How do I trace my ancestors in Italy?
10 Best Websites for Italian Genealogy Research
- Il Portale Antenati. Antenati (Italian for “ancestors”) is, by far, the best website for Italian research.
- FamilySearch.
- Archivio di Stato Websites.
- Ancestry.com.
- Surnames in Italy.
- ItaliaNames.
- Transcribed Vital Records of Italian Towns.
- Italian Parish Records.
How do you know if your last name is Italian?
Italian surnames generally come in a few main categories as far as their origins are concerned.
- Patronymics (The surname comes from an ancestor’s first name)—d’Alberto, d’Angelo, d’Alessi.
- Geographical areas—Lombardo, Di Genova, Napolitano.
- Descriptives or Nicknames—Franco, Betto, Zello, Gambino.
When did Italy start issuing birth certificates?
In southern Italy, civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1809 (1820 in Sicily). In central and northern Italy, civil registration began in 1866 (1871 in Veneto). After this date, virtually all individuals who lived in Italy were recorded.
What is a Notaio in Italy?
In Italy, a Notaio is a professional who has a degree in law, has postgraduate training and has passed the State exam to be qualified as such and is registered with the competent Notary Bar.
How do I find my Italian ancestor birth certificate?
Certified Italian Vital Records (birth, marriage, death) are not available online. The Town Hall (Comune) keeps records of birth, marriage and death at the Ufficio dello Stato Civile (Office of Vital Records).
How can you tell if someone’s Italian?
101 signs that you may be Italian
- Chances are your last name ends in a vowel.
- Your family tree includes someone who came over on a ship as a stowaway.
- You knew what stunad meant before it was translated in English for you.
- You were chased into church before school started.
- Someone in your family knows how to make wine.