Resources
Italian genealogy resources
A home for practical guides about Italian surnames, towns, records and family history research. The editorial area is published now and can grow article by article.
Start with surnames
Use surname distribution as a clue for towns, provinces and regions connected with an Italian family name.
Start with places
Italian genealogy usually becomes more concrete when a town or province is identified.
Need help?
When the clue is promising, Ciao Genealogy can help turn it into a record-based search.
Latest articles
Italian Surnames Connected with Soldiers, Ranks and Military Life
How surnames such as Soldati, Capitani, Cavaliere and Guerrieri can be explored through family records.
Italian Surnames That Suggest a Distant Origin
How surnames such as Greco, Lombardo, Toscano, Sardo and Tedesco can be explored carefully in family history.
Italian Surnames Linked to Homes, Towers and Village Buildings
How surnames such as Casa, Casale, Torre, Mura, Palazzo, Villa and Borgo can be explored through family records.
Italian Surnames Linked to Civic Roles and Offices
How surnames such as Notaro, Giudice, Capitano, Sindaco and Senatore can be explored in family history research.
Italian Surnames Connected with Saints and Parish Records
How surnames such as Santi, Santoro, De Santis, Angelo, Croce and Serafini can be explored through family records.
Italian Surnames That Began as Everyday Nicknames
How surnames such as Ricci, Biondi, Mancini, Longo, Gentile and Grassi can be read with care in family history research.
Italian Surnames Linked to Trees, Fruit and Plants
What Italian surnames such as Castagno, Palma, Pini, Fico, Meloni, Rosa and Mori may suggest in family history research.
Italian Surnames of the Sea, Water and Fishing
A guide to Italian surnames linked with the sea, water, fishing and ports, with examples and useful clues for family history research.
Rare Italian Surnames: How to Research Them
Rare Italian surnames can be precious clues, but they need careful checking. Learn how to research uncommon family names.
Rossi, Rosso, Rossetti and Rossini: Italian Surnames of Color
Rossi, Rosso, Rossetti and Rossini show how color and nicknames can become Italian surnames.
Ferrari, Ferraro, Ferrero and Ferraris: Surnames of Iron
Ferrari, Ferraro, Ferrero and Ferraris belong to a family of Italian surnames connected with iron and metalwork.
Italian Surnames With De, Di and D’
Italian surnames with De, Di and D' can preserve traces of family relationship, origin or naming tradition. Learn how to read them.
