Divided into twenty regions and one hundred and three provinces, Italy has been under many different rulers throughout its history. Between 1559 and 1713, it was ruled mostly by Spain until the Treaty of Utrecht brought this to an end and the Austrian Hapsburgs began to rule.

When Napoleon Bonaparte drove the Austrians out in 1796, he ruled most of Italy and in 1806 required that civil registrations records be kept. He was then defeated in 1814 and most of Italy was returned to its former sovereigns. From 1821-1831 a series of revolts (known as the Risorgimento) took place when the rebels fought against the local rulers in hopes of seeking politcal unity - but these revolts were squelched.

By 1848-49 more revolts occurred in the major Italian cities against the Austria rule, but except for Roma (which was won back by the French army and supported by the pope), the other cities remained under Austria which established new governments. Ten years later the French and Italian troops defeated the Austrians and most of northen Italy became united under the Kingdom of Sardegna. The following year, in 1860, Southern Italy, Sicilia, and the city of Napoli was freed from the French by Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The Kingdom of Italy (excluding Roma, the region of Venezia, and the country of San Marino), was then formed in 1861 with Vittorio Emmanuele II; and after Prussia defeated Austria, Venezia was also included, with Roma added in 1870 which had been lost to the French in the Franco-Prussian War by the Italian troops, save for the Vatiacan. One year later the capital of Italy was moved from Torino to Roma.

During World War I, Italy sided with the Allies and in 1922 King Victor Emmanuel III made Benito Mussolini the premier of Italy. Within three years he became dictator. - It was between the two World War periods that the Laratta and Rossomanno families began to emigrate to the United States.

Archives

Societies

CENSUS RECORDS

VITAL RECORDS

Most of the parishes have kept registers from about 1595, but some such as Palermo go back as far as 1350. The registers included the name of the principle person or persons and were written in Latin into the twentieth century, although there were some also written in local Italian dialects.

Marriage Banns were announcements that appeared for three consecutive Sunday masses prior to the wedding, thus giving ample opportunity for anyone to come forward who knew of any reason the couple should not be married.

Marriages took place typically at the parish of the bride whose average age at the time of marriage would be between 18 and 25 while the men typically married in their twenties. The marriage registers include the names of bride and groom, whether single or widowed, their ages, place of residences, occupations, parents' names and places of birth. If the marriage was not the first for either party, the record often provided the previous spouse's name and date of death.

Baptisms usually took place within a few days after birth and included the names of the infant and parent, names of witnesses or godparents, the date of baptism and the status of legitmacy. Some records will also include the date of birth, father's occupation, or the family residence. The earlier records often do not include the mother's name.

Typical Naming Pattern of Children in most Italian Regions

• First male child - named after father's father such as Pietro Rossomanno (1890-1955) named after his paternal grandfather Pietro; or Armando Laratta named after his father Anthony's father, Armando Laratta (1889-1937).
• Second son - named after the mother's father.
• First female - named after the father's mother such as Eleanora named after Dionora (Agluzzi).
• Second female - named after the mother's mother.

Generally, if a child died, the name was given again to the next child of the same gender to continue the naming pattern. This appears to have been the case with my grandmother Theresa who was said to have been the third daughter of that name and oldest daughter, indicating that her father's mother's name was most probably Theresa.

Italian Surnames were given based on father's name, occupation, description or nickname or based on geography. In some instances, a second surname or alisas was taken and may be listed in records preceded by the word detto, vulgo, or dit. This practice was used to distingquish different branches of the same family when the family had remained in the same region for many generations.

It should be noted that womens' maiden names were used in most records. This is apparently true for the passenger lists as well - as noted in those I've personally extracted.

MILITARY RECORDS

Since 1865 all males are required at the age of eighteen to report to the draft board for a physical exam, therefore lising every native Italian male born after 1850 so long as they did not leave Italy at an early age.

The registro di leva or Conscription Records list all males by year of birth and provide name, name of parents, residence, date and place of birth, vocation, literacy, and physcial description. If the male emigrated, the date and destination are noted.

Discharge records are also available and include similar information as well as the date and place of draft, length of service, transfers, campaigns, and whether wounded or awarded a medal.

LOCATING RECORDS

If you write to Italy for information you should include a check or money order for the search fee in local currency as well as an international reply coupon which you can get at your local post office. In your correspondence provide the full name and sex, name of parents, date or approximate date of the event, your relationship and reason for the request whether medical or family history, and be sure to request the complete copy of the original record if possible.

For a guide to form letters, word lists and other helpful references, you can go to http://www.homepage.interaccess.com/~arduinif/tool/roots01.htm

WEB LINKS

• Pursuing Our Italian Names Together (POINT)
  http://www.members.aol.com/pointhompg/home.htm

• Italian Food Forever (Because it is an expression of love to the Italians)
  http://www.italianfoodforever.com

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Updated 18 Jun 2008
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