Dellamano is an old Italian name meaning "of the hand". In Italy, most Dellamanos (or Della Manos) are found in the Lombardia Region, along the shores of Lake Como. In the 1100s, the "Mano" family was listed among the inhabitants of Isola Comacina, the only island in Lake Como. Around 1169, Barbarossa invaded the island and everyone living there was forced to leave. The Mano family relocated to the Eastern shore, probably to Bellano.

My ancestors moved down the coast of Lake Como to Perledo and were farmers in the mountains overlooking the lake. They lived in a small hamlet (frazione) of Perledo called Gisazio for hundreds of years before coming to America in the late 1800s. In the 1597 census, there were 69 people living in Gizasio. In 2014 the popultaion was only 24, and I am related to 12 of them!

On this website I present the information I have gathered about them and other Dellamano families.


This web site is presented in memory of
Joseph Antonio Dellamano
who left this earth on April 26, 2001 at the age of 87. We love you, Dad.



If you have come to this site looking for Della Mano Designs, please e-mail me here. Thanks!


This web site was created & is maintained by Diane Dellamano Brakeley. Most recently updated: March 31, 2022
for more information contact Diane here