All About Baccaro

Anthony A. Baccaro writes:

»  Hello:

I picked up commentary from the Granville Times Newsletter from July 26, 1998 on the Internet regarding your first anniversary of arrival on Nova Scotia. Forgive me for bothering you, but I'm rather curious how the name "Baccaro" as in Baccaro Lighthouse and Baccaro Point came to be up that way. As you see, I am a Baccaro. And it is my understanding that all the Baccaro's originated from the Molise region of Italy; to which I have been many times. Could you possibly fill me in on how, historically, the name Baccaro became fixated in your neck of the woods. Thanks so much for your help.

Most sincerely yours,

Anthony A. Baccaro

It's gratifying to know people actually read my website, and very nice to get feedback. Thank you.

There is a book of Nova Scotia place names and their origin, but unfortunately I cannot find a reference to it right now. I do however have information on Baccaro from an old travel book called "Down in Nova Scotia" by Clara Dennis, published in 1934. She writes:

"Baccaro is the oldest place name in Nova Scotia. It comes from the Basque word, Baccolaos, cod-fish. Baccaro point is the most southerly point in Nova Scotia. Eighty-two years ago (this would have been in 1852, D.T.) the materials for this lighthouse were hauled along the beach - there being no road - and today the tall, square building with a great black-painted ball pointing seaward, stands fast on its bed of solid rock."

I believe her explanation of the place name is correct. We do know that Basque fishermen had summer fishing and whaling stations all along the Labrador, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia Coasts (Labrador is itself a Basque name) that predated permanent European settlements by at least two centuries. There is a well investigated Basque site, now a national historic park and museum, at Red Bay National Park, Red Bay, Labrador. It dates to the 15th century, that is, at least a hundred years before Columbus' southern voyages. A well preserved Basque shipwreck dating to the mid 1500's was found and described at Red Bay, and it and the settlement are well described in an article in "National Geographic Magazine", July, 1985. I highly recommend this article. I know the author, Robert Grenier, and he believes the Basques had stations all around the Nova Scotia coast from Canso to the Bay of Fundy, as early as the 12th century. Columbus himself had a connection to a Basque shipowning family, and it is probable he had been in North America prior to his southern explorations, according to Grenier. It is certain that many Basque place names survive (Fundy, as in the Bay of Fundy, is of Basque origin), and that they predate the French place names bestowed by Samuel de Champlain in 1604-05.

I have visited Baccaro Point several times. It is a lonely, bare, windswept, desolate, rocky and altogether beautiful place. The lighthouse still stands, though now it is automated, and in the frequent summer fogs, the foghorn booms out. It is said to be almost fatal to stand in front of the foghorn when it is in operation. Last time I was there there was fog, and we stood on the point watching the Atlantic swells crash on the rocks with a deep crrrruuummmmmp sound, and observed a flock of several hundred eider ducks riding over the crests of the swells. It is a place that is definitely worth visiting!

If you don't mind, I'd like to place a copy of this E-mail on my website. I would of course remove your E-mail address to protect your privacy, but people might be interested that this ancient Basque name survives as the surname of a modern family. Let me know if this would be agreeable to you.

Regards,

David Tinker

»  Dear Mr. Tinker:

Thanks so much for your e-mail. By all means please feel free to place this discussion on your site. I was extremely curious how the name Baccaro came to be up in Nova Scotia. Even here in the States (I'm near Philadelphia) the name "Baccaro" is rather rare. There is not one Baccaro listed in the Philadelphia phone book and, personally, I have never met another Baccaro except in Italy. I have been in contact with some Baccaro's through the Internet. But we are talking a handful of people. From the Italian side, my father came from a small mountain village called Roccamondolfi, which is about 15 kilometers from the largest town in the region, Campobasso. (It is a) rugged mountain village with a scenery reminiscent of Switzerland. To think of these people as seamen (outside of the one trip that was necessary for immigration) is a rather new idea for me. In the small cemetery of Roccamondolfi one can see the name "Baccaro" in abundance. Many of these people, I am sure, were once relatives of mine as well as of some of the Baccaro's who drifted off to other parts of the world. The age of this town is roughly one thousand years. It is also my understanding that Baccaro is a derivation of the name Vaccaro, which in Italian is a shepherd.

My wife and I, while visiting relatives in Rome last summer, had dinner at a restaurant called "Bacaro." My cousin picked this restaurant not only because of the similarity to my name but because it was one of the few good restaurants that was open on a Monday night in Rome. And the derivation of the name Bacaro? The proprietor told us it is the name the Venetians use to describe one who steers the boat. Again, a seafaring image.

If some expert reads this correspondence and can cast some more light on this murky story, please let me know. I'll forward any information to Anthony Baccaro.