely a metaphorical reference to the Normans than any actual cats. I believe the Shield for Monteleone – which I can’t find right now – has Lions Passant (Protective) and some odd slabs.
A De Ruggiero family is recorded in Salerno before 1000 CE. These first Dukes of Salerno certainly had children, hangers-on, administrative staff and likely a few residences across the southern provinces.
I stumbled on a few Ruggiero families in nearby villages and provinces, and found the De Ruggiero’s (See also The Ruggiero or De Ruggiero family) a short time ago. What history I can find for them seems to peter out about 1750 and pick up again during the Risorgimento. What can be found for my own Ruggiero ancestors only begins about 1725 with a few unconnectable persons, who in my view can only be relatives or siblings of each other. In a small mountain village there can’t be many who aren’t related to each other.
A remarkable Mac software attempt to translate from the handwritten copy.
Click and drag over anything that looks like text and the Mac will try to read it for you. And translate.
Gamiglia sobile falanitana of origin damanna, who tiovasi feudalaria since the fecolo XII. has góruto nobility in falerno where being numerous individuals had a leggio own chefi life Eu Ruggier, then pucycitt to those of Campo and to bringtue. foutte nobittà also in Capua. Cogen-za, Bitorio, Foggia, scala, tesa and Barletta, he dressed in the dress of Matto and trasasis ascribed in the Prgistro of the squares. ditoonno monuments in arali in the Chiere i Montelieto, 1. Matteo elle Con celle esa per ca gave free of charge some houses to enlarge the frazza of the Cathedral of daterno ria veva in the recurrence of the pertintà of f Mattero a branch of Misto that had brought him procenionally mente from the Chapter of the Church of Salerno. it was ignored of 2x fiefs awarded the titles of Baron of Laurenzana and Marchuji Di montie three languages Dukes of Albano.
Re-typed by hand as well as I could read it:
Famiglia nobile Salerritana di origine Normanna, che trovasi feudalaria fin dal Secolo XIII. ha gavito nobiltà in Salerno ove essendo numerosa di individui ebbe un Seggio proprio che si dippe dei Ruggiero, poi per cy critta a quei di Campo e di portaretue. Godette nobittà anche in Capua. Cogerrza, Bitondo, Foggia, Scala, Sessa e Barletta, ha vestito l’abito di Malta e travasi escritta nel Registro delle piazze chiuse. Si trovano monumenti in Napoli nelle Chiese di Monteoliveto, S. Matteo e delle Crocelle. Essa per aver dato gratuitamente alcune case per ingrandise la piazza del Duomo di Salerno ria veva nella ricorrenza della festività di S Mattero un ramo di Mirto che lo era portato processionalmente dal Capitolo della Chiesa di Salerno. Lu Signora di 27 feudi insignita dei titoli di Barone di Laurenzana e Marchesi di monti e tre lingue, Duchi di Albano,
dal blay onario nabiliare C. Ganyaga
Yields this translation:
Noble family from Salerno of Norman origin, which has been feudal since the 13th century. It has govined nobility in Salerno where, being numerous of individuals, it had a seat of its own that was replaced by the Ruggiero, then to cy critta to those of Campo and to bring you. He also enjoyed nobility in Capua. Cogerrza, Bitondo, Foggia, Scala, Sessa and Barletta, dressed in Malta and trasses registered in the Register of closed squares. Monuments are found in Naples in the Churches of Monte Oliveto, S. Matteo and the Crocelle. It for having given some houses for free to enlarge the Piazza del Duomo di Salerno ria veva on the anniversary of the festivity of S Mattero a branch of Myrtle that was carried in procession by the Chapter of the Church of Salerno. The Lady of 27 fiefs awarded the titles of Baron of Laurenzana and Marquis of the mountains and three languages, Dukes of Albano,
from the blay onario nabiliare C. Ganyaga
Questionable things from the translation.
“It has govined nobility…” Governed? Is this some kind of adverb here?
…replaced by the Ruggiero, then to cy critta to those of Campo and to bring you.” Replaced by? Close to the meaning I suppose but the rest is , uhmmm…
“…Capua. Cogerrza, Bitondo, Foggia, Scala, Sessa and Barletta” Notable towns in regions. Cosenza?
“…dressed in Malta and trasses registered in the Register of closed squares” An older meaning of “dressed”? Cloaked? “Dressed in Malta” I believe is a reference to a military or religious order.
“ … trasses? Register of closed squares.” … What is The Register of Closed Squares? Like the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
“…Churches of Monte Oliveto, S. Matteo and the Crocelle.”
“S Matteo” is probably San Matteo. Saint Matthew?
“…to enlarge the Piazza del Duomo di Salerno ria veva on the anniversary of the festivity of S Mattero“ Clearing up the spelling here would be helpful.
“…it was ignored of 2x fiefs awarded the” … to “Lu Signora di 27 feudi insignita dei “ … to “The Lady of 27 fiefs awarded the titles”. Che is a pronoun with meanings dependant on context..
“Laurenzana” another town.
And it seems like the Coat of Arms document as painted is signed somewhat officially (officiously?) with some academic authority and so is reliable bit of biography.
