Genealogy
Genealogy
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Using the exact instructions I have outlined below, I was able to learn about all of my distant relatives and confirm their hometowns, as shown here. I was able to go as far back as 1744 in Italy! I was also surprised by the variety of locations and regions represented in my genealogy. I have also met distant relatives through this process!
Using the exact instructions I have outlined below, I was able to learn about all of my distant relatives and confirm their hometowns, as shown here. I was able to go as far back as 1744 in Italy! I was also surprised by the variety of locations and regions represented in my genealogy. I have also met distant relatives through this process!
Have Names Ready. Find the names of your Italian ancestors who originally traveled to America by boat. Talk to your oldest living relatives to verify your ancestors' names and any information (such as the region or town in Italy from which they may have originated). Importantly, be aware of prior spellings of last names, spelling variations, dialectical spellings, and Americanization of both first and last names. For example, your great-grandfather Louis likely emigrated with the name Luigi first. Other examples (Leonardo = Leonard, Adamo = Adam, Joseph = Giuseppe, Mary = Maria). Keep in mind that variations of names and spellings exist in different Italian dialects. For example, my last name "Longo" was actually an Americanization of the Italian surname "Luongo." Ancestry, very usefully, shows search results for individuals with similarly-spelled names. Many first and last names are common, so don't assume the first person you find is your relative. Find unique information that definitively proves the individual listed was your ancestor, such as approximate birth date, names of sons or daughters, and destination.
Have Names Ready. Find the names of your Italian ancestors who originally traveled to America by boat. Talk to your oldest living relatives to verify your ancestors' names and any information (such as the region or town in Italy from which they may have originated). Importantly, be aware of prior spellings of last names, spelling variations, dialectical spellings, and Americanization of both first and last names. For example, your great-grandfather Louis likely emigrated with the name Luigi first. Other examples (Leonardo = Leonard, Adamo = Adam, Joseph = Giuseppe, Mary = Maria). Keep in mind that variations of names and spellings exist in different Italian dialects. For example, my last name "Longo" was actually an Americanization of the Italian surname "Luongo." Ancestry, very usefully, shows search results for individuals with similarly-spelled names. Many first and last names are common, so don't assume the first person you find is your relative. Find unique information that definitively proves the individual listed was your ancestor, such as approximate birth date, names of sons or daughters, and destination.
Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com remains the essential website to research American Italian genealogy due to its Ellis Island records. Make a free account. Go to the "search" page.
Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com remains the essential website to research American Italian genealogy due to its Ellis Island records. Make a free account. Go to the "search" page.
Search. To do this, manually search the records generated by the name of your ancestor. Bring up the images of the documents that match the searched name. Keep in mind that Ancestry uses artificial intelligence to comb through all of its analog (handwritten) records and can make errors or omit details or information fields. Therefore, always look at the documents themselves when you think the computer has found someone who may be your relative. The MOST important things to manually verify are that the individual's birth date is approximately correct, any passengers or relatives match your family's knowledge. Sometimes, a relative went back to Italy to bring more relatives to America (sons, daughters, spouses).
Search. To do this, manually search the records generated by the name of your ancestor. Bring up the images of the documents that match the searched name. Keep in mind that Ancestry uses artificial intelligence to comb through all of its analog (handwritten) records and can make errors or omit details or information fields. Therefore, always look at the documents themselves when you think the computer has found someone who may be your relative. The MOST important things to manually verify are that the individual's birth date is approximately correct, any passengers or relatives match your family's knowledge. Sometimes, a relative went back to Italy to bring more relatives to America (sons, daughters, spouses).
Rule In. Many first and last names are common, so do not assume that an individual on Ancestry.com is truly your relative unless you can verify something about them (age, sons, daughters, spouse, occupation, town). Knowing (or finding out) names of other individuals (relatives already in the US) or additional passengers is helpful, as their names or information may come up in additional domestic records on Ancestry.com to help verify that they are truly related to you ("ruling in" ancestry). Often talking to your oldest family members may prove useful, as even a small piece of information such as an ancestor's occupation or hometown may help verify that the person listed in Ancestry is indeed your ancestor. This is also a fun way to involve your family members and learn more about your family's history. If the family members do not know this information, sometimes useful information can be gleaned from marriage records, death records, funeral/prayer cards, newspaper clippings (either in your possession or on Ancestry.com). Funeral/prayer cards are often enormously helpful. You may find new family facts previously unknown to you during this process. For example, I learned that one of my great-great grandfathers was widowed twice before marrying my great-great-grandmother.
Rule In. Many first and last names are common, so do not assume that an individual on Ancestry.com is truly your relative unless you can verify something about them (age, sons, daughters, spouse, occupation, town). Knowing (or finding out) names of other individuals (relatives already in the US) or additional passengers is helpful, as their names or information may come up in additional domestic records on Ancestry.com to help verify that they are truly related to you ("ruling in" ancestry). Often talking to your oldest family members may prove useful, as even a small piece of information such as an ancestor's occupation or hometown may help verify that the person listed in Ancestry is indeed your ancestor. This is also a fun way to involve your family members and learn more about your family's history. If the family members do not know this information, sometimes useful information can be gleaned from marriage records, death records, funeral/prayer cards, newspaper clippings (either in your possession or on Ancestry.com). Funeral/prayer cards are often enormously helpful. You may find new family facts previously unknown to you during this process. For example, I learned that one of my great-great grandfathers was widowed twice before marrying my great-great-grandmother.
Find Hometown. Once the individual listed does not have any conflicting information that rules out that he/she was your ancestor, the most important place to look was the "hometown" location of the individual. Most individuals emigrated from Southern Italy and likely departed from Naples. But the hometown listed is where (at least most recently) your family is from and you may have relatives who still live there. Do not confused "departure point" with "hometown." The departure points are typically large cities such as Naples (Napoli).
Find Hometown. Once the individual listed does not have any conflicting information that rules out that he/she was your ancestor, the most important place to look was the "hometown" location of the individual. Most individuals emigrated from Southern Italy and likely departed from Naples. But the hometown listed is where (at least most recently) your family is from and you may have relatives who still live there. Do not confused "departure point" with "hometown." The departure points are typically large cities such as Naples (Napoli).
Advanced Search. For a more advanced search, once you know your relative's names, birth dates, and most importantly their hometown, you can then begin the more difficult process of searching Italian records. With auto-translation and artificial intelligence, this has become an easier process for those who don't speak Italian. The best place to start once you have found as much as possible is FamilySearch.org, which is free and contains enormous volumes of translated Italian records. I cannot overstate how useful this website is, but again be aware that you should verify all of the information. Be aware of the difference between user-generated content (people posting their own family trees, which may or may not be distant relatives of yours) and actual official records. Always comb through the details and verify as much as possible.
Advanced Search. For a more advanced search, once you know your relative's names, birth dates, and most importantly their hometown, you can then begin the more difficult process of searching Italian records. With auto-translation and artificial intelligence, this has become an easier process for those who don't speak Italian. The best place to start once you have found as much as possible is FamilySearch.org, which is free and contains enormous volumes of translated Italian records. I cannot overstate how useful this website is, but again be aware that you should verify all of the information. Be aware of the difference between user-generated content (people posting their own family trees, which may or may not be distant relatives of yours) and actual official records. Always comb through the details and verify as much as possible.
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