My great-grandfather's name was Rudolph (maybe rudolf) hoffman, and apparently was a member of the Chicago Outfit. I heard this from my mother. I always figured we were german, but looking back to it, my grandfather had black hair, dark olive skin, dark circles under eyes. My mother also has these qualities with fairer skin, and I also have a similar complexion to her. My mother said he didn't just work for the outfit, he was IN the outfit itself. My question is, does this insure my great-grandfather was 100 percent Italian, if not, do you guys know have any information on that last name affiliated with the outfit?
Thanks for the time,
Jon
Edit: I'll post a picture of my grandfather tomorrow so you guys can see why I am pretty sure he is Italian.
Hoffmann is not an Italian last name. Rudolph is not an Italian first name at all.
When Italians would go to the United States they would change their last names or have them changed by either spelling it phonetically in English, adding letters, or dropping a letter.
They would change their first names into the American English translations of them like "John" for Giovanni.
You do know that it's entirely possible to be German and have dark hair, a dark complexion, and dark circles. Those are not traits only Southern Italians and if you have been to both Germany and Italy you'll see people with all sort of complexions in both countries. Dark circles can be hereditary, from diet, sleeping too little, or sleeping too much, smoking, and alcohol and other drugs.
Your great-grandfather was not part of the outfit or mob. If he really was he would not have told his family, his daughter, or he would have done something else and just said he worked doing that.
