Montescaglioso Genealogy
Tracing your Italian roots back to Montescaglioso (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 Montescaglioso.
Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso
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 Montescaglioso, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Palazzo, Rossetti, Santarcangelo, Oliva, Venezia, Nobile, Andrisani, Panico, Lospinuso, Mazzoccoli, Carriero, Lomonaco, Bubbico, Martinelli 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 Montescaglioso), 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 Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso — 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 Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso community.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Montescaglioso
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 Montescaglioso from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Montescaglioso, please follow this link.)
If your ancestors lived in Montescaglioso during the past centuries, the City Office of Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso.
- 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 Montescaglioso.
Population trends in Montescaglioso
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso
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 Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso:
SANTI PIETRO E PAOLO – Via Chiesa Maggiore, 17
S. LUCIA – Via Indipendenza
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 Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso
Historical cadastral and land records used to identify property ownership, track real estate transfers over time, and confirm the historical presence of families within Montescaglioso. ItalianSide provides professional assistance in accessing and interpreting these records, where available.
Planning a visit to Montescaglioso
From our experience, if you plan to visit Montescaglioso 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 Montescaglioso? Discover our travel proposals to Basilicata and Montescaglioso — 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 Montescaglioso
If you need professional support from our local genealogist in the Montescaglioso area, write to montescaglioso@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 Montescaglioso
Here below you can read messages from other visitors in the Montescaglioso forum. If you simply want to discuss genealogy in Montescaglioso with other people, feel free to leave a message.
Cerco locantore,coniugato Buompastore emigrati nei primi anni del 900 vivevano a fairviev provenienti da Montescaglioso, un figlio mori in italia durante la seconda guera mondiale, mai piu venuti in Italia
giuseppe
My grandparents and mother lived in Montescaglioso. My Grandfather was Damiano Andrisani and my grandmother was Pasqualina Capotorto. I know that my mom had an aunt named Carmela Andrisani who owned a hotel and an uncle named Giovanni Andrisani
Seeking family connection to Venezia family in Montescaglioso, Matera – Great-grandfather was Rocco Luigi Venezia born in 1883, son of Francesco Venezia and Filomena Audriulli
Hello – we have a grandfather named Rocco Luigi Venezia who may have been born in 1883 – he married Rose Manicone right after WW1 and had 5 children (4 boys and a girl) – all the cousins from these children are still in touch and we are spread throughout the states and Montreal, Canada. We are all in our 50s to 60s now. Rose was born in 1998 but I believe that Rocco was 13-15 years older than her. So it is highly possible that he had a family before marrying Rose? I would be interested in hearing more about your Rocco Venezia.
I’m looking for information about my grandparents. Rocco Memmoli and Giovannina Iovene Memmoli. The family believes they were born in Montescaglioso in the 1870’s. They left for the US in around 1910. We know nothing about Givannina’s family but we know Rocco’s father,Tommasso, was a doctor. Some cousins think they came from Naples around the time of their births but others think they may have been related to a Marino Memmoli who arrived in Montecaglioso in 1705 with his wife, Francesca Bolognese. I do not think there are any Memmoli currently living in Matera, Montescaglioso or Basilicata. A kind gentleman communicated to one of my cousins some time ago but that correspondence is lost.
Tante grazie, J. Martini
I found information about my great great grandfather who was born on 2/6/1882 in Montescaglioso. His name was James (Giacamo) Dimichino. I was just wondering if you had any information on him or who his parents could have been, any other family members, etc. His wife is Lillian Dimichino (maiden name we believe is Federico).
I have researched my Italian ancestry back 400 yrs with over 10,000 family members identified. I still cannot find when/where my great-grandfather died; both my grandfather and great-grandfather left Italy for the US in 1909 and 1913, respectively; both had not spoken to each other since they left Italy but both listed their last contact with their father (1917) in Montescaglioso. I have been unable to locate his death (Paolo Orlando born 1856 to Pasquale Orland & Caterina Lantese)and his wife, (Maria Luigia diBartolomeo born 1857 to Nicola diBartolomeo & Anna Maria Maruggi). I have Paolo’s/Maria Luigia’s marriage certificate and other documents, including an extract of my grandfather’s birth in Massafra in 1891 as well and have exhausted searches in Ancestry and LDS Family search. Any tips you may have in locating the death location of Paolo (possibly 1937ish) & Maria Luigia (possibly 1906ish) would be appreciated.
My maternal grandparents came from Montescaglioso. My grandfather, Michele DiTaranto, was born there on 16 August 1883 and emigrated to America in 1907. My grandmother, Elisabetta Perrone, was also born there around 1886, came to America aboard the Duca D’Aosta in 1912, and married my grandfather in New York a few days later. We have good data about their lives in the U.S., but very little information about their lives in Montescaglioso. My sister and are planning to visit Montescaglioso and the surrounding area in October, 2016. We would like to research whatever records are available in the local church archives and other public archives to learn more about our ancestors. Most importantly, we would like to identify any living relatives that we might be able to contact and perhaps visit while we are in Montescaglioso. Can you help? Mille grazie.
My grandmother Maria Maddelena Dragonetti was born in Montescaglioso on June 18, 1883. She entered New York on December 13,1907. I have her passport. She came to America to marry my grandfather Angelo Pietromatero. they married on February 12,1908.
Her mother was Antonia LaCanfora. Her father Guiseppe Dragonetti. I just wanted more information on any siblings she may have had in Italy. Also If any relatives are still living. Where they lived in town. I would like to know anything about her. Her half brother was Angelo Nobile. He came to America after she was married in America, lived with her for a short while and then he resided in Paterson, N.J.
Nicolette
We need to talk, Cugino., you gave me more information on my Grandfather, Angelo Nobile arived Ellis Island in May 1909 on the Antonio Lopez ship and was sponsors by his brother-in-law Angelo Matera .
If this is cousin Nikki and Danny, Call or email me.
Nicky
I just saw something that my great grandfather, Rocco Nobile married to Antonia
Laconfera may have been married to someone else prior to my great grandmother Antonia…I don’t know but it seems very convincing.
Cugino Roy Nobile
Hi Roy…
My grandfather Giuseppe Locantore was from Montescaglioso. He used to visit a family in or near Paterson, NJ by the surname of Nobile. They were either related or friends. In 1982 I received a letter from Lucy Nobile in Fairview, NJ – she was 72 years old at the time. Her father-in-law was Frank Nobile and her husband was Rocco. Any chance we connect?
Carolyn
Colorado
I have a Rocco LaComfora (lacanfora) in my family tree believed to be born November 20th, 1886 to a Giuseppe lacanfora and Palma Materazzo in Montescaglioso, Potenza, Basilicata.
Rocco LaComfora (lacanfora) came to America in 1905-1907 and was married to a Dora Trato/Detrato/Ditaranto which arrived to America in 1913. (Haven’t been able to locate a marriage certificate.)
Unfortunately I don’t know if either of them settled in New York or any other location for any period of time as they resided in Massachusetts from 1920 till their deaths in the 1970s. Not sure where Rocco lived from 1907-1919 but he did allegedly have family members in the United States before his arrival.
Birth dates of Rocco Luigi locantore and wife Palma Sasso. Parents of Francesco Paolo locantore born March 12 1882 ? Death?
My husbands grandparents Francesco Paolo locantore born March 12 1882 on 61 via San Giovanni Battista to Palma Sasso and her husband Rocco Luigi Locantore. And Addolorata Ditaranto born March 30 1890 on 27 via Metaponto to maria and Nunzio Ditaranto all in Montescaglioso. We are looking for great grandparents birth and death dates and there parents also any siblings for Addolorata, Francesco, Rocco, Palma, Maria and Nunzio. Are there living cousins. I hope you can help. Look forward to answers. John and Linda locantore.
My maternal grandparents also came from Montescaglioso. His name was Giuseppe Locantore, born Jan 28, 1891 – died Sept 19, 1956 in Worcester, Mass. His wife was also born there. Her name was Paola Masciulli, born 1891 – died Nov 17, 1921 in Worcester. If anyone reads this and knows of their relatives, please respond. My daughter and I visited this town in the summer of 1991. We met 2 distant Locantore cousins who have since passed – neither had children, so I’ve hit a brick wall.
Hi Linda… My maternal grandparents also came from Montescaglioso. His name was Giuseppe Locantore, born Jan 28, 1891 – died Sept 19, 1956 in Worcester, Mass. His wife was also born there. Her name was Paola Masciulli, born 1891 – died Nov 17, 1921 in Worcester. If anyone reads this and knows of their relatives, please respond. My daughter and I visited this town in the summer of 1991. We met 2 distant Locantore cousins who have since passed – neither had children, so I’ve hit a brick wall. ~
I have not been able to find any more information on our Italian relatives. I have papers with the up coming marriage of Francesco Paola Locantore in Italy . On ancestry I have a family tree with all the information but we still search. We are in New Jersey. Linda
Hi Linda… Just saw your message from last Oct. Here are the names of my ancestors from Montescaglioso that I’ve found so far. Do they match any of yours? Unfortunately, I’m missing most of their birth and death years.
Giuseppe Locantore – 1891-1956
Francesco Locantore – 1848-?
Michele Locantore
Grazia Sassone – about 1858-?
Francesco Paolo Sassone – 1830-?
Giuseppe Vito Sassone
Paola Masciulli – 1891-1921
Domenico Masciulli
Angela Brio
Vito Brio
Grazia Zaccara
Francesco Zaccara
Grazia DiCio
Elisabette Panico – ?-1848
Filomena Patimisco – about 1865-?
Rosa Simmarrano
Carolyn
Colorado
Tra i parenti c’è una buompastore?