Italian Wedding Records: A Treasure Trove Of Family History, Including Parent Death Dates

Italian marriage records can be a treasure trove of information for those researching their family history. Civil registration records, including births, marriages, and deaths, are maintained by the Registrar of Vital Statistics (Ufficio dello Stato Civile) in the city where the event occurred. These records are an excellent source of information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths.

Marriage records from Italy often include a wealth of details, such as the village of birth, current residence, and occupation of the couple, as well as the names and residences of their parents. If a parent is deceased, the date of their death may also be noted, along with the name of the deceased parent's father, revealing the name of the couple's grandfather.

In addition, marriage records from southern Italy often include certified copies of the bride and groom's birth certificates, providing further evidence of their birth dates and parents' names. If either spouse has been previously married, the record may also include the name of the previous spouse and their father, along with the date of their death.

With so much valuable information, Italian marriage records are a crucial resource for anyone wanting to learn more about their Italian ancestors and build their family tree.

Italian marriage records may include the names of the bride and groom's parents

Italian marriage records can be a goldmine for genealogical research. They can include the names of the bride and groom's parents, and sometimes even their occupations and places of residence. This information is incredibly useful for those looking to go back another generation in their family tree.

In Italy, marriage has long been a serious affair, and the requirements for marriage have changed over the years, becoming more complicated. Under the Catholic Church, couples were required to present themselves before the priest with their parents or guardians and obtain familial consent. During the Napoleonic era, couples were required to marry civilly before marrying in the church, if they so desired. After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, civil registration ceased in most northern regions, but it continued in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Sicily, which began civil registration in 1820.

Italian marriage records can be found in both church and civil forms, and the information recorded may vary depending on the time period and location. Civil registration records, known as registri dello stato civile, are an excellent source of information as they cover most of the population and are usually indexed and accessible. These records are kept at the local registrar's office (anagrafe) in each town or city and sent to the procura della repubblica, similar to a district court. Copies of these records may also be found at the FamilySearch Library, which has microfilmed the civil registration records of hundreds of towns and provinces.

When searching for Italian marriage records, it is important to know the town where the marriage took place and the approximate year. This information can be used to locate the records at the appropriate civil registration office or online through resources such as the Italian Antenati website or FamilySearch.org.

In addition to the names of the bride and groom's parents, Italian marriage records may also include other valuable information such as the civil and church marriage dates, birth records of the couple, death records of parents or grandparents, and information about any previous marriages. These records can provide a wealth of information for those researching their family history.

If parents are deceased, their death records must be provided

Italian marriage records are a treasure trove of information and can be crucial in building your family tree. If your ancestors were married in Italy, they would have been required to provide their birth records, and if their parents were deceased at the time of the wedding, they would also have needed to provide death records.

Marriage records from southern Italy often include additional certified documents of the couple's births, providing secondary evidence of the birth dates and parents' names. This can be incredibly valuable if you are trying to trace your family history and build your family tree.

The death records of parents will often include the date of death, and sometimes, the name of the deceased parent's father, thus revealing your great-grandfather's name. This information is extremely useful if you are trying to go back another generation in your family tree, especially if you don't know your great-grandfather's name or the names of your ancestor's parents.

In addition to the names of the bride and groom, Italian marriage records also typically include the following:

• The village of birth for the groom and whether he is living there at the time of the marriage.
• The groom's occupation.
• The groom's father's name and whether he is living or deceased, his occupation, and the village he is living in.
• The groom's mother's name and whether she is living or deceased, and the village she is living in.
• The same information for the bride and her parents.

If a parent is deceased, the priest will often note the date of that parent's death, and sometimes, the name of the deceased parent's father. This information is incredibly useful for genealogical research and can help you fill in the gaps in your family tree.

Marriage records are issued in duplicate, with one copy remaining at the Comune, or Ufficio di Stato Civile, and the other sent to the Procura della Repubblica (Country Court at the province level). The records are maintained by the Registrar of Vital Statistics (Ufficio dello Stato Civile) in the city (comune or municipio) where the wedding took place. There is no central, regional, or provincial office that keeps such records.

If your ancestor's marriage record is available online, there are typically three types of records to look for:

• Matrimoni—The actual marriage record, which may include the civil marriage date and the church marriage date (yes, they can be different).
• Matrimoni Pubblicazioni—A record of the couple posting their intention to marry, similar to today's "speak now or forever hold your peace."
• Matrimoni Processetti/Allegati—This is the goldmine, as it can include the couple's birth records and any parents' or grandparents' death records.

So, if your ancestor's parents are deceased, their death records are an essential part of the marriage record and can provide a wealth of information for your family history research.

The groom's village of birth and current residence are listed

Italian marriage records can be a goldmine for genealogical research. The groom's village of birth and current residence are listed in the groom's information section of the marriage record. The record also includes the date of birth/age, name, and place of birth of the bride and groom.

Marriage records in Italy are issued in dual copy, with one copy remaining at the Comune, or Ufficio di Stato Civile, and the other sent to the Procura della Repubblica (Country Court at the province level). These records are maintained by the Registrar of Vital Statistics (Ufficio dello Stato Civile) in the city (comune or municipio) where the marriage took place.

The groom's information, including his village of birth and current residence, can be found in the marriage record, which may be obtained from the appropriate Ufficio dello Stato Civile. The records are not centralised and are kept locally, so it is necessary to know the town where the marriage took place.

The marriage record may also include the civil marriage date, the church marriage date, and the first and possibly second marriage banns. The marriage banns are notifications made a few weeks before the couple plans to marry, giving the community the opportunity to raise any objections.

In addition to the groom's information, the marriage record also includes the bride's information, such as her name, date of birth/age, place of birth, and place of residence. The names of the parents of both the bride and groom may also be listed.

Italian marriage records are an invaluable source of information for anyone building their family tree.

The bride and groom's occupations are included

Italian marriage records can be a goldmine for genealogical research. They can include the following information about the bride and groom:

• Their ages
• Their birthplaces
• Their residences
• Their occupations
• Their parents' names, residences, and—if deceased—their death dates
• Their grandparents' names
• Their previous spouses' names, if widowed

For example, a marriage record from Marano Marchesato in 1879 includes the groom's occupation (day labourer) and his father's occupation (also day labourer). It also includes the bride's occupation (peasant).

In some cases, Italian marriage records may also include additional certified documents, such as the bride and groom's birth certificates, which can provide further information about their parents.

Marriage banns—records of a couple's intention to marry—may also include the bride and groom's occupations. For example, an 1831 marriage bann from Baselice in Benevento includes the groom's occupation and the bride's blank occupation field.

The names of any previous spouses are listed, along with their cause and date of death

Italian marriage records can be a treasure trove of information for genealogists and family historians. The records are kept at the local registrar's office in each town or city and can be an invaluable resource for those looking to trace their Italian ancestry.

In the case of previous marriages, Italian marriage records typically list the names of any former spouses. This is because, under Napoleonic law, individuals were required to present copies of death records of previous spouses as part of the documentation required for marriage. This requirement continued even after Napoleon's defeat in 1815, when civil registration ceased in most northern Italian regions.

The cause of death of a previous spouse is not always listed in Italian marriage records. However, in some cases, additional details about the previous spouse, such as their occupation, residence, and parents' names, may be included. These details can provide valuable clues for further genealogical research.

The inclusion of previous spouses' information in Italian marriage records reflects the importance of establishing the bride and groom's freedom to marry. Public notices were posted in their home villages, and the couple was required to register their intention to marry at the city office. This process helped ensure that there were no legal impediments to the marriage, including previous marriages.

Italian marriage records are a rich source of information and can often reveal not only the names of previous spouses but also important details about the couple's families and backgrounds.

Frequently asked questions