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Giumini Family History, Part I

Giumini Coat of Arms

The Giumini family dates at least as far back as the early 17th Century in Giumaglio. A prominent family member (although I have not been able to confirm a direct common ancestor) was Don Giovanni Giumini^• (~1690-1732), the town notary in the early 18th Century. His coat of arms is displayed on the Capèla di Giumitt, which he had built in 1721.

Parish records, written in Latin, often used Gemini (and its varying noun cases Geminus, Gemino, and Gemina), which means "twin," to record the family name Giumini. Other transliterations such as Jumini (Juminus, Jumino, and Jumina) were also used. The Italian word for "twin" is "Gemello," which was never used, so it appears that use of the Latin word for "twin" is likely just a coincidence or convenience and has no relation to the name's origin.

The earliest existing parish census of 1692, as recorded by Father Pozzi, counted seven Giumini households in three groups, as well as one household with a Giumini wife (the Rossetti family). The heads of these households are subgrouped here by census page references and then in birth order for comparison. Others who died before 1692 have also been added for comparison, but lack page references.

The first group was that of Giovanni Giumini^(A), deceased, who left behind his widow, Maria Piezzi, and their son Giovanni Battista Giumini^(2D), age 24. Enumerated following Battista were Maria Apollonia and Domenico Giumini^(3A), siblings ages 20 and 16. So far only Domenico is confirmed to be the son Giacomo and Maria. Based on the ages of this group, this deceased Giacomo may have been older than ours.

Our Giovanni Giacomo Giumini (I)² was the son the deceased Zanis Giumini¹ and the eldest living Giumini in the parish in 1692 at the age of 56. He was distinguished from the other by the name of Rizzoni, which was first noted in 1677 when referred to as "Rizonus or Geminus." His family was immediately followed by another Giovanni Giacomo Giumini, who was 24 years younger but not his son, rather he looks to have been a nephew by a deceased brother. Next came Antonio Giumini, who was 9 years younger than our Giacomo².

Lastly, the third group was another Giacomo Giumini^(10D) and his siblings who were children of a deceased Giovanni Giumini^(B). This Giacomo is believed to be the father of Don Giovanni Giumini. Together, the groups compare as follows:

Zanis GIUMINI¹

1. Zanis Giumini¹ was probably born the early 1600s, probably in Giumaglio, Ticino, Switzerland. Few records exist that mention him, but he had at least three children, as noted in their death records. The two younger "sons" are appended based on proximity to Giacomo², but their father's have not been identified:

Giovanni GIUMINI (~1636-1681)

A. Giovanni (or Giacomo) Giumini was likely a relative of Giovanni Giacomo Giumini (I)¹, and judging from the ages of their children, was proabably a little older. In his lifetime he was recorded as Giovanni, but posthumously in the parish censuses he was referred to as Giacomo. Giovanni married Maria Piezzi and died prior to the first surviving census of the parish of Giumaglio, Ticino canton, Switzerland, in 1692. In that year, his widow was enumerated living with their son Giovanni Battista Giumini and his wife Maria Maddalena Ianzi/Ianzini. Enumerated following them, as a separate household, were children Maria Apollonia and Domenico Giumini:^{[Cen 1692]}

Giovanni and Maria chose the following as godparents for their children:

1. Battista: no baptism records found in Giumaglio before 1667;
2. Antonio: Matteo Giornica and Mrs. Giovanna (Sartori) Lesina^{[Bap 1669]};
3. Apollonia: Doctor Giovanni Giacomo Pozzi and Mrs. Domenica (Ianzini) Gaspari^{[Bap 1671]}; and
4. Domenico: Giovanni Giacomo Giumini (I)¹ and Mrs. Giovanna (Fiori) Gaspari.^{[Bap 1675]}

During the last week of May 1677, The Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Dom. Dom. Giovanni Ambrogio Torriano, Bishop of Como, held mass confirmation ceremonies for parishes in the valley at Maggia, 4 kilometers downriver, and Someo, 2 kilometers upriver. The Giumini family (less Giovanni) were confirmed at the Church of San Maurizio in Maggia on May 22, at which time their godparents were named: Maria's as Mrs. Giovanna (Bonetti) Cerini; Battista's as Giovanni Giacomo Giumini; Apollonia's as Mrs. Giovanna (Beltrami) Giumini¹; and Domenico's as Giovanni Cerini (Jr.).^{[Con 1677A]} Domenico's record indicated that he was confirmed at the Church of Santi Placido ed Eustachio in Someo^{[Con 1677B]}, however, he was more likely confirmed with the rest of the family. Maria was in turn named as godmother at the confirmation of Elena Lesina at Maggia and perhaps for Catterina Cantoni at Maggia and Maria Maddalena Ianzi/Ianzini at Someo.^{[Con 1677A-B]}

Giovanni Giumini died between 1677 and 1685, when daughter Apollonia was named as a godmother and daughter of "the late Giovanni."^{[Bap 1685]} Two Giovanni Giuminis of similar ages died during this general time period, one in 1681^{[Dth 1681]} and the other after 1685 in 1690.^{[Dth 1690]} As such, Giovanni was likely the one who died in a fall from a mountain cliff on August 4, 1681. He was reported to have been 45 years old. Giovanni was buried in the cemetery of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.^{[Dth 1681]}

Come 1698, sons Battista and Domenico were both counted as "absent," perhaps working away at some distance from Giumaglio, which left mother Maria and Battista's wife Maddalena in the household.^{[Cen 1698]} Battista and Domenico returned and the four remained together through 1703.^{[Cen 1702-1703]}

Daughter Apollonia was named as godmother to Giovanni Giacomo Giumini (Jr.)^{[Bap 1685]} and Giovanna Piezzi, prehaps Maria's niece, in 1694.^{[Bap 1694]} What became of Apollonia after that time is not known. She about 23 years old at that time so perhaps she married outside of Giumaglio.

Maria (Piezzi) Giumini died sometime between 1703 and 1709^{[Cen 1709]} and is likely the widowed Maria Giumini who died on September 11, 1705, at her home in Giumaglio. She was reported to be "about 56 years" old^{[Dth 1705]}, but was likely around 62. She was buried the following day in the cemetery of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.

Giovanni GIUMINI^•

B. Giovanni Giumini^• died prior to the first surviving census of the parish of Giumaglio, Ticino canton, Switzerland, in 1692. In that year, three children, believed to be his, were enumerated separately in the parish:^{[Cen 1692]}

During the last week of May 1677, The Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Dom. Dom. Giovanni Ambrogio Torriano, Bishop of Como, held mass confirmation ceremonies for parishes in the valley at Maggia, 4 kilometers downriver, and Someo, 2 kilometers upriver. Daughter Giovanna was recorded as having been confirmed at the Church of Santi Placido ed Eustachio in Someo on May 31, at which time her godmother was named as Domenica Sartori. Following Giovanna, who was descibed as the daughter of Giovanni, was a Catterina Giumini, however, Catterina was named as the daughter of Giovanni and Giovanna (Pozzi) Giumini.^{[Con 1677]}

Giovanna Giumini, an unconfirmed sister of Giacomo, married Giovanni Rossetti and by 1692 they had three children.^{[Cen 1692]} She also named sister Catterina as the godmother and apparent namesake of daughter Catterina.^{[Bap 1691]} Giovanna's relationship to Giacomo is largely based on proximity between the two in the 1698 parish census and their closeness of age.^{[Cen 1698]}

Giacomo Giumini married Domenica Cerini and had one son, Giovanni, by 1692. In that year Giacomo's youger sister Catterina lived with them.^{[Cen 1692]} Their son Giovanni later became a notary and don of Giumaglio.

Domenica (Cerini) Giumini died on October 18, 1700, and two months later Giacomo remarried to Maria Lafranchi of the neighboring town of Coglio.^{[Mar 1700, Dth 1700]} They went on to have seven more children.

Catterina Giumini lived with her brother through 1703 when she was reportedly 31 years old.

Continue on to Part II