Over 25 million Italians have emigrated between 1861 and 1960 with a migration boom between 1871 and 1915 when over 13,5 million emigrants left the country for European and overseas destinations.
Hi every one, can you tell me please if it is possible to get help with italian census record. I am a member of other genaalogy site and we can share census records and show the images. As i have never tried to research italian records before, so all is new to me. I would like aslo to know what can be found?
migky
This post has been here along time and no one has answered!!
Im not an expert, as far as i know, the Italians had something called a Registration of Population, this is a document, made out in a certain year, and added too, over time. I have two, one for my great ,great grandfather, and his brothers family.They are very good for info, its says the head of the family, who his father was, alive or dead, mother, her father, children, on mine, it includes a child who died, it also had years of death, and the daughters husbands names and dates of birth for everyone!
I recieved mine from an Italian researcher, im not sure how you can obtain a copy, maybe someone else wil know this.Maybe from the Archives of the town, you are interested in?
I hope this help.
Tuzi/Lombardozzi/Polsinelli/Tersigni/La Rocca/Gismondi from Sora,Frosinone.
Hi Migky
I am just finding my way around and have exactly the same question you do. If you find anything please let me know, I am willing to do the searching I just need to know where.
JAL
The history of the "Italian census" is complex. Begun in the late 14th century, it was done primarily for tax puposes, and referred to by more than one name., and varied from one region to another.
You will not find a standard procedure that was recognized thru out Italy
until 1861, at which time a general census began with ten year intervals
of 1861,1871,1881,1891, 1901 and so on.
These early census are held in the state archive of each province. Intended to be general census records, they differ little from earlier tax assesment records. These records are of limited use. They are not uniform in the information included, and for most regions only the head of household is named, including occupation, and wether or not a property owner. Wether single, married or widower, and the total number in the household.
Not until the census of 1911 were all Italians named along with age, birthplace, civil and occupational status.
Census were also taken in 1921, 1931,1936, 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, and 1991.......but NONE of these records including the 1911 census are available to the public.
In the south, only two or three censuses were taken before the twentieth century, rarely is anything found from before 1740.
Because there is so much variation from one province to another and even from one town to another, you should always attempt to consult these records through the state archive.
****Information taken from Italian Genealogical Records
by Trafford R. Cole****
Hope this helps in your understanding of Italian census/tax assesments records.
wldspirit
___________________________
"Cambiano i suonatori ma la musica è sempre quella."
Look. It's quite simple. The comune of the place where your relatives lives keep a record of the census. It is a file ike that into which librarians place card s for the books they keep in te libraries. They are listed under names. Basically you go there, give them the names, and ask them to search it. It lists the person at the last time the census was taken. For example, if your relative left many years ago, it it say the last time your relative was there. But, there may not be a record as many were destroyed during the wwar. Ask the comune to put a copy of the card, wrtite a letter with it and get it signed with stamps. Otherwise, they may only be able to give yo a letter stating the person's name, birth, and last time reported on the census.
This is also what immigrants did before getting visa to go to the us, so you may even find a copy of the original census done back whenever. In any case, go to the comune and ask them.
Thank you wldspirit and trjleste for helping. Too bad I did not have the knowledge to ask the lady who works at the Comune to look up the census for me when I was in Monza a few months ago. I am still in touch with her and will start working on an appropriate letter in Italian, yikes!
JAL (Jacqui)
Thank you wldspirit and trjleste,
What a shame I did not have the foresight to ask the lady at the Comune in Monza for census records when I was there a couple of months ago. I was challenged with my broken Italian asking for birth and death records. I am still in touch with her so I will try and sort out an appropriate letter.
What a shame that Canada is so far away.
(JAL) Jacqui
Ever since I was a little boy, my dad would show me my great grandfather's card, and tell me that he was a count in Italy. I was always intrigued by that, but never really thought about asking my grandmother questions, or anyone else for that matter. About ten years ago, as more and more information...
