Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy: Difference between revisions

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''[[Italy Genealogy|Italy]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy]]'' {{Italy-sidebar}}
{{Locality
 
|Name=Belluno
A genealogy guide to Belluno, Veneto, Italy civil registration and church records to trace ancestry and compile family history.
|ID=432997
 
|Level=2
 
|Country=Italy
|CountryID=33
|Locality1=Veneto
|Locality1id=6066
|Locality2=Belluno
|Locality2id=432997
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Italy Genealogy|Italy]]
| link2=[[Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Veneto]]
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[{{PAGENAME}}|Belluno Province]]
}}
Guide to '''Belluno Province ancestry, family history and genealogy:''' birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.
{{Italy-sidebar}}
{| style="float:right"
|-
| style="padding-right:0px"|
[[Image:IT Locator Map Italy Belluno.png|thumb|<center>Belluno Province</center>]]
|}
<div style="display:flex; flex-flow:row wrap; justify-content:flex-start; gap:20px;">
<div class="online_records_button">[[Italy Online Genealogy Records]]</div>
<div class="community_button">[[Online Research Help|Online<br>Research Help]]</div>
</div>
<br>
__TOC__
<br>
'''Most of your genealogical research for Belluno, Veneto, will be in two main record types: civil registration (''registri dello stato civile'') and church records (''registri ecclesiastici''). This article will teach you methods for locating and searching these two record groups.'''
'''Most of your genealogical research for Belluno, Veneto, will be in two main record types: civil registration (''registri dello stato civile'') and church records (''registri ecclesiastici''). This article will teach you methods for locating and searching these two record groups.'''
<br>
<br>
<br>
==Civil Registration (''registri dello stato civile'')==


__TOC__
==Civil Registration (''registri dello stato civile'')==
*'''Civil registration''' records (registri dello stato civile) are government records of births, marriages, and deaths.
*'''Dates:''' In southern Italy, registering births, marriages, and deaths began in 1809 (1820 in Sicily). In central and northern Italy, civil registration began in 1866 (1871 in Veneto). After this date, virtually all individuals who lived in Italy were recorded.
*'''Contents:''' For detailed descriptions of the information you might find in each record, see [[Italy Civil Registration- Vital Records#Information recorded in civil registers|'''Information recorded in civil registers''']].<br>
*'''Language:''' The records were almost always kept in Italian, except for records kept during the rule of foreign powers such as France and Austria. In the northern regions, many records are in French and German. Some church records were transcribed into civil registration records in Latin. Don't worry; you will be able to search these foreign languages by learning just a few typical words such as those for mother, father, born, name, bride, groom, married, etc. More help with this is given later in this article.
*'''Accessing the records:'''  Civil registration records were and are kept at the local registrar’s office (anagrafe) in each town or city. A copy of each record is sent to the tribunale (district court).<br>
*'''Determining the locality:''' You must determine the town where your ancestor lived before you can find the records. Your ancestor may have lived in a village that belonged to a nearby larger town. Large cities may have many civil registration districts. You may need to use maps, gazetteers, and other geographic references to identify the place where your ancestor lived and the civil registration office that served that place. See [[Italy Maps|'''Italy Maps''']] and [[Italy Gazetteers|'''Italy Gazetteers''']] for information on how to find civil registration offices. <br>
*'''State of the Family (Stato di famiglia):'''  A civil record unique to Italy is the stato di famiglia, or state of the family certificate. The comune keeps a record of each family and updates each change, including births, marriages, deaths, and emigration. All individuals in a household are included. Some households include more than one family. Historical states of the family (''stato di famiglia storico'') are kept at the provincial archive (ufficio dello stato civile). These records document past generations of families. Not all areas have kept this record, but where they exist, they are a valuable research tool.
*To learn more about Italian Civil Registration, read [[Italy Civil Registration- Vital Records|'''Italy Civil Registration- Vital Records''']].


===1. Antenati (Ancestors Portal)===
The '''State Archives''' hold many private and public sources that are essential to the genealogical research and the history of some families and persons. The main sources are:
*The '''Civil Registry''', together with the attached 1-year and 10-year origin indexes
*Military service and army archives.
*Notary public archives.
*Family and personal archives.
*Nominal sources and sources for emigration.
<br>
'''Antenati''' is a direct portal to the state archives that have been digitized and indexed. Completion varies and works are in progress, so check back if necessary. A colored flag at the top left of the page indicates degree of completion.
*[https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/find-your-italian-ancestors-online-through-portale-degli-antenati '''Find Your Italian Ancestors Online Through Portale degli Antenati'''] Tutorial. [https://cms-b-assets.familysearch.org/dc/21/0258e7744f2d87605d9b7915aea9/find-your-italian-ancestors-online-through-portale-degli-antenati.pdf Class Handout]
*[https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/archivio/state-archives-of-belluno/?lang=en State Archives of Belluno]
*[https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/?lang=eng Antenati Search Engines] for all of Italy, by browsable registries or indexes (incomplete)
*[https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/the-site/faq/?lang=en FAQ]


=== 1. Online Digital Records for Civil Registration ===  
=== 2. Online Digital Records for Civil Registration ===  
For some localities, digital copies of civil registration can be searched online. Currently, Belluno does not have online civil registration records.
The following civil registration records are available for Belluno through '''Ancestry.com'''.  If you do not have a membership, they can be searched free of charge at a [https://locations.familysearch.org/en/search '''FamilySearch Center'''] near you.
*'''1806-1815''' {{RecordSearch|1939239|Italy, Belluno, Civil Registration (State Archive), 1806-1815}} at FamilySearch - [[Italy, Belluno, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; images.
*'''1871-1938''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1896 Belluno, Veneto, Italy, Civil Registration Records 1871-1938], index & images, incomplete ($).


=== 2. Microfilm Copies of Civil Registration Records Searched at a Family History Center ===
=== 3. Microfilm or Digital Copies of Civil Registration Records in the FamilySearch Catalog ===
'''There are many microfilmed records available but not online yet. Eventually, more of these records will be available for Belluno.''' Held in the collection of the Family History Library, these microfilms may be viewed at [https://familysearch.org/locations/ '''Family History Centers'''] around the world. Check back here frequently for new additions to the collection.  '''To find a microfilm:'''
'''There are many microfilmed records available but not online yet. Eventually, more of these records will be available for Belluno.''' Currently, they are being digitized, and plans are to complete that project by 2020. Check back occasionally to see if your records have become available. In the meantime, some of them might be available at a [https://locations.familysearch.org/en/search '''FamilySearch Center'''] near you. Check back here frequently for new additions to the collection.  '''To find a record:'''


:::a. Click on this link to a see list of [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=112026&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Italy%2C%20Belluno%22 '''records for Italy, Belluno'''].
:::a. Click on this link to see a list of [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1942969&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Italy%2C%20Belluno%22 '''records for Italy, Belluno'''].
:::b. Click on '''"Places within Italy, Belluno"''' and a list of towns and cities will open.
:::b. Click on '''"Places within Italy, Belluno"''' and a list of towns and cities will open.
:::c. Click on the '''town or city''' you wish to search.
:::c. Click on the '''town or city''' you wish to search.
:::d. Click on '''"Civil Registration"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
:::d. Click on '''"Civil Registration"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
:::e. Choose the correct '''event and time period''' for your ancestor.   
:::e. Choose the correct '''event and time period''' for your ancestor.   
:::f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm. Clicking on the microfilm reel will lead to information on how to rent the film. Family History Center staff will assist you in ordering the film.
:::f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.  


===3. Writing for  Civil Registration Certificates===
===4. Writing for  Civil Registration Certificates===
If the records are not online or microfilmed, civil registration records in Italy can be obtained by writing to the local civil registry. This is also necessary for more recent records.  Recent records are covered by privacy laws, so they are not released for microfilm or online.  But relatives are allowed request them for genealogy.  Civil officials will generally answer correspondence in Italian. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to the tribunale or the provincia.  <br>
If the records are not online or microfilmed, civil registration records in Italy can be obtained by writing to the local civil registry. Recent records are covered by privacy laws, so they are not released for microfilm or online.  But relatives are allowed to request them for genealogy.  Civil officials will generally answer correspondence in Italian. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to the tribunale or the provincia.  <br>
 
Use this address as a guide, replacing the information in parentheses:<br>
 
'''Address for local office:'''<br>


[http://www.comuni-italiani.it/025/indirizzi.html '''Address list for municipalities of Belluno''']<br>
'''Format of address for a local office:''' use this address as a guide, replacing the information in parentheses:<br><br>
::Sindaco<br>
::Sindaco<br>
::Comune di (name of the locality)<br>
::Comune di (name of the locality)<br>
Line 59: Line 83:
::Italy<br><br>
::Italy<br><br>


After you have determined what office has jurisdiction over the records you need, write a brief request to the proper office. '''Write your request in Italian whenever possible. For writing your letter in Italian, use the translated questions and phrases is this [[Italy Letter Writing Guide|Italy Letter Writing Guide.]] Send the following:'''  
After you have determined what office has jurisdiction over the records you need, write a brief request to the proper office. '''Write your request in Italian whenever possible. For writing your letter in Italian, use the translated questions and phrases in this [[Italy Letter Writing Guide|Italy Letter Writing Guide.]] Send the following:'''  


*Cashier’s check or international money order (in local currency) for the search fee. See [[Italy Letter Writing Guide#How To Send Return Postage and Money|'''How To Send Return Postage and Money''']].
*Cashier’s check or international money order (in local currency) for the search fee. See [[Italy Letter Writing Guide#How To Send Return Postage and Money|'''How To Send Return Postage and Money''']].
Line 68: Line 92:
*Reason for the request (family history or medical).  
*Reason for the request (family history or medical).  
*Request for a complete extract of the record  
*Request for a complete extract of the record  
*International reply coupon, available from large post offices (optional).
<br>


If your request is unsuccessful, search for duplicate records that may have been filed in other archives or search in church registers.
<br>


== Church Records (''registri ecclesiastici'') ==
== Church Records (''registri ecclesiastici'') ==
*Church records (registri ecclesiastici) are vital records kept by priests and are often called parish registers or church books. They include records of christenings (baptisms), marriages, and deaths (burials). In addition, church records may include confirmations, first communions, and church census records. The Roman Catholic Church is traditionally recognized as the state church because most Italians are Roman Catholic. Nearly every person who lived in Italy was recorded in a church record during the last 200 to 300 years.<br>


*Church records are crucial for research before the civil government started keeping vital records, which began about 1809 to 1820, and in some provinces, 1866 or 1871. After that, church records continued to be kept but often contain less information. It can be helpful to search both types of records, particularly if your ancestors' information seems to be missing from one or the other. Of course, in some cases you will find only church records online for a locality, which are therefore more accessible than writing for civil registration. However, they usually contain fewer details.
=== 1. Digital and Microfilm Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog===
 
To find a record:
*To learn more about church records, see [[Italy Church Records|'''Italy Church Records''']].
=== 1. Online Digital Records for Church Records ===
For some localities, digital copies of Catholic church records can be searched online. Currently no online records are available.
 
=== 2.  Microfilm Copies of Church Records Searched at a Family History Center ===
'''There are many microfilmed records available but not yet available online.''' Held in the collection of the Family History Library, these microfilms may be viewed at [https://familysearch.org/locations/ '''Family History Centers'''] around the world. To find a microfilm:


   
   


:::a. Click on this link to a see list of [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=112026&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Italy%2C%20Belluno%22 '''records for Italy, Belluno'''].
:::a. Click on this link to see a list of [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1942969&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Italy%2C%20Belluno%22 '''records for Italy, Belluno'''].
:::b. Click on '''"Places within Italy, Belluno"''' and a list of towns and cities will open.
:::b. Click on '''"Places within Italy, Belluno"''' and a list of towns and cities will open.
:::c. Click on the '''town or city''' you wish to search.
:::c. Click on the '''town or city''' you wish to search.
:::d. Click on '''"Church Records"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
:::d. Click on '''"Church Records"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
:::e. Choose the correct '''event and time period''' for your ancestor.  
:::e. Choose the correct '''event and time period''' for your ancestor.  
:::f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm. Clicking on the microfilm reel will lead to information on how to rent the film. Family History Center staff will assist you in ordering the film.
:::f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.  


=== 3. Writing to a Catholic Priest for Church Records ===
=== 2. Writing to a Catholic Priest for Church Records ===
Baptism, marriage, and death records may be searched by contacting or visiting local parish or diocese archives in Italy. Italy has no single repository of church records. Write your request in Italian whenever possible. '''''This method is not always reliable.  Officials might or might not respond.'''''  
Baptism, marriage, and death records may be searched by contacting or visiting local parish or diocese archives in Italy.'''''This method is not always reliable.  Officials might or might not respond.'''''  


Write a brief request in Italian to the proper church using this address as guide replacing the information in parentheses:<br>
Write a brief request in Italian to the proper church using this address as guide replacing the information in parentheses:<br>


::Reverendo Parroco <br>
::Reverendo Parroco <br>
::(Street address, if known: consult [http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/directory.cfm?fuseaction=show_country&country=IT '''The Catholic Directory''']) <br>
::(Street address, if known: consult [https://gcatholic.org/churches/IT.htm '''Churches in Italy by City''']) <br>
::([http://zip-codes.nonsolocap.it/ Postal code]) (City) (Province abbreviation:BL)<br>
::([http://zip-codes.nonsolocap.it/ Postal code]) (City) (Province abbreviation:BL)<br>
::ITALY
::ITALY
Line 110: Line 120:
*[http://zip-codes.nonsolocap.it/ '''Find the Italian postal code here.''']  
*[http://zip-codes.nonsolocap.it/ '''Find the Italian postal code here.''']  


'''Write your request in Italian whenever possible. For writing your letter in Italian, use the translated questions and phrases is this [[Italy Letter Writing Guide|Italy Letter Writing Guide.]]''' When requesting information, send the following:<br>  
'''Write your request in Italian whenever possible. For writing your letter in Italian, use the translated questions and phrases in this [[Italy Letter Writing Guide|Italy Letter Writing Guide.]]''' When requesting information, send the following:<br>  


*Cashier’s check or international money order (in local currency) for the search fee. See [[Italy Letter Writing Guide#How To Send Return Postage and Money|'''How To Send Return Postage and Money''']].
*Cashier’s check or international money order (in local currency) for the search fee. See [[Italy Letter Writing Guide#How To Send Return Postage and Money|'''How To Send Return Postage and Money''']].
Line 119: Line 129:
*Reason for the request (family history or medical).  
*Reason for the request (family history or medical).  
*Request for a complete extract of the record  
*Request for a complete extract of the record  
*International reply coupon, available from large post offices (optional).


==Reading the Records==
=History=
'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Belluno Belluno Province] (Wikipedia)
*You do not have to be fluent in Italian to read your documents. Genealogical records usually contain a limited vocabulary. Use this [[Italian Genealogical Word List|'''Italian Genealogical Word List''']] to translate the important points in the document. If you find that the records are written in [[German Word List|'''German''']], [[French Genealogical Word List|'''French''']], or [[Latin Genealogical Word List|'''Latin''']], click on that language link in this sentence.
 
=== City of Belluno ===
 
The name of the city is derived from Celtic belo-dunum which means "splendid hill. The name was inspired by the favorable position within the valley.
From the late 9th century Belluno was ruled by a count-bishop and it received a castle and a line of walls. After having long contended the nearby territory with Treviso, in the end Belluno gave itself to the Republic of Venice in 1404. The city was thenceforth an important hub for the transport of lumber from the Cadore through the Piave river. It remained Venetian until 1797. After the fall of the Republic, Belluno was an Austrian possession, until it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.<br>
 
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belluno Belluno] (Wikipedia)
 
==Municipalities in Belluno==
{|
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right:5px;">
<li>[[Agordo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Agordo]]</li>
<li>[[Alano di Piave, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Alano di Piave]]</li>
<li>[[Alleghe, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Alleghe]]</li>
<li>[[Alpago, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Alpago]]</li>
<li>[[Arsiè, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Arsiè]]</li>
<li>[[Auronzo di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Auronzo di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Belluno, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Belluno]]</li>
<li>[[Borca di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Borca di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Calalzo di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Calalzo di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Canale d'Agordo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Canale d'Agordo]]</li>
<li>[[Cencenighe Agordino, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Cencenighe Agordino]]</li>
<li>[[Cesiomaggiore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Cesiomaggiore]]</li>
<li>[[Chies d'Alpago, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Chies d'Alpago]]</li>
<li>[[Cibiana di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Cibiana di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Colle Santa Lucia, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Colle Santa Lucia]]</li>
<li>[[Comelico Superiore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Comelico Superiore]]</li>
<li>[[Cortina d'Ampezzo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Cortina d'Ampezzo]]</li>
<li>[[Danta di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Danta di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Domegge di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Domegge di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Falcade, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Falcade]]</li>
<li>[[Feltre, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Feltre]]</li>
<li>[[Fonzaso, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Fonzaso]]</li>
<li>[[Gosaldo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Gosaldo]]</li>
<li>[[La Valle Agordina, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|La Valle Agordina]]</li>
<li>[[Lamon, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Lamon]]</li>
<li>[[Lentiai, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Lentiai]]</li>
<li>[[Limana, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Limana]]</li>
<li>[[Livinallongo del Col di Lana, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Livinallongo del Col di Lana]]</li>
<li>[[Longarone, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Longarone]]</li>
<li>[[Lorenzago di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Lorenzago di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Lozzo di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Lozzo di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Mel, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Mel]]</li>
<li>[[Ospitale di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Ospitale di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Pedavena, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Pedavena]]</li>
<li>[[Perarolo di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Perarolo di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Pieve di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Pieve di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Ponte nelle Alpi, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Ponte nelle Alpi]]</li>
<li>[[Quero Vas, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Quero Vas]]</li>
<li>[[Rivamonte Agordino, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Rivamonte Agordino]]</li>
<li>[[Rocca Pietore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Rocca Pietore]]</li>
<li>[[San Gregorio nelle Alpi, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|San Gregorio nelle Alpi]]</li>
<li>[[San Nicolò di Comelico, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|San Nicolò di Comelico]]</li>
<li>[[San Pietro di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|San Pietro di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[San Tomaso Agordino, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|San Tomaso Agordino]]</li>
<li>[[San Vito di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|San Vito di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Santa Giustina, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Santa Giustina]]</li>
<li>[[Santo Stefano di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Santo Stefano di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Sappada, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Sappada]]</li>
<li>[[Sedico, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Sedico]]</li>
<li>[[Selva di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Selva di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Seren del Grappa, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Seren del Grappa]]</li>
<li>[[Sospirolo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Sospirolo]]</li>
<li>[[Soverzene, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Soverzene]]</li>
<li>[[Sovramonte, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Sovramonte]]</li>
<li>[[Taibon Agordino, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Taibon Agordino]]</li>
<li>[[Tambre, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Tambre]]</li>
<li>[[Trichiana, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Trichiana]]</li>
<li>[[Val di Zoldo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Val di Zoldo]]</li>
<li>[[Vallada Agordina, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Vallada Agordina]]</li>
<li>[[Valle di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Valle di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Vigo di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Vigo di Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Vodo Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Vodo Cadore]]</li>
<li>[[Voltago Agordino, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Voltago Agordino]]</li>
<li>[[Zoppè di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy Genealogy|Zoppè di Cadore]]</li>
</ul>
|}
 
=Understanding the Records=
==Civil Registration (''registri dello stato civile'')==
*'''Civil registration''' records (registri dello stato civile) are government records of births, marriages, and deaths.
 
*'''Dates:''' In southern Italy, registering births, marriages, and deaths began in 1809 (1820 in Sicily). In central and northern Italy, civil registration began in 1866 (1871 in Veneto). After this date, virtually all individuals who lived in Italy were recorded.
 
*'''Contents:''' For detailed descriptions of the information you might find in each record, see [[Italy Civil Registration#Information recorded in civil registers|'''Information recorded in civil registers''']].<br>
 
*'''Language:''' The records were almost always kept in Italian, except for records kept during the rule of foreign powers such as France and Austria. In the northern regions, many records are in French and German. Some church records were transcribed into civil registration records in Latin.
 
*'''Accessing the records:''' Civil registration records were and are kept at the local registrar’s office (anagrafe) in each town or city. A copy of each record is sent to the tribunale (district court).<br>


*Online interactive slideshow lessons are available to help you learn to read these records:
*'''Determining the locality:''' You must determine the town where your ancestor lived before you can find the records. Your ancestor may have lived in a village that belonged to a nearby larger town. Large cities may have many civil registration districts. You may need to use maps, gazetteers, and other geographic references to identify the place where your ancestor lived and the civil registration office that served that place. See [[Italy Maps|'''Italy Maps''']] and [[Italy Gazetteers|'''Italy Gazetteers''']] for information on how to find civil registration offices. <br>
:*[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/reading-italian-handwritten-records-lesson-1-the-italian-alphabet/18 '''Reading Italian Handwritten Records Lesson 1: Italian Letters''']
:*[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/reading-italian-handwritten-records-lesson-2-words-and-phrases/19 '''Reading Italian Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Words and Phrases''']
:*[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/reading-italian-handwritten-records-lesson-3-reading-italian-records/20 '''Reading Italian Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading Italian Records''']. In this lesson, you will explore several types of Italian genealogical records, including birth, baptismal, marriage, and death records.
:*[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/italian-script-tutorial/93 '''Italian Script Tutorial''']


== Tips for Finding Your Ancestor in the Records ==
*'''State of the Family (Stato di famiglia):''' A civil record unique to Italy is the stato di famiglia, or state of the family certificate. The comune keeps a record of each family and updates each change, including births, marriages, deaths, and emigration. All individuals in a household are included. Some households include more than one family. Historical states of the family (''stato di famiglia storico'') are kept at the provincial archive (ufficio dello stato civile). These records document past generations of families. Not all areas have kept this record, but where they exist, they are a valuable research tool.
===Civil Registration Tips===
*In many areas during the earliest years of civil registration, records were '''indexed by the given names'''. Therefore, you must search every entry in the index to make sure you find every individual who had a certain surname.


*Eventually, however, indexes were alphabetized by surname. Women are always found in the indexes under their '''maiden names'''.  
*To learn more about Italian Civil Registration, read [[Italy Civil Registration|'''Italy Civil Registration''']].


*Births were generally registered within a day or two of the child’s birth, usually by the father of the family or by the attending midwife. Corrections to a birth record may have been added as a '''marginal note''. In later records, '''marginal notes''' are frequently found, providing marriage and death information.  
== Church Records (''registri ecclesiastici'') ==
*Church records (registri ecclesiastici) are vital records kept by priests and are often called parish registers or church books. They include records of christenings (baptisms), marriages, and deaths (burials). In addition, church records may include confirmations, first communions, and church census records. The Roman Catholic Church is traditionally recognized as the state church because most Italians are Roman Catholic. Nearly every person who lived in Italy was recorded in a church record during the last 200 to 300 years.<br>


*After 1809 Napoleonic law required that the marriage ceremony be performed '''first by a civil authority and then, if desired, by a church authority.''' At first, some people resisted this law and had their marriages performed by church authority only. Later when it became legally necessary for their children to be recognized as legitimate, a civil ceremony was performed. In rare cases, you may find a marriage record for a couple in their 50s who were actually married 30 years earlier. In most cases you may find marriages recorded in both civil and church records.  
*Church records are crucial for research before the civil government started keeping vital records, which began about 1809 to 1820, and in some provinces, 1866 or 1871. After that, church records continued to be kept but often contain less information. It can be helpful to search both types of records, particularly if your ancestors' information seems to be missing from one or the other. Of course, in some cases you will find only church records online for a locality, which are therefore more accessible than writing for civil registration. However, they usually contain fewer details.


*Marriages were usually performed and recorded '''where the bride lived.'''  
*To learn more about church records, see [[Italy Church Records|'''Italy Church Records''']].
==Reading the Records==
'''
*You do not have to be fluent in Italian to read your documents. Genealogical records usually contain a limited vocabulary. Use this [[Italian Genealogical Word List|'''Italian Genealogical Word List''']] to translate the important points in the document. If you find that the records are written in [[German Word List|'''German''']], [[French Genealogical Word List|'''French''']], or [[Latin Genealogical Word List|'''Latin''']], click on that language link in this sentence.


*Do not overlook the '''importance of death records.''' Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information about a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Civil death records often exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records.
*Online resources are available to help you learn to read these records:
:*[https://script.byu.edu/italian-handwriting/introduction '''Italian Script Tutorial''']
:*[https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/img_auth.php/c/c3/CivilBirthRecord.jpg Italy Civil Birth Record: Translation] (image)
:*[[Italian Marriage Document Translations]]
:*[[Italian Civil Death Document Translation]]


===Church Record Tips===
*Effective use of church records includes the following strategies:
#When you find an ancestor’s birth or baptismal record, search for the births of siblings.<br>
#Search for the parents’ marriage record. Typically, the marriage took place one or two years before the oldest child was born.
#Search for the parent’s birth records. On the average, people married in their early 20s, so subtact 25 or so years from the marriage date for a starting year to search for the parents' birth records.
#If you do not find earlier generations in the parish registers, search neighboring parishes.<br>
#Search the death registers for all family members.


*If the original church records that you need have been lost or destroyed or are illegible, you may be able to find a duplicate church record. Unfortunately it was not standard practice to keep duplicate records until the 1900s. But some dioceses started making duplicates as early as 1820. Duplicates, when they exist, are normally located at the ''curia vescovile'' (diocesan archives).
*In Italy, the parish priest was often required to collect taxes. He would sometimes record information about his parishioners and the tax in church censuses (stato delle anime or status animarum). If the censuses do exist for your parish, the registers list all family members living in a household and their ages or birth dates. Deceased children were not listed. Married children, if living in the same household, were recorded with the family but as a separate household. Familial relationships and addresses were also noted.


[[Category:Provinces of Italy]]
[[Category:Provinces of Italy]]

Revision as of 12:54, 12 March 2025


Guide to Belluno Province ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Italy Wiki Topics
Roman Forum
Beginning Research
Record Types
Italy Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources
Belluno Province



Most of your genealogical research for Belluno, Veneto, will be in two main record types: civil registration (registri dello stato civile) and church records (registri ecclesiastici). This article will teach you methods for locating and searching these two record groups.

Civil Registration (registri dello stato civile)[edit | edit source]

1. Antenati (Ancestors Portal)[edit | edit source]

The State Archives hold many private and public sources that are essential to the genealogical research and the history of some families and persons. The main sources are:

  • The Civil Registry, together with the attached 1-year and 10-year origin indexes
  • Military service and army archives.
  • Notary public archives.
  • Family and personal archives.
  • Nominal sources and sources for emigration.


Antenati is a direct portal to the state archives that have been digitized and indexed. Completion varies and works are in progress, so check back if necessary. A colored flag at the top left of the page indicates degree of completion.

2. Online Digital Records for Civil Registration[edit | edit source]

The following civil registration records are available for Belluno through Ancestry.com. If you do not have a membership, they can be searched free of charge at a FamilySearch Center near you.

3. Microfilm or Digital Copies of Civil Registration Records in the FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]

There are many microfilmed records available but not online yet. Eventually, more of these records will be available for Belluno. Currently, they are being digitized, and plans are to complete that project by 2020. Check back occasionally to see if your records have become available. In the meantime, some of them might be available at a FamilySearch Center near you. Check back here frequently for new additions to the collection. To find a record:

a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Italy, Belluno.
b. Click on "Places within Italy, Belluno" and a list of towns and cities will open.
c. Click on the town or city you wish to search.
d. Click on "Civil Registration" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
e. Choose the correct event and time period for your ancestor.
f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

4. Writing for Civil Registration Certificates[edit | edit source]

If the records are not online or microfilmed, civil registration records in Italy can be obtained by writing to the local civil registry. Recent records are covered by privacy laws, so they are not released for microfilm or online. But relatives are allowed to request them for genealogy. Civil officials will generally answer correspondence in Italian. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to the tribunale or the provincia.

Address list for municipalities of Belluno
Format of address for a local office: use this address as a guide, replacing the information in parentheses:

Sindaco
Comune di (name of the locality)
(Street address, if known)
(postal code) (city) (Province abbreviation:BL)
Italy

Address for provincial office:

UFFICIO ANAGRAFE E STATO CIVILE
45, Via Mezzaterra
32100 Belluno (BL)
Italy

After you have determined what office has jurisdiction over the records you need, write a brief request to the proper office. Write your request in Italian whenever possible. For writing your letter in Italian, use the translated questions and phrases in this Italy Letter Writing Guide. Send the following:

  • Cashier’s check or international money order (in local currency) for the search fee. See How To Send Return Postage and Money.
  • Full name and the sex of the person sought.
  • Names of the parents, if known.
  • Approximate date and place of the event.
  • Your relationship to the person.
  • Reason for the request (family history or medical).
  • Request for a complete extract of the record


Church Records (registri ecclesiastici)[edit | edit source]

1. Digital and Microfilm Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]

To find a record:


a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Italy, Belluno.
b. Click on "Places within Italy, Belluno" and a list of towns and cities will open.
c. Click on the town or city you wish to search.
d. Click on "Church Records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
e. Choose the correct event and time period for your ancestor.
f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

2. Writing to a Catholic Priest for Church Records[edit | edit source]

Baptism, marriage, and death records may be searched by contacting or visiting local parish or diocese archives in Italy.This method is not always reliable. Officials might or might not respond.

Write a brief request in Italian to the proper church using this address as guide replacing the information in parentheses:

Reverendo Parroco
(Street address, if known: consult Churches in Italy by City)
(Postal code) (City) (Province abbreviation:BL)
ITALY

Write your request in Italian whenever possible. For writing your letter in Italian, use the translated questions and phrases in this Italy Letter Writing Guide. When requesting information, send the following:

  • Cashier’s check or international money order (in local currency) for the search fee. See How To Send Return Postage and Money.
  • Full name and the sex of the person sought.
  • Names of the parents, if known.
  • Approximate date and place of the event.
  • Your relationship to the person.
  • Reason for the request (family history or medical).
  • Request for a complete extract of the record

History[edit | edit source]

Belluno Province (Wikipedia)

City of Belluno[edit | edit source]

The name of the city is derived from Celtic belo-dunum which means "splendid hill. The name was inspired by the favorable position within the valley. From the late 9th century Belluno was ruled by a count-bishop and it received a castle and a line of walls. After having long contended the nearby territory with Treviso, in the end Belluno gave itself to the Republic of Venice in 1404. The city was thenceforth an important hub for the transport of lumber from the Cadore through the Piave river. It remained Venetian until 1797. After the fall of the Republic, Belluno was an Austrian possession, until it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.

Belluno (Wikipedia)

Municipalities in Belluno[edit | edit source]

Understanding the Records[edit | edit source]

Civil Registration (registri dello stato civile)[edit | edit source]

  • Civil registration records (registri dello stato civile) are government records of births, marriages, and deaths.
  • Dates: In southern Italy, registering births, marriages, and deaths began in 1809 (1820 in Sicily). In central and northern Italy, civil registration began in 1866 (1871 in Veneto). After this date, virtually all individuals who lived in Italy were recorded.
  • Language: The records were almost always kept in Italian, except for records kept during the rule of foreign powers such as France and Austria. In the northern regions, many records are in French and German. Some church records were transcribed into civil registration records in Latin.
  • Accessing the records: Civil registration records were and are kept at the local registrar’s office (anagrafe) in each town or city. A copy of each record is sent to the tribunale (district court).
  • Determining the locality: You must determine the town where your ancestor lived before you can find the records. Your ancestor may have lived in a village that belonged to a nearby larger town. Large cities may have many civil registration districts. You may need to use maps, gazetteers, and other geographic references to identify the place where your ancestor lived and the civil registration office that served that place. See Italy Maps and Italy Gazetteers for information on how to find civil registration offices.
  • State of the Family (Stato di famiglia): A civil record unique to Italy is the stato di famiglia, or state of the family certificate. The comune keeps a record of each family and updates each change, including births, marriages, deaths, and emigration. All individuals in a household are included. Some households include more than one family. Historical states of the family (stato di famiglia storico) are kept at the provincial archive (ufficio dello stato civile). These records document past generations of families. Not all areas have kept this record, but where they exist, they are a valuable research tool.

Church Records (registri ecclesiastici)[edit | edit source]

  • Church records (registri ecclesiastici) are vital records kept by priests and are often called parish registers or church books. They include records of christenings (baptisms), marriages, and deaths (burials). In addition, church records may include confirmations, first communions, and church census records. The Roman Catholic Church is traditionally recognized as the state church because most Italians are Roman Catholic. Nearly every person who lived in Italy was recorded in a church record during the last 200 to 300 years.
  • Church records are crucial for research before the civil government started keeping vital records, which began about 1809 to 1820, and in some provinces, 1866 or 1871. After that, church records continued to be kept but often contain less information. It can be helpful to search both types of records, particularly if your ancestors' information seems to be missing from one or the other. Of course, in some cases you will find only church records online for a locality, which are therefore more accessible than writing for civil registration. However, they usually contain fewer details.

Reading the Records[edit | edit source]

  • You do not have to be fluent in Italian to read your documents. Genealogical records usually contain a limited vocabulary. Use this Italian Genealogical Word List to translate the important points in the document. If you find that the records are written in German, French, or Latin, click on that language link in this sentence.
  • Online resources are available to help you learn to read these records:

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

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