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Italy Church Records: Difference between revisions
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The information recorded in church books varied over time. Later records generally have more complete information than the earlier ones. | The information recorded in church books varied over time. Later records generally have more complete information than the earlier ones. | ||
The most important church records for genealogical research are baptism, marriage, and burial registers. These registers were usually written in freehand with about three to eight entries per page. Sometimes you will find an alphabetical index arranged by Latinized given name at the beginning or end of the volume. Frequently the name of the principle person or persons identified in the record will be noted in the left hand margin. Another helpful church record is the stato delle anime or status animarum (church census). | The most important church records for genealogical research are baptism, marriage, and burial registers. These registers were usually written in freehand with about three to eight entries per page. Sometimes you will find an alphabetical index arranged by Latinized given name at the beginning or end of the volume. [Correction. It is much more complicated than this. Actually, when inserted in the record (not the stand-alone index) the “internal” index may be in the beginning, the end, or anywhere in the middle of the record, or in the proceeding record or nowhere at all! There may be no index, one index, two indices or possibly even three indices per record. When part of the record (as opposed to the stand-alone index) it is almost always organized alphabetically in a group based upon the first letter only, of the first name (nome) not family name (cognome) and may be in Latin (uncommon) Italian or Sicilian, or somewhat transliterated. The same person could have his name spelled four different ways, or a nickname used, or any one of five different “nome” used in different places. Furthermore the name in the stand-alone index may be an “Italianized” version of a name originally written in a variation of the Sicilian language (note I did not say dialect). It is then organized in sequence of entry (with corresponding page number, not image number), which is usually based upon date, but not always. Names are often abbreviated. When in the stand-alone index names are organized in groups based upon the first letter of the family name (cognome), and then by date. Any “whoops” entries may be bunched together in semi-random dates at the end of the entries for any particular letter, so you must check there also. LJDeF] | ||
Frequently the name of the principle person or persons identified in the record will be noted in the left hand margin. Another helpful church record is the stato delle anime or status animarum (church census). | |||
Catholic records were written in Latin into the twentieth century, but some have been written in Italian. Protestant church records were generally kept in Italian. In both Catholic and Protestant records from areas near the country’s borders, you will find records written in French, German, and other languages. Local dialects may have affected the spelling of some names and words in the church records. | Catholic records were written in Latin into the twentieth century, but some have been written in Italian. Protestant church records were generally kept in Italian. In both Catholic and Protestant records from areas near the country’s borders, you will find records written in French, German, and other languages. Local dialects may have affected the spelling of some names and words in the church records. | ||
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Burial records may also exist for individuals who were born before the earliest birth records and marriage records, and they may start later than the baptismal and marriage records of the same parish. | Burial records may also exist for individuals who were born before the earliest birth records and marriage records, and they may start later than the baptismal and marriage records of the same parish. | ||
Stillbirths were sometimes recorded in church baptismal or burial registers. In most cases, however, the birth is not recorded. | Stillbirths were sometimes recorded in church baptismal or burial registers. In most cases, however, the birth is not recorded. | ||
== Church Census == | == Church Census == | ||