Tursi Genealogy
Tracing your Italian roots back to Tursi (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 Tursi.
Tursi 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 Tursi
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 Tursi, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Lauria, D’Alessandro, Cavallo, Santamaria, Mazzei, Francolino, Tauro, Gentile, Salerno, Fusco, Rondinelli, Padula, Romano, Russo 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 Tursi), 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 Tursi 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 Tursi — 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 Tursi 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 Tursi community.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Tursi
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 Tursi from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Tursi, please follow this link.)
If your ancestors lived in Tursi during the past centuries, the City Office of Tursi 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 Tursi.
- 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 Tursi.
Population trends in Tursi
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Tursi 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 Tursi
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 Tursi 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 Tursi:
BEATA VERGINE DEL ROSARIO – Panevino
MARIA SS. ANNUNZIATA – P.zza Cattedrale, 9
MARIA SS. REGINA DEL MONDO – Via Caprarico
S. FILIPPO NERI – P.zza Plebiscito
S. MARIA MAGGIORE – Via Duca degli Abruzzi, 20
S. MICHELE ARCANGELO – Via Umberto I, 35
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 Tursi 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 Tursi
Historical cadastral and land records used to identify property ownership, track real estate transfers over time, and confirm the historical presence of families within Tursi. ItalianSide provides professional assistance in accessing and interpreting these records, where available.
Planning a visit to Tursi
From our experience, if you plan to visit Tursi 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 Tursi? Discover our travel proposals to Basilicata and Tursi — 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 Tursi
If you need professional support from our local genealogist in the Tursi area, write to tursi@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 Tursi
Here below you can read messages from other visitors in the Tursi forum. If you simply want to discuss genealogy in Tursi with other people, feel free to leave a message.
Can anyone help me with the last name Verdi. My Great-Grandmother’s name was Carmela Dominica Conti. She married a man with the last name Verdi. He had a lot of children and was very wealthy, when my Great – Grandmother died at a young age he re-married and she convinced my Great-Grandfather to send the children to different relatives in America. My Grandmothers name was Mary Dominica Verdi, she was sent to America at 9 years old.
I have been to Tursi many times. My mother was born there. I am good friends with a Salvatore Verde who lives in Tursi. I have not many anyone with the last name of Verdi. Could it have been Verde at one time and the name got misspelled.
Can anyone help me with finding the Italian surname of the Skiffey family that emigrated from Tursi to Niles Ohio?
I noticed a lot of familiar names and wondered if any of these families are blood relatives or related to the Salerno’s or to each other: Bruno; Fortunato; Giordano( Grieco; Ruggiero; Russo; Salerno. Thank you
Looking for any information on Da Lia? Michele Married to Maria…son is Angelo married to Mary, their daughter Mary born May 14, 1880 who is my great grandmother who immigrated to the US in 1880 ish? Angelo was born in Tulsi around 1851 and died March 31, 1931 in Youngstown Ohio. His wife Maria was born around 1855. They had 5 children but don’t know their names. That is all I can find out from the US. I assume that the Mary’s are Maria’s which is a common change is the US.
I am searching for information on my grand parents who were both from Tursi. My grand fathers name was Pietro Caruso and my grandmother was Theresa Malaperia. They both left for the United States in the early 1900. Can you advise on how I can find information. I will be visiting Tursi in June.
I am looking for information on the Ferrara family in Tursi. My Great Grandfather was from Tursi. His name was Antonio Ferrara. In the US his name was known as Ferraro. He was born in 1867. He married Mary (Maria?) and emigrated to the United States.
To Michael, I have information on the Ferrara family, in fact I have an extensive family tree of them. Antonio was the son of Biase Domenica Castronuovo and he married Domenica Paradiso, with whom he had Tommaso who married Domenica D’Alessandro and had a child called Salvatore.
Hi Will,
Thanks for the reply, however I do not think that it is a connection. My Antonio was the son of GiuseppAntonio and Donata. Thank you anyway.
Searching in Tursi for the family of Felice D’Alessandro and wife Luisa/Louisa/Aloysia D’ Pierro. Children born in Italy were Nicholas Andrew 1901 and Teresa . Children born in the U.S. were Andrew Joseph born 1903 and Felix born 1906.
Madeline,
I have seen the name D’Allessandro in my research, related to a family that married into my family. I will try to find Nicolas Andrew and see what I can find.
Michelle
To Connie, I’m doing ancestry research as well and, like you, have seem to have hit a brick wall as far as finding info on my great grandparents. I did find my gr. grandmother, Rosa Salerno, born in 1851 in Tursi the same year that your Angelo was born there and they both came to and died in Youngstown, Ohio. I’m wondering if there is a family connection? Did you know or be familiar with any Salerno’s who lived on the west side of Youngstown? Some of the other family names in addition to Salerno are Allegretti, Pupino, Pucci.
My grandmother, Luisa Di Pierro was born on November 18, 1881, in Tursi, Matera, Italy, the daughter of Carmela and Nicholas Di Pierro. Would love to know Carmela’s family name.
My grandfather, Felice D’Alessandro was born on July 24, 1879, in Tursi, Matera, Italy. Sketchy information that his father, Felice, was born in 1859.
My information has them marrying on July 29, 1900 in Tursi. Arriving in the US in May 1901.
I would like to find any information on my family ancestors.
My great grandmother, Rosa Guglielmnccia came to the United States with her son Vincenzo Salerno in 1895 on the ship, Belgravia. Would like to know who his father was and what her parents names were and some background and if any relatives still live in Tursi. Any info would be greatly appreciated ?
Hello,
Looking for information on my great great grandfather Francescantonio Zifari. born 19 April 1838 Tursi, Matera, Basilicata, Italy. His wife was Filomina Grottole. His son Angle Zifari was my great grandfather.
I am looking for information on my great great grandfather who was from Tursi. As far as I can tell, his name was “Morris” Spatafore (from great grandfather’s death certificate). Seems like it may be inaccurate, but that’s at least what my great aunt thought his name was 😀
His son, my great grandfather,’s name was Antonio, born 1895 and came to US sometime after that…all I got! Name was probably spelled Spadafora before crossing the pond.
Any info would be appreciated!
Sal, I have done tons of online research in Tursi and have Spadafora in my tree. I’m guessing Morris was Maurizio. I will look for Antonio in 1895 and see if I can find him.
Thanks so much for the reply. Did you happen find anything?
Looking for any information on Isabella Ambrose born in Tursi around 1888. Sent to Ohio in America around 1902 to marry.
Looking for information on Nigro family. Carmella Nigro. 1895
Further information: Rosina D’Amelio left Tursi in 1923. Sisters’ names were Antonietta born 4/12/1902, Lucia born 4/19/1909. Brother Angelo born 8/5/1904 who left Tursi and died in the USA at age 19 in January, 1924. There was another brother I believe named Salvatore.
Are there any relatives left living in Tursi?
D’Amelio is family name. Grandfather was Salvatore D’Amelio. Mother was Rosina D’Amelio. Interested if relatives still live in Tursi. Mother came to USA in l923 at age of 17. Left sisters, brother and father in Tursi
The D’Ercole family home in Tursi, Italy. Ant photo;s would be helpful.