Grassano Genealogy
Tracing your Italian roots back to Grassano (in Matera province, Basilicata region) begins with understanding which records exist and where they are preserved. On this page you’ll find a clear guide to the historical sources as birth, marriage and death civil and religious records available for family history in Grassano.
Grassano family history at a glance
- Region: Basilicata
- Province: Matera
- Type of records: civil and parish records
- Civil registration: from 1809 onwards
- Parish records: often older than civil records (in some cases from the 1600s)
How to research your ancestry in Grassano
Thanks to its network of local experts, Italianside has developed significant experience in genealogical research in the province of Matera. 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 the feedbacks of our customers on our testimonials page
Our experts in Basilicata region, conducted genealogy research on historical families from Grassano, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Bonelli, Carbone, Liuzzi, Vignola, Lerose, Tortorelli, Sanseverino, Pirrone, Pontillo, Dileo, Schiavone, Lagonigro, Siggillino, Abbatangelo and others.
Many info relating to families and individuals available in public and private local archives include, in addition to names and dates, further information such as occupations, the address where family lived (a great info if you plan to visit Grassano), 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 Grassano and Basilicata. During the previous activities, our local genealogists developed studies, family trees, cross-referenced family relationships, occupational histories, deciphered or translated documents, residential patterns, and visual documentation 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
• notarial archives
• military 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.
Italian family history research: Beyond Names and Dates
Italian genealogy is deeply local. It can’t be reduced only about collecting birth and death dates.
In Basilicata, every municipality — including Grassano — 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 Grassano and in the Province of Matera will be of help 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 Grassano community.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Grassano
In towns and villages of Basilicata and in Matera province, civil registration offices were established in 1809. This means you can often find your ancestors’ civil records in the Town Hall archives of Grassano from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Grassano, please follow this link.)
If your ancestors lived in Grassano during the past centuries, the City Office of Grassano 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 Grassano.
- 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 Basilicata and specifically in Grassano.
Population trends in Grassano
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Grassano 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 Grassano
Church archives in Matera 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 Basilicata, 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, graduated in history and archival studies, can consult the parish archives of Grassano on your behalf and reconstruct your family history through the centuries.
In case you want to visit churches, these are the addresses of parishes active today in Grassano:
S. GIOVANNI BATTISTA – Via Roma, 134
MADONNA DELLA NEVE – Via Meridionale
MADONNA DEL CARMINE – P.zza A. Livento
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.
Historical and photographic sources available in private archives
Historical photographs, prints, and documents from private collections—including ItalianSide’s archive of vintage images from Grassano and Basilicata 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.
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 Grassano
Historical cadastral and land records used to identify property ownership, track real estate transfers over time, and confirm the historical presence of families within Grassano. ItalianSide provides professional assistance in accessing and interpreting these records, where available.
Planning a visit to Grassano
From our experience, if you plan to visit Grassano 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.
With the results collected by our genealogist before your trip, you will have more time to enjoy the town and its surroundings, walking in the footsteps of your ancestors.
Ready to explore Grassano? Discover our travel proposals to Basilicata and Grassano — or to other destinations across Italy. Our itineraries are developed with our trusted tour operator partners and supported by the expertise of our local specialists, who design personalized heritage journeys in the footsteps of your ancestors.
Professional help for research in Grassano
If you need professional support from our local genealogist in the Grassano area, write to grassano@italianside.com or fill the form here. Our expert will study your request and reply with a research plan and a quote tailored to your family history.
Messages from other visitors in Grassano
Here below you can read messages from other visitors in the Grassano forum. If you simply want to discuss genealogy in Grassano with other people, feel free to leave a message.
Ciao, My great grandparents, Andrea Decuzzi, born in 1881 and Maria Locecere, born in 1884 were both from Grassano. They were also married in Grassano prior to emigrating to New York in 1906. I am searching for their Birth Records as well as their Marriage Certificate.
Hello Gerard, We are related. Francesco Soldo (Circa 1799-May1,1841) and Antonia Bolettieri (Feb 23, 1803-Aug 26 1880) are my 4th great grandparents. They were married on Jan 30, 1820 and had at least a son: Giuseppe Domenico Soldo (Jan 19, 1821-Aug 20 1853). I have Antonia Bollettieri’s parents and grandparents information as well.
Sto cercando mia nonna Anna Maria Ambrico Schiavone grave sito. Credo sia morta in Italia mentre mio nonno Ralph Schiavone prestava servizio nell’esercito italiano. Credo che mio padre John schiavone e suo fratello Dominic signne siano stati messi in un orfanotrofio fino a quando mio nonno non è stato dimesso. Più tardi tornarono negli Stati Uniti nel 1935 con la nonna che conoscevo Nunziata Schiavone. La mia vera nonna sarebbe morta tra il 1919 e il 1930 e mio padre e mio zio sarebbero stati nell’orfanotrofio nello stesso periodo.
My grandfather was Nicolo Lagonigro and my grandmother was Maria Daraio
Nicolo left for NY in 1910. Maria left 1911. Any information would be great. Thank you
My great grandmother’s maiden name was Lagonigro. She was Margherita and she married Giuseppi Zimmariello. We gotta be related some how.
I am interested in any information you can provide on the Conte family from Grassano. My Grandfather Lucio Conte always told me his family lived in Grassano which is where he was raised before traveling to America.
My family Grandmother’s family is from Grassano on my Dads side. My Grandmothers last name is Lagronigro. Any information will great!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello my Great grandads name was Inocenzo Lagonigro an lived in Grassano
My great grandmother’s maiden name was Lagonigro. They were from Grassano.
Any information on my father James Laurino, born February 20, 1902 would be appreciated. Thank you!
My great grandmother was Luiza Laurino and she went with her three sons in 1898 to Brazil. one of her sons was Luciano Pompeo, my grandfather. I have the information he was born in Grassano, but I can’t find his birth register..
Looking for any information for Prospero Ambrico. He was born March 1876. his mother was Teresa Settembre. He was married to Anna Ippolito. He went to the USA in 1899 with his 2 children. He had 10 more children & then left most of them and his wife in the USA. He returned to Grassano. He had more children there. A daughter Elena and 2 sons as far as I know. He never returned to the USA.
Hello,
I am interested in the history on Bianco. My Grandfather Anthony had a brother Joseph Anthony was born 1897. Just wanting to learn more about my ancestry, anything.
Thank you.
To whom it may concern:
We’re looking for any information surrounding our ancestors;
Francesco Soldo (born approx 1790-1800 (?), married to Antonia Bolettieri; with son Giuseppe Domenico Soldo, Born 19 Jan 1821, Died 20 Aug 1953.
Thank you in advance for any/all information you may be able to provide us.
An Inocencio Danielle Bolletieri appears in my grandfather’s notes saying Inocencio went to live with them in 1902 in Rosario, Argentina. He then returned to Grassano, Basilicato.
House fire in 1954 destroyed all paper work for my Italian Grandmother. She was illiterate so her name was probably written phonetically at Ellis Island. I cannot locate in any Ellis Island record.
here is what we know:
Name; Rosina Samparelli/Zamparella…unsure of her maiden name. Everything she signed was done with a “X”.
She was born Dec 8 1900 or 1901 in Grassano.
Her parents were Giuseppe and Maria. Her mother’s maiden name was Lagonigro.
She supposedly had 11 brothers and 1 sister who died from an infection due to a human bite. This incident would have prior to 1913
She left Grassano for New York in either 1913 or 1914 to marry my Grandfather Biagio Monteleone who was from Carosino Lecce. I have been trying to research this for almost 25 years and to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated
My grandparents from Grassano came through the Port of Philadelphia, not Ellis Island. They ended up in Brooklyn. I believe they came on a ship of German registry, but I don’t know the name.
My Great Grandad is a Lagonigro from Grassano
I am looking for information about my great-great-great grandparents, Francesco D’Artizio and Angela Granzino, who had a child, Caterina D’Artizio, in Grassano about 1831 (she died in Gravina in 1907). Cateria married Francescopaolo Mugnolo (who was born in Gravina), but their daughter, Maria Maddalena Mugnolo (my great-grandmother) was born in Grassano around 1853 (she died in Gravina 26 June 1894).
Was travel (and moving households) from Grassano to Gravina in Puglia common in those days? What caused families to move from one town to another?
Marguerite
compilling family ancestry. interested in identifying the names of my grandparents parents. need the parents of giuseppe schiavone (he was born in grassano 1892) and annarose frazullo (she was born in grassano 1895).
Would like to identify their parents names and dates of birth.
Looking for great grand parents from grassano. Francesco Cicileo and Antonia D’Ambrosio had 2 children Vincenzo and Rosina Vincenzo born 06/27/1894. immigrated to usa 1913