Region: Calabria Province: Cosenza
Tracing your Italian roots back to Roggiano Gravina, in Cosenza province, Calabria region?
This comprehensive guide empowers you to understand the records available in Roggiano Gravina, unlocking your family’s rich history.
Where to Begin Your Ancestry Journey in Roggiano Gravina
If your ancestral trail leads to Roggiano Gravina, Italy, their vital records are likely housed in two key locations:
- Roggiano Gravina City Hall Archives: Established in 1809, these archives hold civil registry records like births, marriages, and deaths for Roggiano Gravina residents since then.
- Roggiano Gravina Parish Churches: For records pre-dating 1809 or for religious ceremonies, exploring Roggiano Gravina’s parish church archives might be necessary.
Civil Records in Roggiano Gravina
In towns and villages of Calabria and in Cosenza province civil registry offices were established in 1809: it means that you could find your ancestors records in Roggiano Gravina Town Hall archives as of that date.
(If your goal is to get your Italian Citizenship and you need official certificates from Roggiano Gravina Municipality, follow this link).
So, if your ancestors lived in Roggiano Gravina during the past centuries, then you should start your family research from the City Office of Roggiano Gravina to know more: our local expert is ready to help you in your research!
With his deep knowledge of people and local history he will assist you not only finding names and dates (births, marriages, deaths) but he will reveal to you many other precious information on the life of your ancestors available in the old registers.
- Professions: do you know what your ancestors did for a living? Our genealogist will be able to give you this info!
- Addresses: the house where your family lived (a great information if you intend to visit Roggiano Gravina !)
- Churches: where they were baptized or married
- Signatures: if your ancestors knew how to write, he will be able to show you their original signatures.
(If you can’t visit Roggiano Gravina, our researcher will give you the necessary info to find by yourself the relevant places on the maps available online)
Next picture shows the demographic trends in Roggiano Gravina from the Italian Unification (1861).
This is a necessary info to understand how many people lived in the town in the past.
To go on quickly in your research is important to know if the last name you are investigating is a frequent surname in Roggiano Gravina. As more your surname is common, as more it could be difficult to find the right branch of your ancestors family in Roggiano Gravina archives, expecially if you have not exact dates (there could be cases of homonymy).
It’s useful for you to know that some of the most common surnames in Cosenza province are:
Aiello, Barone, Bruno, Caputo, Caruso, Chiappetta, De Luca, De Marco, De Rose, Esposito, Falcone, Ferraro, Filice, Fusaro, Gabriele, Gagliardi, Gallo, Garofalo, Gaudio, Gencarelli, Gentile, Giordano, Greco, Guido, Leone, Longo, Madeo, Marino, Martino, Mazzei, Morrone, Nicoletti, Nigro, Palermo, Perri, Perrone, Porco, Presta, Pugliese, Rizzo, Romano, Ruffolo, Russo, Salerno, Santoro, Spadafora, Sposato, Veltri.
Church Records in Roggiano Gravina
Church archives in Cosenza province may store even older information. You will find religious records of the same events (births, marriages and deaths) but, most important, you could go further back in time!
So in case you would like to go back in centuries, it’s good for you to know that the parish registers in Calabria started during 1500!
Parish archives are far less accessible expecially from abroad and very hard to read and decipher if you are not used and skilled.
But our local genealogists, are graduated in history and archivistics so, with their expertise, they can research the church registers of Roggiano Gravina on your behalf to gather info about your family history during centuries.
In case you want to visit churches, these are the addresses of parishes active today in Roggiano Gravina:
REGINA PARADISI – Via Vittorio Emanuele, 309
S. PIETRO APOSTOLO – P.zza Re d’ Italia
For our experience, if you plan to come here to visit Roggiano Gravina, we always suggest to start the research months before the arrival.
This because a comprehensive genealogy research is time consuming!
Starting from home, you will have time to get a complete research avoiding to waste your holidays in the offices or in the churches dealing with italian bureaucracy .
(Remember that archives are not open to public and officers and priests are not required by law to give you access to the local archives)
With the results gathered by our genealogist and translated in your language before your arrival, you will have the possibility to plan carefully your visit.
In this way you will have more free time to enjoy your tour to the roots on your ancestors footsteps.
Another important source of information are the notary documents available to expert researchers in the State Archives of Cosenza.
If you need a professional help from our local genealogist in Roggiano Gravina area , write to roggianogravina@italianside.com or fill the form here.
Our expert will study your request and will reply to you with a plan and a quote for your family research.
If you think to contact the town hall by yourself, we suggest you to read our tips for your search. They are useful advices to search in Calabria and of course in Roggiano Gravina too.
Here below you can read the messages received from other visitors in Roggiano Gravina forum:
if you only want to discuss with other people interested in genealogy in Roggiano Gravina feel free to leave a message below.
hello
Im from Venezuela and my grand father is from roggiano gravina , i need help to find a document when he got married in 1937 , his name is ANGELO MARIA ABATE,
he passed away 1937
is there someone who can help me?
I’m searching info in my father and mother both born in Roggiano Gravina as were my 4 siblings. I am not able to give dates of my parents birth but can give birthdates on my siblings. I think my parents were wed on September 19, 1919.
I am searching for information on my family who all were born in Roggiano Gravina before coming to New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Great Grandfather: Gennaro Castiglia or Costiglia was born in 1862. He married Maria Louisa Fuentti (Rotondaro?) who was born in 1858.
My grandfather, Dominic Castiglia was born 25 Aug 1887. Dominic married Maria Francesca Merinda, who was born on 12 October 1891. Her parents Josephine and Giuseppe Mirena died and she moved to Philadelphia, PA in 1909. Her brother Angelo Merinda was her guardian. She then married Dominic Castiglia in Philadelphia PA on 18 Dec 1909.
As I am sure may others have, I have encountered many spellings of these last names. Your help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
I am researching the FEUDO family for my granddaughter, Alison. His Petition For Naturalization States that he was born December 13, 1891 in Roggiano Gravina and that he emigrated from there in May 1908. There is some confusion because his WW!! Draft Registration Card states he was born in Lavina, Italy.
Looking for information about my grandfather Francesco Reale born Dec 22 1888 in Roggiano Gravina his fathers name was Guiseppi. He married Carolina Fendo in 1908.. Would like any information about their parent’s
I seek information from my great-grandfather, he was the son of João Viola and Mariangela Bengardina – he Domingos Viola was born on 10/15/1897 in the city of Rogiano Granina, Province of Cosenza went to Brazil in the city of Ilhabela – these are the information I I have about it, if someone has information I will be happy. thank you so much!!!
I am looking for/details of my Father and paternal family – Giuseppe Altomare (we have never met) from Cosenza. He emigrated from Italy @1956/57 and finally settled in Toronto Canada where he met my mother.
I am based in UK.
I am looking for information for my maternal grandmother’s family, Rosa Credidio. I have her original birth certificate and she was born in Roggiano Gravina on 11/24/1902. Her parents are listed as
Costantino Credidio and Letizia Chiappella. My understanding is that Rosa’s parents passed away in their 30’s and she was given up for adoption at a young age. I know of at least 2 siblings, Angelina born
8/22/1893 and Francesco born 8/3/1896. If anyone may have any information it would be greatly appreciated.
Good morning
I am looking for information about my mom. She was born in 1951 in Roggiano Gravina. Her fathers’s name is Flavio Ottavio Stella. My mom’s name is Julie. She left Italy at the age of 1 or 2 with the family and moved to the USA. Any information would be great.
Thanks
John
Hello! I’m from Brazil and I’m looking some informations about Alfredo Christofaro or Alfredo Scotti Christofaro, son of Angelo Christofaro and Maria Scotti. He was born in February 21st, 1885. He came to Brazil, to Rio de Janeiro I guess, sometime between 1885 and 1922. Any information would be very helpful.
Thank you in advance.
My Grandmother Angelina or Angela Iozzi, born in 1900 approximately, her father was Carmine Iozzi, came to America with my grandfather Angelo Patitucci born 1894, his father was Pasquale and they came from Roggiana Gravina I believe. I am looking for information on their parents and siblings. Can you help me?
Hello from Canada: My ancestor, Santos DellaPorta, son of Bernardino and Portia, was born in 1610 in Roggiano Gravina, Cosenza. Bernardino must have died and we find Santos and his mother in San Marco in Lamis, Foggia nella Puglia in 1645 when he marries. Descendents carry the name DellaPorta which is then abbreviated to Laporta..All Laporta people born in San Marco in Lamis are descendents of Santos. Santos family seems to be the only DellaPorta family in Roggiano at the beggining of the 1600. I have searched the church records but did not check the deaths records in case the name of the town where he came from was shown. This is my request: Where did the DellaPorta name come from in early 1600? Jacqueline
I’m searching for information on the Sciammarelli family, in particular, Pasquale Natale Sciammarelli, born in RG on 17 April, 1859. He moved to America, arriving in New York in July of 1887. His parents were Francesco Sciammarelli and Maria Raffaella Aita. Any information of this family’s life before moving to the USA, or of their travels would be very helpful. Thank you!
Pasquale is my great-great-grandfather! I’d like to know more about him, too!
Hello: I am looking for information on my husband’s family. His Great Grandmother was from Rogianno Gravina and her name was Maria Rosa Cirillo born Feb 5 1889. We believe her parents were Vincenzo Cirillo and Filomena Rossi. Maria Rosa Cirillo came to New York around 1906. Any information would be appreciated.
I am looking for information regarding my paternal grandfather Luigi Bengardino born around 1877. I am looking for information regarding any brothers, sisters, cousins. Thank you.
Hello. I am researching my mother’s family from R.G. Her father was given up for adoption, given the name Giovanni Cardone prior to being placed in a foster home in R.G. and was never given the foster family’s name which sounds like Panze(a). We have a date of birth of June 29, 1888 that he always used and the town of birth was Cosenza but no official information. Is there any way we can find official information on his birth and birth parents? Also, I would like to find official information on my mother’s mother’s side. I have my grandmother’s parents’ names of Antonio Donato and Pasqualina Scavella. I have their children’s names and approximate dates of death for the parents.
Thank you for any information.
Hello. I am researching Pietro Antonio CHIMENTI born 24 Apr 1865, his last known residence before immigrating to the US in 1899 was, Roggiano Gravina. His was married to Filomena NUCITO born 8 Sep 1864. They had one child in Italy before immigrating, Caroline Chimenti born in 1894. Any information on the CHIMENTI and NUCITO family would be great. I am hopeful that there will be records, knowing that they lived in Roggiano Gravina.
Thank you
Ali
Hey Ali! My name is Michael Chimenti and I live in Houston, Texas US. My grandmother put together some information for the Chimenti surname and Pietro Antonio Chimenti is my great great grandfather! When Pietro and Filomena immigrated to the United States they had a son, Michael, who is my great grandfather. I came here to find additional information about my family and I noticed your post. If you are interested, I would love to exchange information with you.
I’m researching my great grandfather Antonio Angelo Gutto? Or or possibly “Ruffo”? born on Nov 8th 1892 in Roggiano Gravina. His mother surname was Chimento. I’m having a difficult time locating a birth record with the name Gutto.. Anyone with more information would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking for Paonessa family that came from Calabria in the early 1900’s. I don’t dates but I think my grandfather Antonio’s brother was born in Calabria. His name is Angelo Paonessa. I do not know middle names nor do I have dates of their births.
Sandra Francesca
Dear Maria Teresa, march 20, 2015.
We have same grandma (maria teresa volpe).I live in Rio de Janeiro,Br. Where are you from. Please contact by this site.
thanks,
A.bruno
My Grandmother Maria Francesca Ianuzzi was born in 1886 in Roggiano Gravino. She
and my grandfather, Francesco Antonio Belcastro were married in 1902 and gave birth to my father, Giusseppi Belcastro, in November, 1903 in RG. My Grandfather came from Grotteria.
He left RG for America in December, 1903. After the required 3-years residency, he returned to Ruggiano Gravina to bring my grandmother and father to America. That was in the summer of 1907. I would like to find some information about where she lived and perhaps relatives…
Hello Thomas! How curious, my great grandfather’s name was Gennaro Formoso and he was married to a woman named Anna Iannuzzi and they too were from Roggiano. I wonder if there is a family connection between our families!?
Hey Jeffrey!! I don’t know you and I am not currently signed into my ancestry account but if you search me by name, I am Amy Renée …I didn’t want to leave this screen to sign in and risk not being able to find this post again, but I just randomly typed my great-great grandfather’s name followed by the word Calabria, into google and it took me here.
Anyway, my grandmother and her sister, and I are all dna members of ancestry and if your dna is on file with ancestry then we should show up as dna relatives of yours. Because…my great-great grandpa, my grandmother’s grandfather, was Gennaro or Gennarino Formoso, and he was married to my great-great grandmother, Anna Ianuzzi…both from the same location in Calabria.
My great grandma was their daughter Mary, born Maria Carmella Formoso, ion September 26,1910 in RG, and her older brother was Frank or Francesco. They came to America in 1920, and settled in Cleveland Ohio. Once in Cleveland, more children were born- Jennie, Bobby, Tony, and Joey. Anna Ianuzzi passed away relatively young though, and Grandpa Formoso married a woman named Barbara. He passed away here in Stockton, CA IN 1966, but I never had the chance to meet either of them, as I was born in 1977….Mary’s children were Samuel Oliveri Jr, Jim Oliveri, and she was widowed before the age of 20. A couple years later she met and married my great grandfather who was originally from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily- Guiseppe Bongiorno (born Feb 22, 1898), name changed to Guiseppe or Joseph Cannone in Ohio and later to Joseph Cannon. They had four children together- my grandma Anna, my aunt Kathleen or Kathy, my uncle Robert or Bob, and the baby of the family was Jennie Marie Cannon, but she died at the age of ten, from a brain tumor. We have been eager to connect with relatives and that’s why we had our dna tested through Ancestry and my heritage. I don’t know if it’s appropriate to leave phone numbers here but if you reply to this message I would be happy to give you my grandma’s and her sister and brother’s phone numbers, if you’d like. They are all in their 80s and have always wanted to reconnect with extended family. And Thomas- I wonder if your grandma Maria Ianuzzi was perhaps a sibling of Anna Ianuzzi’s? The ages match. It’s pretty cool how we all commented on this same post this way. I would love to connect with all relatives, Formoso, Ianuzzi, Bongiorno, Costa, and others. 😊
My grandma (Maria Teresa Volpe)was born in Roggiano Gravina, 1876 and came to Rio de Janeiro, Brasil – Married with Pietro Bruno. My father was Armando Bruno e me Armando Bruno Filho.We go to Roggiano Gravina and Morano calabro in july 2014 – Was sunday and city hall was closed.
Thank you very much.
My grandma name is Maria Teresa Volpe, was born in 1876 at Roggiano Gravina.
I would like contact with family persons (parent).
My mother-in-law passed away on February 15, 2015. She lived in Roggiano Gravina, Cosenza, Italy and was born on February 6, 1934.
Her maiden name was Maria Gravina. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
My grandfather was a Gravino, born in Calabria, and he was adopted by DeBiase. His name became Frank DeBiase. I would like more information about the Gravinos and DeBiase in Italy. frank came to the USA EARLY 1900. he had married Rosalie Raddo in Calabria and she followed him to USA, as did her sisters.
Traveling to raggiano gravino around sept. 17,2014 looking for info about Ernesto storino my wife’s father who owned a small grocery store in town also mothers maiden name DeRose Maria my wife’s first name Guilia born 1952
My father Ernesto Sicilia was born in Roggiano in 1911 I remember him talking about an Ernesto Storino Who I believe resided in Philadelphia.
Great story. My name is Joseph Muto. Born in Roggiano Gravina 1953. Emigrated to the USA in 1967. Ernesto Storino, had a grocery story in Roggiano. He was my Godfather. Remember him and his wife very well. He also had a son ( Antonio) perhaps adopted.Antonio and I were friends . That’s all I know.
I’m doing genealogy research on Francesco (Frank) Reale, born 22 Dec 1888, in Roggiano Gravina, Calabria, Italy. He came to US in November 1911, through Philadelphia. He was married to Caroline (nee Fendo), she was born 27 May 1893. Frank died in Riverside, NJ, on 27 Sep 1966.
Hello,
I am looking for information on the same man, Francesco Reale. I have a military picture of who we believe may be his brother. I believe the picture may be from World War 1, but I am having trouble finding anything on Francesco beyond the USA. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Alyssa Reale
Have you found any information regarding Francesco Reale? I is my Grandfather and we have not been able to find any info. about his life befor coming to the USA.