Q. How can I research surnames of Jewish families from Italy?

A. There are many Italian Jews, and Jewish culture was very prominent in Italy at times in its history. Several books can help you research surnames of Italian Jews.

First, the book on Italian surnames is Joseph G. Fucilla's Our Italian Surnames (Genealogical Publishing Co., $28.50); the current edition is a 1998 reprint of the 1949 edition. As for Jewish surnames, see A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire (Avotaynu, $75) and A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Kingdom of Poland (Avotaynu, $69.50), both by Alexander Beider.

—Sharon DeBartolo Carmack