Italians in Wales

Alonzi, Bassini, Girolami, Grimaldi, Gamborini, Poretta, Mancino, Morell, Morelli, Nocivelli, Rabaiotti and Santini are just some of the many names of Italian families in this part of South Wales. Many of the families came over prior to the Second World War bringing with them many of the wonderful family businesses that we love today. They sold everything from Wood and Tiles to Ice Cream and Coffee. Unfortunately it wasn’t all soda and Sarsaparilla and the War saw many of the men interred in Prisoner of War Camps in places such as the Isle of Wight or local farms as labour. Early memories include seeing the men being rounded up outside what is now Newport Police Station and the Wives and families screaming. Many of the women ran the businesses while their men were away and many original family names remain to be seen in local enterprise.

We would love to celebrate our Italian connections in Wales, so please do get in touch if you would like to support our project.