Emilia-Romagna, located in north-central Italy, is one of the country’s most historically and culturally significant regions. It is bounded by Tuscany and Marche to the south, Lombardia and Veneto to the north, Liguara to the east, and the Adriatic Sea to the west.
Prior to 1860 Emilia and Romagna were separate regions. During the period of Italian unification, they were merged and brought into the new nation as one region. Genealogical records prior to 1860 will list the original region name.
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Administrative divisions of Emilia-RomagnaAdministrative divisions of Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is divided into nine provinces; five from the old province of Emilia, three from Romagna, and the Metropolitan City of Bologna, which has only been a separate province since 2015.
Original Emilia Provinces (pre-1860)
- Ferrara
- Modena
- Parma
- Piacenza
- Reggio-Emilia
Original Romagna Provinces (pre-1860)
- Forli-Cesena
- Ravenna
- Rimini
Post Emilia-Romagna unification (post-1860)
Metropolitan City of Bologna
For genealogists, Emilia-Romagna is a particularly rich region, with civil registration beginning earlier here than in many parts of Italy, church records that stretch back to the 1500s, and a long tradition of written notarial records. However, centuries of shifting governmental control means that researchers must be aware of the history of the location that they are researching.
Before Italian unification in 1860, most of Emilia-Romagna was governed by the Papal States, specifically Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, Forlì, and Rimini. However, the duchies of Parma, Piacenza, Modena, and Reggio Emilia were ruled by their own dynasties rather than by the Papacy. For those under Papal control, record-keeping was almost entirely the responsibility of the Catholic Church, so genealogists will find vital records from the mid-16th century onward as the primary source for this period. In contrast, the duchies often maintained both parish registers and early forms of civil registration, particularly during the Napoleonic occupation (1806–1814) when civil records (stato civile) were introduced.
Types of Family History Records available in Emilia-RomagnaTypes of Family History Records available in Emilia-Romagna
Census recordsCensus records
There was a census taken in Emila and Romagna in 1841, which can be found on Portale Antenati (Ancestors Portal). Post-unification, population censuses have been taken in Emilia-Romagna every ten years starting in 1871. Census records up to 1991 are held in the state archive of each province. Starting in 1911 or 1921 (depending on the comune) a copy of the records could also be found in each comune’s register’s office (anagrafe). The availability to the public differs from comune to comune.
Vital recordsVital records
Church recordsChurch records
Parishes kept standardized records of baptisms and marriages starting in 1563 and deaths starting in 1614. These church records were usually written in Latin or Italian, although you may find occasional French records from the Napoleonic era. Those provinces which were ruled by the Papal States will generally have church records for a wider range of years than those under secular control.
The structure of the Church in Italy is comprised of diocese and parishes. A diocese is a regional office that oversees a number of parishes. In order to find specific vital records, you will need to know the name and location of the parish that holds those records. If the parish still exists today, you can contact the records office there to do a search. If the parish has been closed, contact the diocese office to determine where the records are currently stored.
The Church also ran a number of orphanages throughout Emilia-Romagna. The birth records of orphans were sometimes recorded at the parish where the birth occurred, and at other times at the parish that housed the orphanage. You will have to check both places. Orphan records were usually recorded in the second part (Parte due) of the record book.
Civil recordsCivil records
In the early 19th century, Napoleon’s armies conquered large portions of Italy, and implemented the French system of state-run civil registration records. In Italy, these were called the “registry dello stato civile”.
Civil registration records are the vital records created by the government. Civil registration was required in Emilia-Romagna starting with the Napoleonic era in 1809. These were recorded by the municipal registrar (Uffiziale dello Stato Civile) and kept at the local (comune) level. These include birth, marriage, and death records. In addition, civil registration may include documents required for marriage, miscellaneous records (such as stillbirths), deaths occurring in other cities or countries, and legitimations or parental acknowledgments [ricognizioni].
Civil records can be found online at the Portale Antenati (Ancestors Portal), a project overseen by the Italian government. You will need to search for records in two steps:
First, identify the town or city in Emilia-Romagna where the record (birth, marriage, death) originated. Second, estimate the year in which the record might have been created. Antenati records for Emilia-Romagna are divided into a number of time periods, although not all locations will have records in every period. Examples are:
- Censimento (1841)
- Stato Civile Napoleonico (1808 – 1814)
- Reportori decannali alfabetici (1808 – 1837)
- Reportori generali alfabetici (1838 – 1865)
- Stato Civile Preunitario (1815 – 1865)
- Stato Civile Italiano (from 1860 onwards)
Family Status Certificates (certificati dello stato di famiglia)Family Status Certificates (certificati dello stato di famiglia)
Family Status Certificates Records have been issued since the late 1860’s. They are arranged into family groups and give a glimpse into the life of a family unit. The records can include data on several generations of the same family. They may include such information as:
- The given name and surname of the head of the household and all individuals in that household, and the relationships to the head of household.
- The names of parents of listed persons, including the maiden name of the mother.
- Profession
- The place and date of birth.
- The place and date of deathm
- Marital status.
- The residences of family members who have moved from the community and the date of departure.
These records are kept at local municipal archives. The collections usually cover most of the community, however, some municipalities may have disposed of earlier records. Access is often limited to staff only – researchers will usually have to make a request to get copies. There has been some work in the last few years to allow researchers to request copies online, however this varies by municipality.
Military recordsMilitary records
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Since the creation of the Italian state in the 1860s, all Italian males, subject to certain exceptions, have been subject to military duty. This requirement can generate a number of records that can be useful in genealogical research.
Liste de Leva & Lista d’EstrazioneListe de Leva & Lista d’Estrazione
The liste di leva are military draft lists documenting 18-year-old males in Italy. The process had two phases:
- Phase I: Each town submitted an annual list of males born 18 years prior to the local military district. These lists included the individual’s name, parents’ names, birthplace, and residence. The military office compiled these into the lista di leva and added further details such as physical traits, marital status, and current address.
- Phase II: At age 21, eligible men were examined by a draft board (consiglio di leva). The results, including physical condition, occupation, and exemption status, were recorded in the lista d’estrazione. Exemptions could be granted for medical, legal, or social reasons (for example, being a family's only surviving son).
Service and Discharge records (Foglio di Congedo Illimitato)Service and Discharge records (Foglio di Congedo Illimitato)
These records describe a soldier’s time in service and legally prove his discharge from military service. They can include birth information, parents’ names, physical description, vocation, and educational information. They also give information regarding the date and place of draft, length of service, transfers, campaigns, medals, and wounds. Typically, the soldier received one copy and the other was kept in the military file.
Finding Military recordsFinding Military records
Italian military records that are less than 75 years old are kept by the local tribunal (court) archive for that district and are not public. After the 75-year mark they are released to the provincial archive and are made public. The Portale Antenati is currently digitizing archive records: the archives for Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, and Salerno are complete, while Naples is still in progress.
Immigration and Emigration records from Emilia-RomagnaImmigration and Emigration records from Emilia-Romagna
The first Italian diaspora, from the 1880s through the 1920s was a time when millions of Italians left for other countries. They were fleeing harsh conditions, poverty and food insecurity. Popular destinations were Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Uruguay in South America; and the United States and Canada in North America.
Unfortunately, departure records from Italian ports are rare. It is much more common to find passenger manifests and immigration records in the receiving countries. These records can include such information as names and relationships, town and port of departure, occupation, and in some cases, the name and address of a person that was meeting the travelers in the new country.
Tax recordsTax records
Historical tax records are usually kept at the state archive for the associated town (comune). These records, called Riveli di Beni e Anime (Records of Good and Souls) are valuable genealogical sources used to identify individuals within a specific locality. These records document tax assessments on real and personal property and may include the individual's name, age, civil status, and occasionally the names of parents.
Depending on the year and region, some records list all household members, while others name only the head of household, along with a valuation of the family's assets. Records can go back as far as the 1600s in some cases