Origins of the Giasolli Surname in Early Italian History

Description

Italy was the first country to create homes for abandoned children. Although most European countries did not adopt homes for foundlings until the nineteenth century, Pope Innocent III opened one in Milan in 1198. Northern cities began opening hospitals and churches to abandoned babies and soon foundling homes were established for the sole purpose of raising abandoned infants.

To encourage discretion, these institutions installed a rotating box, allowing complete dis-cretion. Over time, the realization that this discretion also encouraged the unwed mothers absolute secrecy and a father’s lack of responsibility created a backlash in society and the “foundling wheel” began to be removed in 1860. In the 1870’s Italian law began recording specifics of each child’s birth.

Mario Giasolli was born in 1833, and abandoned in a foundling hospital. The Giasolli surname was a creation of tradition and local dialect.

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