Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Family History Records

Main contributor: Natalie Webb

Trentino-Alto Adige, known in German as Trentino-Südtirol, and in English as Trentino-South Tyrol, is a region in northern Italy bordered by Austria to the north, Switzerland to the northwest, Lombardy to the west, and Veneto to the south.

The region’s unique political history presents challenges for genealogical research. It was ruled by Austria until 1919, when it was transferred to Italy following World War I. ^[1]As a result, an ancestor born there in 1917 would be recorded as Austrian, while a sibling born in the same home just a few years later, in 1920, would be considered Italian.

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Adninistrative division of Trentino-Alto AdigeAdninistrative division of Trentino-Alto Adige

Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol has two provinces:

Trentino (Trento), which is predominantly Italian-speaking, historically tied to the Prince-Bishopric of Trent. This area was part of the Roman Empire before coming under Italian control
Alto Adige/Südtirol, also known as Bolzano (Italian) or Tyrol (German) has a German-speaking majority. It was once part of the County of Tyrol within the Austrian Empire. In 1918 the portion of the county known as South Tyrol was ceded to Italy.

You must pay careful attention to the locality you are researching when searching for records in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Records in Trentino will have been under Italian or Roman jurisdiction throughout. Records created in Alto Adige/Südtirol before 1918 may be housed in Austrian archives, while post-1918 records will be in Italian archives.

Types of Family History Records available in Trentino-Alto Adige/SüdtirolTypes of Family History Records available in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol

Census recordsCensus records

Two censuses were taken in Austria, one in 1754 and another in 1869, however no names of individuals are available to the public. Some statistical data can be found at the official Austrian government’s statistics website. There may have been local censuses taken in some areas. Check the main government office for the town you are researching.

Italian population censuses have been taken in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol every ten years starting in 1921. Census records up to 1991 are held in the state archive of each province. Starting in 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

Most vital records were primarily kept by the Catholic Church, which would remain in the area even if the government around it had changed. 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 German documents in South Tyrol.

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 the region. 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

Civil registration records are the vital records created by the government. Civil registration was required in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol under Austrian rule, starting in 1820. 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].

There are limited options for searching civil records for Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol online. Portale Antenati (Ancestors Portal), a project overseen by the Italian government, has not yet begun to digitize these records. You may need to contact authorities in the specific town that you are researching.

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 death.
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

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 for Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Search their website to see if the archive you are researching is complete.

Immigration and emigrationImmigration and emigration

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

Explore more about Trentino-Alto Adige-SüdtirolExplore more about Trentino-Alto Adige-Südtirol

↑ A Primer on the Autonomy of South Tyrol: History, Law, Politics. World Autonomies

[1] A Primer on the Autonomy of South Tyrol: History, Law, Politics. World Autonomies

[1]