Genealogy in Rivisondoli
Tracing your Italian roots back to Rivisondoli (in L’Aquila province, Abruzzo region) begins with understanding which records and documents exist and where they are preserved. On this page you’ll find a clear guide to the civil, parish and historical sources available for genealogy in Rivisondoli.
How to research your ancestry in Rivisondoli
Through its network of local experts, ItalianSide has extensive experience in genealogical research in the province of L’Aquila. For this reason, over the years it has become a reliable reference for those wishing to reconnect with their Italian roots and could be a key partner in the success of your research too. You can read feedback from our customers on our testimonials page
Our experts in Abruzzo region, conducted genealogy research on historical families from Rivisondoli, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Grossi, Freda, Iarussi, Monaco, Sarrocco, Romito, Martini, Massari, Ferrara, Caniglia, Troiano, Cipriani, Di Donato, De Capite and others.
Much of the information available about families and individuals in public and private local archives include, in addition to names and dates, further information such as occupations, the address where the family lived (a valuable info if you plan to visit Rivisondoli!), and key social relationships within the community in past centuries.
The information in genealogy research derives from the archives available for on-site research in Rivisondoli and Abruzzo. In previous research projects, our local genealogists have reconstructed family trees, cross-referenced family relationships, traced occupational and residential histories, and deciphered or translated historical documents useful to add information now forgotten to the history of your family.
Research activities may include all major sources available at municipal, provincial, and regional level:
• civil records
• parish registers
• emigrants database
• notarial archives
• military records
• cadastral and property records
• historical and photographic sources available in private archives
Direct access to local archives and a deep understanding of the local context allow for more complete and accurate results. Research may be carried out using all available sources in both public and private archives.
ItalianSide research: Beyond Names and Dates
Italian genealogy is deeply local. It can’t be reduced to collecting birth and death dates.
In Abruzzo, every municipality — including Rivisondoli — has its own archival history, record‑keeping traditions, and unique documentary sources. This is why Italianside is able to help you in your Italian ancestry research, through a national network of local experts, each specialized in the archives of their specific territory.
Our researcher who works in Rivisondoli and in the Province of L’Aquila knows how to navigate local civil, parish, military, and notarial records, uncovering details that go far beyond basic dates. By combining national coordination and methodology with deep local expertise, our researcher will bring your ancestors’ stories back to life within the history of the Rivisondoli community.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Rivisondoli
In towns and villages of Abruzzo and in L’Aquila province, civil registration offices were established in 1809. This means you can often find your ancestors’ civil records in the Town Hall archives of Rivisondoli from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Rivisondoli, please follow this link.)
If you know that your ancestors lived in Rivisondoli during the past centuries, the City Office of Rivisondoli is usually the first place to start your family research. Our local expert can access these records on your behalf and interpret them correctly.
- Professions: discover what your ancestors did for a living.
- Addresses: find the street or house where the family lived in Rivisondoli.
- Family links: identify parents, witnesses and neighbours that appear in the records.
- Signatures and notes: see how your ancestors signed and read any marginal annotations.
If you prefer to contact the Town Hall by yourself, we suggest reading our genealogy tips for Italy. They include practical advice for research in Abruzzo and specifically in Rivisondoli.
Rivisondoli Emigrants Database
Looking for ancestors who left Rivisondoli? Explore our Rivisondoli Emigrants Database to discover people who emigrated from this municipality, their destinations, travel details, and other available records. The database is continuously growing thanks to historical sources and contributions from our visitors. Browse the emigrants database from Rivisondoli
Street names in Rivisondoli
The names of the street in Rivisondoli, can help identify ancestral addresses found in civil records, parish documents, and old family papers.
At today, some of the main streets in Rivisondoli are: VIA QUATTRO NOVEMBRE, VIA MADONNA DELLE GRAZIE, VIALE GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO, VIA COLLE, VIA FONTICELLA, VIALE REGINA ELENA, VIA IGNAZIO SILONE, VIA COLLE COLAMAIO, VIALE GUGLIELMO MARCONI, VIA PARADISO, VIALE TEOFILO PATINI, VIA BENEDETTO CROCE, VIA PIE’ LA COSTA, VIA DELL’ARRESTO, VIA SANTO ANTONIO, VIA ROMA, VIA DEGLI ORTI, VIA DIETRO CORTE, VIA DANTE ALIGHIERI, VIA SUFFRAGIO and others.
If you want help to identify street names connected with your ancestors in Rivisondoli just follow the link below.
Population trends in Rivisondoli
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Rivisondoli from the Italian Unification (1861). Understanding how many people lived in the town over time is useful when interpreting migration and family movements.
Church Records in Rivisondoli
Church archives in L’Aquila province often preserve information that predates civil records. Parish registers include baptisms, marriages and burials and sometimes allow you to push your family tree back into the 1700s and 1600s.
In many areas of Abruzzo, parish registers began around the 1500s. These manuscripts are not easy to access from abroad and can be hard to read without specific training.
Our local genealogists, with backgrounds in history and archival studies, can consult the parish archives of Rivisondoli on your behalf and reconstruct your family history through the centuries.
Planning a visit to Rivisondoli
From our experience, if you plan to visit Rivisondoli we always recommend starting the research months before your arrival. This way you avoid spending your holidays in offices or churches dealing with bureaucracy.
Remember that archives are not open to the general public and officers or priests are not required by law to grant direct access to the records.
Thanks to the findings gathered by our genealogist before your trip, and the help of our local guides, you’ll have more time to plan the exact locations (family homes, churches, streets, cemeteries, etc.) you’ll visit during your stay in the city.
This way, you can enjoy the city and its surroundings, following in the footsteps of your ancestors for an unforgettable journey back to your roots.
Notary records and other historical sources
Another important source of information is represented by notary documents, which preserve wills, dowries, property sales and contracts. These records are usually kept in provincial and State Archives and can provide valuable details on the social and economic life of your family.
Military records
Conscription lists and service records documenting physical descriptions, dates and places of enlistment, units and ranks held, periods of service, military postings, transfers, and movements, often providing detailed insight into an individual’s life beyond civil registration.
Cadastral and property records in Rivisondoli
Historical cadastral and land records used to identify property ownership, track real estate transfers over time, and confirm the historical presence of families within Rivisondoli. ItalianSide provides professional assistance in accessing and interpreting these records, where available.
Historical and photographic sources available in private archives
Historical photographs, prints, and documents from private collections—including ItalianSide’s archive of vintage images from Rivisondoli and Abruzzo region are available. Old pictures add significant value to your family history research and offer a real sense of the places where your ancestors once lived.
Need help finding information about your ancestors in Rivisondoli?
Get a private reply from our local genealogist, or post a public message on this page.
Ask our local Genealogist
Send a private message to our local genealogy expert for Rivisondoli. You will usually receive a personal reply by email within 24 hours.
Ask the Community
Write a public message below, other readers can view and reply. Our genealogy expert for Rivisondoli may not monitor this page regularly.
My grandparents are from Rivisondoli, Amilcare Como and Ida Troiano. I believe a Marccela sp? is or was living in Rivisondoli?
My grandfather was Giacomo Ferrara and my grandmother was Matilde Caniglia Ferrara. Both were from Rivinsondoli. My grandparents were born around 1887. My Grandfather landed in the United States in 1913 and my grandmother came in 1920. My grandfather and grandmother settled in Akron, OH. Any help with other relatives in this area would be greatly appreciated….I was told one child was born in Rivinsondoli…her name was Kathrine, but died around the age of 2. Three other children were born in the states.
My great grandfather is Emilio Ferrara and his wife Carmela came to the US around 1900 with their child Ovidio and settled in Kent, OH; and later had children: Dominica, Genevieve, Yolanda (Helen) Jenny, and George. We went to Rivisondoli 5 years ago and met Ovidio’s cousin’s children and their children. I have a large family tree by a relative Perry Martini – who keeps in contact with relatives in Rivisondoli. My parents and two of my brothers as well as many other relatives still live in Kent. I will look if Giacomo or Matilde fall on the list. Eric F
Eric I’m actually reading Perry’s book right now, my great grandfather was Giuseppe Martini. If you could get me in touch with perry that would be amazing!
I believe my grandparents came from Rivisondoli,
Their lasts names were Di Donato, and Trocchio( trocchio may have be changed once they came to America) Do these names sound familiar? I know we have a relative that was a priest!
I have a Trocchio that immigrated to Ohio in 1905 with her brother and daughter – she married a Spagnoli.
My nana and her sister came from Rivisondoli italy their last name was Trocchio they settled in Monessen pennsylvania when they were married
Dear Angela,
We to have a Morgiano (George) Di Donato from Rivisondoli, Italy . He was born July 8, 1885 and died in Pittsburgh,PA Jan 10, 1960. Have you found anything about that last name? I was thinking of hiring a genealogist there to help. I was married to his son who has the same name but dropped the Di. .
My ancestors last name is Ferrante.Not sure about spelling. Some moved to NY early 1900s. Changed name to Serefine.
My great Grandfather is Francesco Campana born July 21, 1886 in Rivisondoli and had siblings, one brother named Liborio that I know of. His wife, my great grandmother, we called “Jenny” but her records i believe said Giavanne…her maiden name Spagnuolo, or Spagnolia, Spagnoli, Spagnolo…never spelled the same so i dont know which is correct but she was born in Rivisondoli on June 3, 1886. They were married in Rivisondoli and their first son, Charles Zeffarino Campana, was born there about 1909 or 1910 maybe? They left for America when Charles was an infant in 1910 or 1911 while Jenny was pregnant with my grandfather Anthony Campana who was born in Bedford Ohio USA. Can someone help me find the names of Frank and Jennys parents there? I suspect Franks mothers name was Marguerite Cipriani but not certain
My Great Grandfather was Olindo Mascio married to Maria Ramicone. I believe that Maria’s parents were Giovanni Ramicone and Christina Damicone. My Grandfather Nicholas Mascio went to live in Warren, Ohio he traveled with his mother Maria and met Olindo who came first.
My great grandfather was a Damicone from Rivisondoli. His name was Francesco born in 1876. He came to America when he was 16 or 17 and settled in Elmira, NY. He had a brother who went to South America. He had a half sister, Jenny and a sister Molly who also came to America. Other than that, I know nothing about him. Any relation to your Damicone?
Good afternoon,
I am researching our family tree and I was able to trace the name Ramicone back to Rivinsondoli Italy. I am interested in finding out more about Antonio Ramicone who might have lived from 1876-1944. I believe he was married to Pasqual Ramicone, who could have been born 1876 but I do not know her maiden name. I believe he could have sailed from Genoa to New York in April, 1905. They both came to the US in 1905 so they were probably married in Italy before traveling together.
Do you have access to birth certificates or marriage certificates?
Thanks!
Dear Sir or Madam:
So far, I have information of my grandfather and grandmother- all are from Rivisondoli:
Grandfather:
Octavio A. Romito Born: 4/4/1863 his father
Antonio Romito born July 1841
Nicola Pasquale Romito was born 1800? His father was Gennaro Romito born 1770-1775 died 1843 -his father possibly Amico Romito no dates or information on him.
Do you have any proof of this information or where I can find documents that far back.
Both my great, grandfather and mother were born and married in Rivisondi, as well as a great uncle. My Great grandfather’s name was Enrico Frank Gesue born 9/6/1867. There are some documents with the last name spelled differently: Giosue’ or Gisue’. My great grandmother’s maiden name is Isabella Massitta (or MMarsitti). I would love to have more information on them if possible as well as their parents and/or living relatives. Thank you in advance for the response.
I am looking for information about my great grandfather. My grandmother’s maiden name was Fraino. Her brother’s name was Guiseppe Antonio Fraino. Their mother’s maiden name (my great grandmother) was Rachele Spagnuolo (Fraino). She died during WWII along with my grandmother’s younger sister, Amabile, when the Germans took Rivisondoli. My grandmother and uncle came to the U.S. in the early 1900s. They were all born in Rivisondoli. I have no idea what the name of my great-grandfather is, and know nothing about him. Can you help me?
Terri, I’m trying to trace back my family tree. My great great grandmother was Rachele Spagnuolo. Her husband was Pasquale Fraino. That’s about all I know. I’m looking for more information too. My great grandfather was Giuseppe Antonio.
Garrett,
The information on your great great grandmother and GG grandfather sounds like we may possibly be related. Your great grand father Giuseppe, did he go by the name Tony? Did he have an older sister who came to America a few years before him? Where in the U.S. did he settle? My grandmother settled in PA.
If there is a chance we are related I will share my ancestor info with you.
Terri,
My Great Grandfather did go by Tony! Was your grandmother’s name Carmella Rose, and did she immigrate to PA around 1916? I’m guessing that we are related.
Garrett
Yes my Nona is (was) Carmella who lived in Creighton. She came to America in1916 at the age of 17. Your GG came a few years after her at the age of @12. Your Great Grandfather was my Uncle Tony and his wife was my Aunt Clotilda. I knew them well and visited with them often. Their two sons are my cousins. I have a lot of family information I am happy to share with you.
My grandmother was Genoveffa Bucicone. She was from Rivisondoli. Her maiden name was Spagnuolo. She was born in 1899. My grandfather was Dario Buccicone . He lived in Ortucchio, but was born in Rivisondoli. My grandmother had two brothers and one was named Angelo. My grandmothers mothers maiden name was Trombetta. My grandmothers father Dominic worked off and on in the Unites states in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.He was working in Pennsylvania somewhere.
Well, my grandmother was Adele Buccicone. Her parents, Guiseppe and Clelia Buccicone came to the US around 1900, settled northeast of Pittsburgh in Vandergrift, and my grandma was born there in 1905. Guiseppe and Clelia came from Rivisondoli which I was lucky enough to visit in 1986. I LOVED IT. Also living in Vandergrift were sisters, Emma and Elodea born in Rivisondoli.
Would Adele be a sister of my grandfathers Dario’s father Francesco? My grandfather was Dario Bucciconi and his parents were Francesco Bucciconi and Maddalens Marini – Bucciconi. She died in the big earthquake of 1915. But i dont know who are the parents of Francesco. I heard it may have been Gaetano Bucciconi. Please help if you can.
Hi. I’m related to you. My grandma is Dorothy Marietta DiNardo. Her grandmother and grandfather are Elizabeth Marietta Buccicone and Domenico DiNardo. We know they are from Abruzzo state location. Dario is Elizabeth’s brother. I heard of Dario and how he was an inventor lived out in Indiana/Chicago region and had 7 sons or grandsons. You might know the name Amedeo DiNardo as he is my great great uncle. We are from Sharon PA/many started out in Numine PA. We would like to connect with you and try to finish our family tree!
Hi I am Laurent and I grandson of Dario Buccicone and I had 6 brothers. I would be happy to help with your family tree.
Hi Laurent, my name is Algisa. I live in Rivisondoli and my mother, Giovanna, is a daughter Angelo Spagnuolo ( brother of your grandmother Genoveffa). I am happy to have found news about you. My mother and her sister Annunziata are the granddaughters of your grandmother Genoveffa married with Dario Buccicone. In 1924, they emigrated to the United States with their son Velio. While searching the internet, I read that your mother Ida, Velio’s sister, died on March 8, 2016 but I can’t find any information about your aunt Donna. My mother Giovanna was born on June 24, 1933. She married and had three children: Angelo, Carmen, and Algisa. My aunt Annunziata, born on May 20, 1932, died on January 3, 2023, and was unmarried. I would like to hear from you.
My grandmother was a Spagnuolo or Spagnoli… her name was Giavanne or “Jenny”…from Rivisondoli…born and married there. She married Frank/Francesco Campana also born there and had a son Charles Zeffarino in about 1910 before they came to America… possible relation?
You are related to me, I am the granddaughter of Marco Campana
Hi, I would be happy to help you. Yes, I am a grandson of Dario. Dario was born in Ortucchio and my grandmother said the family was originally from Rivisondoli but moved to Orthuccio at some point before Dario was born, so Elzabeth may have been born I am not sure in which town. The family consisted of Giovanna who never married, Theresa(also called Monica because she was in a convent at some point) Adelina, Elizabeth Marrietta, Dario and Sylvestro. Their parents were Francesco Buccicone born in 1849-? and Maddalena Marini born in 1861 and died in the large 1915 earthquake. I have a list of deceased from the earthquake which shows Maddalena as a victim and lists her parents as Constantino Marini as the father and Mattia Iarussa as the mother. I heard many stories from my mother Ida (1928-2016) about trips to Nu Mine, Vandergrift and Sharon,PA to vist her uncles, aunts and cousins. My mom talked a lot about how she looked up to the Oddi, Mancini, DiNardo cousins. They used to call my uncle Velio Bucciconi, Amadeo DiNardo and Mario Mancini, the Three Musketeers. I have met Amodeo DiNardo and my mom corresponded with him. Yes, my mother had seven sons and I am number three. Nicholas, Francis, Laurent, Alex, Frank, Joel and Michel. My mother also has a sister Donna Benus who is the only one left from that generation. She was born in 1937 in Gary, IN. She lives in Portage,IN and has 3 children, Tom, Diane and Matthew. My mom met my father Eugene Santaquilani I Rome in the early 1950’s at Warner Brothers-she was a translator and secretary. They moved to France in 1954 and all of us were born between 1957 and 1963 and my parents retuned to Gary,IN in 1964. My Grandfather started out in Pennsylvania as a ditch digger and laborer, came up with some labor saving devices, suggested them to his superiors, made some prototypes, was transferred to USS GARY Works in the late 1920’s , worked there until 1941, left there to start his own shop and built machines for the mills along with his son Velio my uncle. Velios sons Dana, Clifford and Valerie Jill as well as us Santaquilanis also worked for the business as we grew up.
Amodeo was a WW2 navy veteran who was in submarines in the Pacific. He became a tool and die maker after the war and was able to retire early. He was an accomplished tennis player and we were impressed that he drove a Rolls Royce.