Genealogy in Montesano sulla Marcellana
Tracing your Italian roots back to Montesano sulla Marcellana (in Salerno province, Campania region) begins with understanding which records 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 Montesano sulla Marcellana.
Montesano sulla Marcellana family history at a glance
- Region: Campania
- Province: Salerno
- Record types available: civil and parish records
- Civil registration: began in 1809 (when this area was part of the Kingdom of Naples)
- Parish registers: usually earlier than civil registration (sometimes dating back to the 1600s)
Research experience on families in Montesano sulla Marcellana
Over the years, ItalianSide has conducted genealogy research on historical families from Montesano sulla Marcellana, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Bianco, Cardinale, Cestari, Germino, Larocca, Lauria, Mangino, Monaco, Padula, Pascale, Pepe, Petrosino, Russo, Toscano, Vassallo and others.
Many records relating to families and individuals are already stored in our databases and include, in addition to names and dates, further information such as occupations, residential addresses, and key family and social relationships within the Montesano sulla Marcellana community in past centuries.
Part of the information used by ItalianSide in genealogy research derives from a proprietary archive of on-site research conducted over many years in Montesano sulla Marcellana and by our experts. This archive includes studies, family trees, and data not available online, such as cross-referenced family relationships, occupational histories, deciphered or translated documents, residential patterns, and visual documentation.
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
Direct access to archives and a deep understanding of the local context allow for more complete and accurate results than research conducted remotely or based on partial sources alone. Research may be carried out using all available sources in both public and private archives.
Genealogy in Montesano sulla Marcellana
If your ancestors came from Montesano sulla Marcellana, in Salerno province (Campania region), the first step is to identify the local archives where records are kept. Most family history research starts from the civil registry office at the Comune and continues in parish and notary archives.
Where to begin your ancestry journey in Montesano sulla Marcellana
Vital records for people born, married or deceased in Montesano sulla Marcellana are usually preserved in:
- Montesano sulla Marcellana City Hall archives: civil records (births, marriages and deaths) available from 1809 onwards.
- Montesano sulla Marcellana parish churches: in Campania, parish registers that can trace family lines back to the 1600s, and in rare cases even earlier.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Montesano sulla Marcellana
In towns and villages of Campania and across Salerno province, civil registration offices were established after 1809, following Napoleonic reforms in the former Kingdom of Naples. This means you can often find your ancestors’ civil records in the Town Hall archives of Montesano sulla Marcellana from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Montesano sulla Marcellana, please follow this link.)
If your ancestors lived in Montesano sulla Marcellana during the past centuries, the City Office of Montesano sulla Marcellana 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 Montesano sulla Marcellana.
- 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 Campania and specifically in Montesano sulla Marcellana.
Population trends in Montesano sulla Marcellana
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Montesano sulla Marcellana 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 Montesano sulla Marcellana
Church archives in Salerno 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 Campania, 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 Montesano sulla Marcellana 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 Montesano sulla Marcellana:
S. CUORE EUCARISTICO – Via Cesare Battisti
S. GERARDO MAIELLA – Via Mazziotti, 17
S. MARIA DI LORETO – Via S. Maria di Loreto, 42
S. ANNA – Via S. Rosa, 4

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.
Planning a visit to Montesano sulla Marcellana
From our experience, if you plan to visit Montesano sulla Marcellana 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.
Professional help for research in Montesano sulla Marcellana
If you need professional support from our local genealogist in the Montesano sulla Marcellana area, write to montesanosullamarcellana@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 Montesano sulla Marcellana
Here below you can read messages from other visitors in the Montesano sulla Marcellana forum. If you simply want to discuss genealogy in Montesano sulla Marcellana with other people, feel free to leave a message.







Hola soy roberta de Argentina. estoy buscando familiares, por parte de mi abuelo materno. su nombre era GIUSEPPE BARBELLA.
Hello my name is Emely, my great-grandfather is Felicio Barbella, from my fathers side! My great-great- grandfather is Vicenzo Barbella and my great-great-grandmother is Agnese Barbella they move to Brasil
I am looking for information of my maternal Grandmother, her name was Rica Montesano, I believe she was born about 1907, or ’08….this is all the information I have of her beginnings, she was married to my grandfather in Franklin Park, Il.
My sons and I are looking for birth/church records for Francesco Cennamo, born December 18, 1891 in Montesano Sulla Marcellana (SA). His parents were Carmine Cennamo and Maria Rosa Iuglio. We would like very much, to discover relatives from either side of Francesco’s family as well. Thank you for your time.
I’m looking for birth records /relatives for Philip Cestaro (Cestari) born Febrary 2nd, 1868 in Montesano Sulla Marcellana, Salerno, Italy. Father was Michael Cestaro (Cestari), mother Serafina Bianco.
Thank you
I am in search of any family related to my great-grandmother, Filomena Bianco, born to Antonio Bianco and Angela Sarli on October 5, 1899 in Montesano Sulla Marcellana, Salerno, Italy.
I am looking for information on Giuseppe Cestari. He was born in Montesano in 1875. He
came to the US in 1900 and settled in Brooklyn NY. I would like to know who his parents and siblings were.
Ola, tenho certidao do meu bisavô, Francesco cestari, nasceu em 1878, em Montesano, será que são primos??
Hello,
Trying to find information on my ancestors.
My great Grandfather Michele Valletta married Theresa Salvati in Monstesano November 27th 1902. Michele was born November 21st 1880, Theresa February 14th 1884.
I am attempting to find information regarding Michele’s parents: Colombo Valletta and Filomena Antonio. Running into a dead end..and would love to know their history.
Thank you,
My husbands Grandfather was born in Arenabianca and his birth was registered in Montesano Sulla Marcellana
He is Giuseppe Mangino born 15th September 1897
His father : Michele Mangino
His mother: Carolina De Fina
Giuseppe left Italy around the age of 12 and arrived and stayed in New Zealand at the age of 14.
We were in Montesano Sulla Marcellana in September trying to find living family but due to lack of time and not being able to speak Italian it was very hard.We found what may have been a cousin by our translater talking to people in the square. We are coming back to Italy next year to try again. We have a copy of Giuseppe’s birth records.
Hi, we are from California, USA, and will be traveling to the Salerno region in October. We are seeking ancestry information on our family who emigrated from Montesano. Here is the information we have, based on US Census records:
Michael Cestaro, born 1873
Theresa Marie DeFino, born 1879
Married in 1897.
First son Vicente, born about 1899, never left Italy
Michael and Theresa emigrated to the US between 1902 and 1905.
Theresa had a twin brother “Jimmy” who also never left Italy.
Any information or guidance you could give us will be much appreciated! Sorry we can only speak and write in English.
– Russ and Mary Bartlett
I am trying to find records for my ancestors-Agnese Dipierro and Michail LaGreca-She was born in 1856 or 7 and I have a copy of her birth certificate from 1920 -If you can help in any way I would appreciate it-They came to America in 1880’s but when I go to the Italian side I come to a dead end-I know her parents names were Michael Dipierro and her mother was Rosa Spina-Thank you