Italians

 one of my pastimes is my family tree...I`m looking for anyone with connections to the following family names : Canepa, Ghio,Castagnola and Stagnaro.  I believe most were from Genoa , Liguria,Italy..my grandparents and G-grandparents were from Riva Trigoso. Most settled in San Francisco, Santa Cruz,Monterey .. alot in Santa Cruz..My Grand parents were Pietro Ghio and Agostino Ghio( same maiden name too Ghio) Pietro's parents were Antonio Ghio and Francesca(sp?) Castagnola. Agostina parents were Agustino Ghio and Luigia Canepa..never know we might be related...

Don't recognize Ghio but I know or related to Canepas, Castagnolas. Nassano, Sanguinetti, Puppo, Barrosso, Luccheti and Arata. My family came from Casa', just above in the hills. Still have family I still visit over there.

not related to any of them but, growing up in Santa Barbara area the Castagnolas were (and still are)  "the" Italian fishing family there.
Now I live in Santa Cruz, and we have the Stagnaro family filling the same niche. Italians know their fish for sure, and they apparently have a good eye for coastal living!

Family tree research is always interesting, good luck!

Io sono calabrese. Non conosco nessuno in quella lista.

Yeah I'm friends with the Stagnaro's.  Kenny is a good buddy, and I worked at Gilda's on the wharf in 1984, and have forever since been welcomed as 'part of.'

 Cottardo Stagnaro came here in 1874.  We have Ghio's and Catagnolas also... Victor Ghio was famous as one of the "last" old-time fishermen in the harbor, still at it in his 80's. 

Contact Geoffrey Dunn, he is a Stagnaro cousin and a notable historian.

Santa Cruz is in the heart is his most popular book.  He is very apporachable and helpful.  he assisted me with a big story I did about all the Stago boats through the years....."Come on over, we'll have coffee!" kind of guy. Here is some bio stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Geoffrey-Dunn/e/B004B0TF2O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Good luck and keep us posted.  If yo are connected to these families, you have a rich seafaring/fishing geneology behind you, my man!

Bushy

Forgot to ad Cottardo was from Villa Rigosa.   And helped to introduce the Lateen-rigged fishing sailboat in Monterey BAy.  That shape morphed inot the famous Monterey Double-enders.

Bushy

Resources...
https://familysearch.org/ One of the best Data bases in existence... Free and free help... LDS (Mormon) Church site... No missionaries will show up at your door. Church building near you has a personal genealogy center with folks to help if you need it. Goal is to catalog the entire Human family so we all know where we came from... Absolutely free

This one is free to start then you have to pay... Above site is where they draw info...
http://www.ancestry.com/cs/us/family-tree?s_kwcid=geneology&hl=Discover+more+about+your+genealogy.&gclid=CN_JnsOzg7wCFWRk7Aodn0IA4g&o_xid=21837&o_lid=21837&o_sch=Search

Good luck...