- 1). Ask your relatives what they know, particularly your older relatives. They may be able to provide you with names, dates and geographical locations to get you started. Find out if there's a family Bible you can look at. This may prove to be more reliable than someone's memory.
- 2). Look at which of your ancestors first emigrated to the U.S. Italians emigrated later than other Europeans; over four million between 1880 and 1920. Many settled in northeastern cities, but others preferred Louisiana. Check census records and ship passenger lists to pinpoint the year, plus gather other information.
- 3). Realize that Italy didn't become a country until 1871. Before then, people identified themselves as "Genoese," "Sicilian" or some other regional group. Knowing this may help you pinpoint a town or province when your trace your heritage. Many families remained in the same area, generation after generation.
- 4). Look for records to come from the Italian government in the 1860s. Some of these are available on microfilm at the LDS Family History Library. Otherwise, you may have to request civil registration records from the Ufficio di Anagrafe (registry office) located where your ancestors lived.
- 5). Go to parish churches or diocesan archive offices to trace records before the 1860s. In Italy, the Roman Catholic Church kept track of births, marriages and deaths as early as 1563. Church records are likely in Latin.
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