Italian DNA Testing: The Best DNA Test for Italian Ancestry (2026 Guide)
Your great-grandmother left a village in Calabria. Your grandfather carried a Sicilian surname. Somewhere in Italy, a family buried the […]
Heritage & Ancestry
Tracing Italian roots, ancestral travel, and genealogy guides for the Italian diaspora.
Italian Citizenship by Descent: How to Claim Your Italian Passport (Jure Sanguinis)
Millions of people worldwide have the right to claim Italian citizenship through their ancestors. This guide explains jure sanguinis, who qualifies, what documents you need, and how to apply.
Pre-Unification Italian Records: A Genealogy Guide to Finding Your Ancestors Before 1861
Tracing Italian ancestors before 1861? Learn how civil records differed across the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Papal States, and Austrian Lombardy.
How to Trace Your Italian-Argentine Ancestry: A Complete Genealogy Guide
Argentina is home to more than 25 million people of Italian descent. That makes it the largest Italian diaspora community
Italian Notarial Records: How to Find Your Ancestors Before Civil Registration
Italian notarial records (atti notarili) document wills, dowry contracts and property sales from 1350 to 1865. Learn how to find them at the Archivio di Stato and what they can reveal about your Italian ancestors.
Italian Catasto Records: How to Use Land Records to Trace Your Italian Ancestors
Italian catasto records are historical land registers that reveal where your ancestors lived, what they owned, and why they emigrated. Learn how to find and read these powerful genealogy documents.
Italian Land Records (Catasto): How to Find Property Records for Genealogy Research
Your great-grandfather owned a piece of land in Calabria. He farmed it before he left Italy. He sold it or
Stato degli Anime: How to Use Italy’s Hidden Parish Census Records for Genealogy
If you have Italian ancestry, you probably know about civil records and the Antenati portal. But there is another set
How to Read Old Italian Handwriting in Genealogy Records
Learn how to read old Italian handwriting in genealogy records. A practical guide to Italian paleography for beginners, including key vocabulary, letter forms, and tips for the Antenati portal.
How to Request Italian Genealogy Records from the Comune: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn exactly how to contact an Italian comune to request birth, marriage, and death certificates for your Italian ancestors. Includes bilingual letter templates, tips on finding your ancestral town, and what to do when records are hard to find.
Antenati: How to Use Italy’s Free Genealogy Archive to Find Your Ancestors
Antenati is Italy’s free online genealogy archive. It holds millions of birth, marriage, and death records. This guide shows you how to search it to find your Italian ancestors step by step.
Italian Surnames Changed at Ellis Island: The Truth About Your Family Name
Did Ellis Island change your Italian surname? Discover the truth behind Italian family name changes during immigration and how to trace your original Italian family name.
Italian Coat of Arms: How to Research Your Family Crest and What It Means
Discover what your Italian coat of arms means and how to find your family crest. A step-by-step guide for Italian-American families tracing their ancestry.
Italian Genealogy Websites: The Best Online Resources for Tracing Your Italian Roots
Discover the best Italian genealogy websites for tracing your Italian roots — Antenati, FamilySearch, Ellis Island, Ancestry and more. Free and paid resources explained.
Italian Military Records: How to Find Your Ancestors in Italy’s Army Archives
Italian military records (Ruoli Matricolari) contain physical descriptions, birthplace, parent names, and service history. Learn how to find yours for free using Antenati, FamilySearch, and Italian state archives.
Little Italy: How Italian Immigrants Built Their Communities in America
Discover how Italian immigrants built their communities in America — the Little Italy neighbourhoods, the traditions they preserved, and how to trace your own Italian roots.
Finding Italian Relatives Today: How to Connect with Distant Cousins in Italy
Somewhere in Italy, there are people who share your surname, your nose, and your grandmother’s recipe for Sunday sauce. They
Italian Immigration Records: How to Find Your Ancestors at Ellis Island and Beyond
Discover how to find Italian immigration records at Ellis Island, Castle Garden, and in Italian archives. A step-by-step guide for Italian-Americans tracing their family roots.
Italian Naming Traditions: How Your Ancestors Named Their Children
Discover the Italian naming traditions your ancestors followed for centuries. Learn how the grandparent cycle, patron saints, and regional customs shaped your family names — and how to use them to trace your Italian roots.
Italian Parish Records: How to Find Your Ancestors Before 1866
Most Italian-Americans can name the region their family came from. Many know the province. A few know the village. But
How to Find Your Italian Ancestral Village: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to find the Italian village your ancestors came from — step by step. Covers family documents, Italian civil records, online databases, and genealogy archives. 2026 guide.