The Origin
The name "FRANZI" is a Swiss - Italian name, which can be found both in the Lombardi Region of Northern Italy & the Ticino region of Switzerland. A reference to the name can be found in the book "Our Italian Surnames" by Joseph G. Fucilla, It claims that the name "Franzi" is one of the group of surnames derived from "Francesco" which means Frank and/or Bold, it can also be a pet name for a Partridge or a Finch.
Some branches of the FRANZI family, now living in Australia claim the name was not always spelt with the "i". Though at this time I had found no evidence of a change in the spelling. Still I have an open mind on the possibility that an earlier generation may have changed the spelling. As both Swiss & Austrian Directories list the name "Franz" & "Franzi". I begin this family tree with the birth of Andrea Franzi in the village of Novaggio, which is situated between Lake Maggiore & Lake Lugano, just inside of the Swiss-Italian border in the Canton (district) of Ticino, Switzerland.
ANDREA FRANZI
born. 26-July-1809, Novaggio, Ticino, Switzerland.
died. 2-November-1893, Guildford, Victoria, Australia.It is thought that Andrea was born on his father's farm near the village of Novaggio in Switzerland. His parents were Felice Franzi & Maria Biondi. It is still unclear as to whether Andrea had any brothers or sisters.
The early 1800's were a precarious time in the history of this region of Europe. Just a few years earlier Napoleon had been crowned King of Milan. By 1813 Napoleon's hold on Italy was weakened by his defeat at Leipzig & the Austrians invaded Northern Italy. This was also the time known as the "Resorgimento" & resistance to the Austrian domination of the region was wide spread. Due to the unrest Andrea's parents Felice & Maria decided to leave Switzerland. Taking their family to the little village of Albiolo near Lake Como, Italy. It is thought that Felice had relative living in that town. FRANZI's are still known to be living in Como area today.
[We do not know how old Andrea Franzi was when this move happened]In 1815 "The Congress of Vienna" recognised the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland. Even though Switzerland's borders were now secure, there were still many conflicts between the autocratic & democratic elements of the Country. Added to this some fighting had broken out between the Roman Catholic & Protestants in Switzerland. So the family remained in Italy for many years.
Andrea FRANZI's life in Northern Italy, as a young man, was a quiet rural existence. He was most likely a farm labourer from a early age. As we know that he was a farmer when he married a local Italian girl called Giuditta (Judith) "Louisa" Della-Rosa. Giuditta had been born in Como, Italy, on 14th. April 1810. Giuditta's parents were Luigi Della-Rosa & his wife Colomba Bulgarone. Andrea & Giuditta's two oldest children, Felice, 2nd. Sept. 1835 & Giuseppi, 11th. Sept. 1836 were born in Albiolo near Como, Italy.
Around 1840 the politics were again becoming unstable, this time the trouble was on the Italian side of the border. So Andrea & his family returned to Switzerland which was now more peaceful. They settled in the town of Lumino, which is north of Bellinzona, in the Ticino Region. It was here that they had three more children Luigi Franzi, 7th. July 1842, Pietro Franzi, 3rd. Sept. 1844 & Filomena Franzi, 15th. Feb. 1848.
The town of Lumino featuring the church where Luigi, Pietro & Filomena were christened.
[ Ludovico was known to have been living in Guildford before he died in a mining accident. The mine was on the Vaughan property of another Swiss Italian, Giuseppi (Joe) Barassi, who was a close friend of our Giuseppi Franzi. I have often thought it possible that Ludovico Franzi may have been Guiseppi's uncle ] Yet again in the 1850's the winds of change would effect the FRANZI family. Two major events were having an effect on the people of their Region of Europe, the "Garibaldi Wars" which were flaring up again & the large Gold Rush that was occurring in a place called Bendigo, in far off Australia. This was a time when the young men of Europe were leaving to make new lives in the younger countries of the world. In large numbers they travelled to such countries as America, Cuba, South Africa & Australia. It is quite conceivable that Andrea's sons had been caught up in the "Garibaldi Wars" & that their family fearing for their lives encouraged them to leave.
In 1854 Andrea FRANZI went to the town of Iseo which is very close to the village of his birth, "Novaggio". He had decided to apply for his official Swiss Citizenship & it was required that, to do so he must apply in the district of his birth ( this was recorded on his Citizenship papers). On the 21st. Feb. 1854, Andrea was granted full Swiss Citizenship. Later that year on 18th. Dec. 1854, the first Franzi arrived in Australia, onboard the "MOBILE" his name was Ludovico Franzi. His shipping papers record that he was a Swiss-Italian, born 1822.
Andrea Franzi's son, Giuseppi Franzi, was the next FRANZI to leave. He travelled to France & sailed from the French Port of Dieppe onboard the "LUCIE" on the 5th. December 1854. The ship arrived at the Port of Melbourne in the colony of Victoria, Australia on 8th. March 1855. Meanwhile other FRANZI's were on the move, another two of Andrea's sons Luigi & Pietro left Switzerland & travelled to France, where one settled & raised his family. The other is thought to have gone to California in America. However which one settle in France & which went to America is not known at this stage.
[source of this information are Andrea & Marco FRANZI of Lumino, Switzerland, who are descendants of Giuseppi's brother Felice].More FRANZI's arrived in Australia on the 21st. Sept. 1855. They were Francesco Franzi, his son Francesco Antonio Franzi, & Giacomo Franzi, all were listed as having been born in the Ticino region. It is thought that the older Francesco & Giacomo were brothers. Francesco senior & his son died in the Guildford area of Victoria. Giacomo Franzi returned to Europe, it is not known if he found gold or not.
[ One theory is that the older Francesco Franzi & Giacomo Franzi were the brothers of Ludovico Franzi & perhaps all 3 were brothers of Andrea Franzi? As all came from the Ticino Region & all lived in or very near Guildford at the same time as Giuseppi Franzi lived in Guildford, some relationship seems likely].On the 2nd. November 1868 Andrea Franzi's wife died at their home in Lumino, Switzerland, she was aged 58 years. Andrea's daughter Filomena Franzi married Fedele Ludovico De Gottardi. The wedding was on the 7th. Feb. 1871 in the town of Lumino, Ticino, Switzerland, where both had been born. Not much later Filomena, Fedele & their son, Romoaldo Gottardi migrated to Cuba. Filomena & her brother Giuseppi wrote a number of letters to one another over many years, however only one or two pages have survived. Photographs of Filomena & her son & daughter taken in Cuba, have been passed down through the generations of Australian born branches of the FRANZI family.
In 1876 Andrea Franzi, left Europe & travelled across the world, arriving in Melbourne on 8th. September 1876 onboard the sailing ship "Wakatipu", he had come to Australia to live with his son Giuseppi in Guildford. It is not known why he suddenly left Europe. This left only one of Andrea & Giuditta Franzi's children living in Switzerland, that being Felice Franzi. He & his wife had seventeen children between 1861 & 1884. Eight of their children died as infants. His descendants still live in the area today.
In 2nd. November 1893 Andrea Franzi died at the home of his son where he had lived for the last 17 years, he was 84 years old. He was buried at the Guildford Cemetery.
