Does anyone know how a man acquired the title of “Don”?

I have the death record of my gg-grandfather, Domenico Alfonso Maria Morabito, b.c1833 d.1894. His parents were Pietro Morabito (bracciale) and Catarina Ferro’. He was born in Bombile/Ardore/RC.

I have come across the marriage records of three siblings (BTW -- thank you, Nuccia, for posting them in the Calabria Exchange/Bombile). These took place in 1854, 1858, and 1859. In all three cases the parents are listed as Don Pietro Morabito, “proprietario”, and Signora Catarina Ferro’, and all three were also born in Bombile, and within the same time span.

I am trying to establish if these three were siblings of my gg-grandfather. In the death record of my gg-grandfather, his father Pietro is listed as “bracciale” and his mother has no title. Is it possible that the title was abandoned, or was it at the whim of the clerk who wrote the documents whether he wrote it in or not?

Is there a significant difference between “proprietario” and “possidente”? or are they interchangeable?

Does anyone know why in a lot of cases the wife of a “Don” is “Donna” but in this case she is a “Signora”. ?

Another question – the two daughters who married in 1854 and 1858 were “Signora” even though in the list of documents there is no record of them being married previously – was it customary to call unmarried girls “Signora”?

Also, on the marriage record, in 1855, of my other gg-grandparents, Domenico Salinitri and Maria Pelle, Don Pietro Morabito is a witness and actually signs the document. (Thanks again, Nuccia, for posting this).

Hope I haven’t asked too many questions.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Mary

Don was a title given to a person of some importance in the town, usually passed to all the children. A 'bracciale' would not be a 'Don'. Your GGGrandfather wasn't that old when he died so its unlikely he would be described as bracciale if he was a 'Don'. Is it possible you have the death record of someone with the same name but not the same person.
If the family fortunes had declined its possible the clerk (someone who didn't know the family) didn't realize who they were. Titles were dropped if the importance of the family declined especially as the 20th century approached.
As far as Signora and Donna are concerned I think Donna if she is from an important family herself and Signora if not, as a mark of respect for her husband.
You need your GGGranfather's birth record to know for sure..

Thanks for your help, Ann. I know that the death record I have is for my gg-grandfather -- the wife matches, unless of course there was another couple in the town with the exact same names.

The strange thing with the 3 records for the marriages of the Don's children is that the two girls were recorded as "Signora" but the son who got married just a year after one of the girls is not listed as a "Don" even though his occupation is listed as "possidente".

I'll try and get the marriage record for my gg-grandparents and see if the father is listed as "Don".

I'll keep searching. Thanks again.

Mary