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Updated July 17, 2025
One would think that the Alioto surname originated near the city of Palermo in the small towns of either Sant' Elia or Porticello. But, surprisingly, the name originated from the name "Galleotto" - which means "galley sailor." This name most likely means that many of the ancestors were fishermen.
One would think that the Alioto surname originated near the city of Palermo in the small towns of either Sant' Elia or Porticello. But, surprisingly, the name originated from the name "Galleotto" - which means "galley sailor." This name most likely means that many of the ancestors were fishermen.
The name Galioto is represented in the small towns of Ali Terme and Ali Superiore, a good 150 miles east of Sant' Elia and Porticello on the island of Sicily. These small towns are also located 16 miles from the main port of Messina on the eastern edge of Sicily. There are not many clues as to why the Galioto family clan migrated to the west, but my thinking would be that the fish industry was much more prosperous on the shores of San't Elia.
The name Galioto is represented in the small towns of Ali Terme and Ali Superiore, a good 150 miles east of Sant' Elia and Porticello on the island of Sicily. These small towns are also located 16 miles from the main port of Messina on the eastern edge of Sicily. There are not many clues as to why the Galioto family clan migrated to the west, but my thinking would be that the fish industry was much more prosperous on the shores of San't Elia.
Welcome!
Welcome!
DEDICATED TO
DEDICATED TO
JOSEPH "JOEY" ALIOTO
JOSEPH "JOEY" ALIOTO
1951-2011
1951-2011
A MAN WHO LOVED HIS FAMILY, HIS WORK AND HIS LIFE. YOU ARE MISSED!!!
A MAN WHO LOVED HIS FAMILY, HIS WORK AND HIS LIFE. YOU ARE MISSED!!!
Celebrating 20 Years of Genealogical Research!
For information on how we connect, please email Mario Alioto -- aliotomario@gmail.com
If you would like a relationship chart between you and another person in my tree, please let me know.
Many family last names are included in the family tree: Aliota, Alioto, Aliotti, Balistreri, Balistrieri, Balestrieri, Bellanti, Billante, Braun, Brungardt, Busalacchi, Cannizzaro, Cefalu, Corrao, Cresci, Crisci, Crivello, D'Acquisto, D'Amato, D'Amico, Dentice, Dentici, Dreiling, Galioto, Graf, Gumina, Keller, Lazio, Lo'Coco, Lyman, Machi, Monroe, Pfeifer, Riedel, Rohleder, Sander, Sanfilippo, Scardina, Tarantino, Terry, Tognoli, VonFeldt, Wasinger, Weigel - plus hundreds more!
The tree is readily available on Ancestry - the name of the tree: Alioto Descendants 2020
The chart above shows how the tree has grown. This all started back in Summer of 2009. I received the tree from the late Peter Bellanti (1929-2015), my 4th cousin 2x removed. At the time, the tree had 9,250 names. He did an amazing job compiling a plethora of information. I have been in contact with Michael Machi of Arcata and Jamie Aukskalnis of Missouri who have helped tremendously with their research of the Alioto line. I promised Peter to continue what he started. It has been an amazing journey that will continue for years to come.
THIS IS A PHOTO I HAVE IN ITS ORIGINAL FRAMING. IT IS A PHOTO FROM CHIESA MARIA SS ADDOLORATA, "THE OUR LADY OF SORROWS" CHURCH IN SANT'ELIA, SICILY. THIS PHOTO WAS IN THE POSSESSION OF MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER, MARIA CONCETTA (BALESTRIERI) ALIOTO UNTIL THE DAY SHE DIED IN 1993. MY GRANDFATHER HAD IT IN HIS POSSESSION AND WAS GIVEN TO ME IN 2022.
These are the descendants of Giuseppe (1852-1943) and Stefana Alioto (1861-1926). The photo above is of the six Alioto brothers from San Francisco, California (circa 1925). The brothers include: (back row standing left to right) Ignacio (1888-1962), Giuseppe (1887-1961), and Francesco (1896-1964). The middle row includes Nunzio (1892-1933) and Giovanni (1900-1947). All by himself in front is Salvatore (1903-1971). One brother, Mariano (1894 - 1917), had died before this photo was taken.
These are the descendants of Giuseppe (1852-1943) and Stefana Alioto (1861-1926). The photo above is of the six Alioto brothers from San Francisco, California (circa 1925). The brothers include: (back row standing left to right) Ignacio (1888-1962), Giuseppe (1887-1961), and Francesco (1896-1964). The middle row includes Nunzio (1892-1933) and Giovanni (1900-1947). All by himself in front is Salvatore (1903-1971). One brother, Mariano (1894 - 1917), had died before this photo was taken.
This photo was taken in 1961. Standing in the back row from left to right are Francesco, Salvatore, Ignacio, and Giuseppe. Sitting are Annetta Alioto Lazio and her husband, Gaetano "Tom" Lazio.
This photo was taken in 1961. Standing in the back row from left to right are Francesco, Salvatore, Ignacio, and Giuseppe. Sitting are Annetta Alioto Lazio and her husband, Gaetano "Tom" Lazio.
These are photos of Stefana (Balestrieri) Alioto (1861 - 1926), the mother to the 6 men pictured above, and Giuseppe Alioto (1852-1943), the father. At this time, this is the only known photo of Stefana.
These are photos of Stefana (Balestrieri) Alioto (1861 - 1926), the mother to the 6 men pictured above, and Giuseppe Alioto (1852-1943), the father. At this time, this is the only known photo of Stefana.
Our Alioto family emigrated from the small town of Sant’ Elia, Sicily, just 10 short miles east of Palermo during the early part of the 1900’s. There were 7 brothers and 1 sister who left the shores of Sicily for a better life in America. One sister, Antonina, never made it to America. I believe Giuseppe (son of Giuseppe and Stefana) was the first of the family to come to America around 1896 at the age of 9 or 10. Giuseppe, the father, came over to the United States where he lived from 1908 through 1911. In 1909, Giuseppe and Stefana's son, Ignacio, came to America. Ignacio and his brother, Giuseppe, lived at 526 Merchant Street in San Francisco. On December 28, 1912, brothers Nunzio, age 20, and Mariano, age 18, arrived in America on the ship Canada, to work with their brothers in San Francisco. In January 1913, it is believed that Francesco came, using the identity of his brother, Mariano. Later that year, on July 14, 1913, Giuseppe returned to America with his wife, Stefana, along with the remaining children Giovanni, Salvatore, and Annetta on the ship, the S.S. Athinai
Our Alioto family emigrated from the small town of Sant’ Elia, Sicily, just 10 short miles east of Palermo during the early part of the 1900’s. There were 7 brothers and 1 sister who left the shores of Sicily for a better life in America. One sister, Antonina, never made it to America. I believe Giuseppe (son of Giuseppe and Stefana) was the first of the family to come to America around 1896 at the age of 9 or 10. Giuseppe, the father, came over to the United States where he lived from 1908 through 1911. In 1909, Giuseppe and Stefana's son, Ignacio, came to America. Ignacio and his brother, Giuseppe, lived at 526 Merchant Street in San Francisco. On December 28, 1912, brothers Nunzio, age 20, and Mariano, age 18, arrived in America on the ship Canada, to work with their brothers in San Francisco. In January 1913, it is believed that Francesco came, using the identity of his brother, Mariano. Later that year, on July 14, 1913, Giuseppe returned to America with his wife, Stefana, along with the remaining children Giovanni, Salvatore, and Annetta on the ship, the S.S. Athinai
Sometime after he came to America and after working for the Paladini Fish Company, Giuseppe, the son of Giuseppe and Stefana, began the San Francisco International Fish Company. Giuseppe’s son, Joseph Alioto, served as mayor of San Francisco from 1968 until 1975. Ignacio worked for and became president of the Consolidated Fish Company. Salvatore worked for and became a manager at the Consolidated Fish Company. Mariano worked with his brother, Giuseppe, in the fish business before dying at the young age of 23. In 1941, our great-grandfather, Frank, started up the F. Alioto Fish Company with his sister Annetta’s husband, Tom Lazio. Giovanni became a lawyer who worked for the Northern California fisheries. Nunzio started one of San Francisco’s most famous restaurants – Alioto’s.
Sometime after he came to America and after working for the Paladini Fish Company, Giuseppe, the son of Giuseppe and Stefana, began the San Francisco International Fish Company. Giuseppe’s son, Joseph Alioto, served as mayor of San Francisco from 1968 until 1975. Ignacio worked for and became president of the Consolidated Fish Company. Salvatore worked for and became a manager at the Consolidated Fish Company. Mariano worked with his brother, Giuseppe, in the fish business before dying at the young age of 23. In 1941, our great-grandfather, Frank, started up the F. Alioto Fish Company with his sister Annetta’s husband, Tom Lazio. Giovanni became a lawyer who worked for the Northern California fisheries. Nunzio started one of San Francisco’s most famous restaurants – Alioto’s.
If you are looking for the complete family tree, go to ancestry.com or I will email you the document that I currently have. You will need FAMILY TREE MAKER if you want the complete file. You can click the icon at the top of the page to purchase the program. I can also send a Descendants chart to you via a PDF file.
If you are looking for the complete family tree, go to ancestry.com or I will email you the document that I currently have. You will need FAMILY TREE MAKER if you want the complete file. You can click the icon at the top of the page to purchase the program. I can also send a Descendants chart to you via a PDF file.
Please email me! I'd like to connect as many people as possible. You can also ask how you are related to the family that I have.
Please email me! I'd like to connect as many people as possible. You can also ask how you are related to the family that I have.
Email me!! aliotomario@gmail.com
Email me!! aliotomario@gmail.com
Another photo of the patriarch of the Alioto family of San Francisco, Giuseppe "Joseph" Alioto (1852 - 1943) - he was my great-great grandfather
(From the Paul Capurro collection)
A COIN DESIGNED BY MY COUSIN, TONY TARANTINO. TONY IS MY 3RD COUSIN. HIS GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, GIOVANNA "JENNIE" (BALESTRIERI) TARANTINO (1888-1971) AND MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, MARIA CONCETTA (BALESTRIERI) ALIOTO (1899-1993), WERE SISTERS.
A chart explaining how lineage works
Family Photo Circa 1929
Family Photo Circa 1929
Top row (L to R): Al Jachetta (1927-1971), Salvatore"Ed" Misuraca (1909-1987), Rose Hess (1888- ?), Charles Misuraca Jr (baby) (1927 - ?), Charles Misuraca Sr. (1899-1985), Gaetano "Tom" Lazio (1905-1998), Mary "Mamie" Devoti Misuraca (1899-1983), Vicente Misuraca (1894-1981), and Fred Jachetta (1905-1958)
Middle row (L to R): Julie Jachetta Misuraca (1896-1954), Pietra Misuraca (1871-1930), Giuseppe Alioto (my great-great grandfather) (1852-1943), Aunt Santa ?, Uncle Tony ?, Pickra Misuraca, Unknown Male, Annetta Alioto Lazio (1905-2003), Stephanie "Snookie" Lazio Cincotta (the baby) (1928-2019)
Bottom row (L to R): Mafunda Hess, Angie Misuraca (1901-1998), Farah Misuraca Lehrbach (1907-1980), Patrina Marie Misuraca Smith (1904-1994), Rosalia "Rose" Misuraca Schwarz (1902-1958)
The Alioto family is from Sant' Elia, which is about 10 miles east of Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
The Alioto family is from Sant' Elia, which is about 10 miles east of Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
Directly above is a picture of Sant' Elia from the late Peter Bellanti's website
Directly above is a picture of Sant' Elia from the late Peter Bellanti's website
A photo from Legoland near San Diego, California of a rendering of Alioto's built with legos! This photo was taken in 2013
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