I dont watch the Soprano`s but its obviously about The Mafia, and "The Soprano`s" are the name of A Mafia family, but when I think "Soprano", Sicilian jsut does not come to me. Is Soprano actually A siclian name?

Well, The Sopranos in the show are from a Neapolitan background (Napoli ((Naples)) in Southern Italy) which is the home of The Camorra. I don't know about the etymology of the name Soprano though I hear it's Italian. :p

Yeah, in fact they reference their Neapolitan background in the show. I believe it was the season opener of season 4 where A.J. and his mother are talking about the background and A.J. says he thought they were "Napoli Dapoli".

lol yeah I rember that to bad Furio isn't on the show anymore I liked him he was from Naples aswell wasn't he?

Just thought I'd take this opportunity to post some sites on the biggest Southern Italian city (Napoli ((Naples))).

http://www.bartleby.com/65/ca/Camorra.html
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pst00505.htm
http://www.clubnapoli.it/sito/indexeng.htm
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry?id=8147
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camorra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples
http://www.gesac.it/en/
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/18/travel/18going.html?ex=1284696000&en=e77a3235d 117d569&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
http://www.virtourist.com/europe/Naples/
http://worldfacts.us/Italy-Naples.htm

i have been to Naples & it is both lovely and archaic all rolled into one!
Never bumped into any Camorra though!
Luckily for them :rolleyes:

It was lucky for them Yogi B., cuz you'd have busted a cap in their asses right?! I would have done the same thing man. :rolleyes: :p

:D

In the first season, in one of Tony's early sessions with Melfi, he tells her that his family is from Avellino, which is 56 km from Naples.
As for the name "Soprano," I think David Chase was having a pun--giving a Mob boss a name that designates a high-pitched female voice.

A few years ago I was doing ancestry research and found a site called Everything Italian. You insert your surname and find where in Italy the name is known. I've attached a link, the only problem is it is in Italian. Or perhaps I'm not understanding it.

Will someone please click on the link I posted and after you find out how many "Sopranos" are in Italy, try Russo and then Rossi. Is this unbelieveable or what?? Just want your reactions.

TIS

It is very likely that Soprano has its roots in Naples, if actually Chase was going for authenticity, based on the fact that before Italian Unification, Naples had its own little empire. In this sense, it could be a common name in the south, but I do not really think we should read into the names. I agree with turnball, not necessarily the high pitched part, but how the Soprano is the main attraction in the Italian opera. Much of our entertainment today, movies, tv shows, originate from the Italian operatic style...and this is what exactly the sopranos, the godfather trilogy, scarface, etc.. are..operas, where the great ones always fall... can't wait for March 12th!! BTW, this is my first post. A presto...

Welcome to the boards Mikey_f.! Whereabouts in Canada are you from?

My Italian is quite rusty, but that's a cool website.