My grand father was a descendent of Sicilian nobility. However, he and his two brothers never mention this fact to anyone not even their wives or children. The true story of our family tree was uncovered by accident year later, after their deaths. I had read that when Italian immigrant from noble families came to the United States they hide their heritage. The reason being that the nobility was so hated by the peasant class (especially in the south) that they feared social isolation or even blood revenge. I was curious if anyone had also heard of this fact. It does explain why some family have a hidden past.