So, just what are we talking about?

[--Pete]

Hi,

Ran across it in high school (Georgia, of course -- and how I wished that I lived in a state that had a reasonable number of counties to memorize :) )

"Ferro", as you point out, is "iron". The only word close to "talia" is "taglia" which means "cut" amongst other things. So "Taglia ferro" could be "one who cuts iron". A blacksmith? A sword smith? Or a warrior so strong he cleaves other's swords, helms, shields, and armor?

I've never investigated it in depth, but I did run across the story of the family. Since it pretty much starts with the move to England, it gave no clue as to the source of the name. I've found speculation passing for information, but nothing that I would consider definitive. Just one of them there mysteries, I guess, and thus suitable for this thread ;)

Thanks for the reference, I added Mark Kurlansky's "Salt" and "Cod" to my books to look for list.

--Pete