Italy - Marriage - 1809-1865

Marriage Record: Civil registration
Beginning 1809, areas of Italy controlled by Napoleon, required civil registrars to keep marriage records. Usually these records included more information than the church marriage records that were kept during the same time.

What you are looking for Civil registers were the best source for determining when a person was born.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian civil registry records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Marriage Record: Church records
The Italian Renaissance flourished during the first half of this period, and churches began keeping birth, marriage, and death records. Spain ruled most of Italy from 1559 until 1713, when the Treaty of Utrecht established the Austrian Hapsburgs as Italy's dominant power. Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, drove the Austrian rulers from northern Italy in 1796, and by 1804, he ruled most of Italy, with one of the exceptions being Sicily. Parish records were not affected by this political turmoil, although the language of the records sometimes was. In 1806, Napoleon required that all communities and provinces under his rule to keep civil registration.

What you are looking for Most couples were married when they were in their twenties and thirties. Second and third marriages may have occurred anytime after that.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian church marriage records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Marriage Banns: Civil registration
Beginning in 1809 in a large section of Italy, the government required civil registrars to keep marriage records. Marriage banns were also kept. By 1866 civil registration was required nationally. Usually these records included more information than the church marriage records that were kept during the same time.

What you are looking for When marriage records do not exist, marriage banns are the best source for determining when a person was born. Marriage banns may not give a birth or baptism date, but they give the age of the bride and groom, making it possible to determine their approximate birth years.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian church marriage banns have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Marriage Banns: Church records
Beginning about 1520, churches required their clergy to keep marriage records. Marriage banns were also kept. Information found in a marriage bann depends on how detailed the minister made his record. Usually it gives the names of the bride and groom and their parents. It may also give their ages or dates of birth.

What you are looking for When marriage records do not exist, marriage banns are the best source for determining when a person was born. Marriage banns may not give a birth or baptism date, but they give the age of the bride and groom, making it possible to determine their approximate birth years.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian church marriage banns have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Marriage Supplements: Civil registration
Beginning in 1809 in a large section of Italy, the government required civil registrars to keep marriage records. By 1866 civil registration was required nationally. When a marriage took place, the bride and groom were required to submit copies of their birth records and copies of death records, if their parents were deceased. Also included in these supplements were copies of the marriage banns and often a copy of the marriage record itself. Use these records to determine when a marriage took place when the actual marriage records are not available.

What you are looking for Civil registry marriage supplements were the next best source for determining when a person was born. They included everyone in the community and identified the complete name of the child being born.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian civil registry marriage supplements have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Census: Census
Censuses prior to 1911 are not uniform in content and are of limited use. In most regions, only the head of household was named with the number of persons in the house. From 1911 on, all names are listed together with ages, occupations, relationships to the head of the household, and birthplaces. You can estimate the marriage date of the parents from the age of the first child. Census records can also help identify all the members of a family and help determine where a family originated.

What you are looking for Census records are the next best source for determining when a person was born. Census records may not give a birth or baptism date, but they give a person's age, making it possible to determine his or her approximate birth year.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian census records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Census: Census
The parish priest was often required to collect taxes for the state from his parishioners. He recorded information about his parishioners and the tax in a set of volumes called "stato delle anime," meaning "state of the souls." Not all priests regularly kept the church censuses. Where they exist, the registers list all family members living in a household and their ages or birth dates. You can estimate the marriage date of the parents from the age or birth date of the first child. Censuses can also help identify all the members of a family and help determine where a family originated.

What you are looking for Census records are the next best source for determining when a person was born. Census records may not give a birth or baptism date, but they give a person's age, making it possible to determine his or her approximate birth year.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian census records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Birth Record: Civil registration
Beginning 1866, the government required civil registrars to keep birth records. Usually these records included more information than the church christening records that were kept during the same time.

What you are looking for Civil registers were the next best source for determining when a person was born. They included everyone in the community and identified the complete name of the child being born.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian civil registry records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Baptism: Church records
Beginning about 1500, churches required their clergy to keep christening (or baptism) records. The records give the names of the parents and the child and include birth dates. Information found in a christening depends on how detailed the minister made his record.

What you are looking for Church baptism records were the best source for determining when a person was born.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian church baptism records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Muster Rolls: Military records
District military records provide the date and place of birth of every male eligible to be drafted into the army. The names of the parents and their occupations may also be given. These records may also provide marriage and death information. Conscription of all males at the age of eighteen was instituted in 1865.

What you are looking for Civil registers were the best source for determining when a person was born. They included everyone in the community and identified the complete name of the child being born.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian civil registry records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Probates: Notarial records
A city's notarial or probate records provide information regarding names and death dates of family members if the family owned property and if a will was written. Occasionally marriage dates are included. These records mostly dealt with wealthy families and can also help in identifying the complete ancestral family.

What you are looking for Notarial probate records were the next best source for determining when a person was born. They included everyone in the community and identified the complete name of the child being born.

Why go to the next record Not all of the Italian notarial probate records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:


 * Italy, Mantova Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Collection)
 * Italy, Napoli, Ischia, Civil Registration (Familysearch Historical Records)
 * Italy, Napoli Province Municipal Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)