Region: Campania Province: Salerno
Tracing your Italian roots back to Valva, in Salerno province, Campania region?
This comprehensive guide empowers you to understand the records available in Valva, unlocking your family’s rich history.
Where to Begin Your Ancestry Journey in Valva
If your ancestral trail leads to Valva, Italy, their vital records are likely housed in two key locations:
- Valva City Hall Archives: Established in 1809, these archives hold civil registry records like births, marriages, and deaths for Valva residents since then.
- Valva Parish Churches: For records pre-dating 1809 or for religious ceremonies, exploring Valva’s parish church archives might be necessary.
Civil Records in Valva
In towns and villages of Campania and in Salerno province civil registry offices were established in 1809: it means that you could find your ancestors records in Valva Town Hall archives as of that date.
(If your goal is to get your Italian Citizenship and you need official certificates from Valva Municipality, follow this link).
So, if your ancestors lived in Valva during the past centuries, then you should start your family research from the City Office of Valva 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 Valva !)
- 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 Valva, 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 Valva 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 Valva. As more your surname is common, as more it could be difficult to find the right branch of your ancestors family in Valva 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 Salerno province are:
Alfano, Amato, Annunziata, Apicella, Bruno, Califano, Caputo, Cirillo, Coppola, Cuomo, D’Amato, D’Ambrosio, D’Angelo, De Luca, De Martino, De Rosa, Esposito, Ferraioli, Ferrara, Gallo, Giordano, Greco, Grimaldi, Iannone, Lamberti, Landi, Manzo, Marino, Napoli, Pagano, Palumbo, Pellegrino, Pepe, Rinaldi, Rizzo, Romano, Ruggiero, Russo, Santoro, Senatore, Sessa, Sica, Sorrentino, Tortora, Trotta, Vitale, Vitolo, Volpe.
Church Records in Valva
Church archives in Salerno 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 Campania 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 Valva on your behalf to gather info about your family history during centuries.
For our experience, if you plan to come here to visit Valva, 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 Salerno.
If you need a professional help from our local genealogist in Valva area , write to valva@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 Campania and of course in Valva too.
Here below you can read the messages received from other visitors in Valva forum:
if you only want to discuss with other people interested in genealogy in Valva feel free to leave a message below.
généalogie famille feniello
Hello, I would like to know if you have any records of surname Valva and where/when they moved – I am from Albania and was wondering why my surname is the same as this town or just coincidence
I am looking for information on my great grandfather, Lorenzo Lupo, he was born in Italy in 1854 and died in Scranton Pennsylvania in May of 1899, he was married to Francesca Cuozzo ..after the death of Lorenzo, Francesca returned to Italy with my grandfather, Guiseppe Lupo. Did Guiseppe have any siblings, I have no other information on Francesca. My grandfather did return to the United States have his marriage in Italy approx in the year of 1923
My name is Ginny. My maternal grandfather was born in Fossato Serralta, Reggio Calabria, italy, 1/2/1877. His name was Salvatore Curto but possibly may have used the last name of Gilardi. The story goes he was an orphan and this family took him in. He immigrated to the US in 1892 at age 15. He eventually settled in Pittsburgh pa.
My Grandmother was Antonia Fornataro she married Policarpo Strollo DOB: 15 May 1878 from Valva. His Father was Patsy Strollo and his Mother was Rose Torcello or Torsiello. Antonia’s Father was Paolo and her Mother was Marianna. Any further help is appreciated!
WE ARE DESCENDED FROM THE STROLLO AND ALLESANDRI/DALLESSANDRO FAMILY. GIUSEPPI STROLLO MARRIED MARIA GOFFREDA AND RELOCATED TO BUCCINO ….FROM BUCCINO THEY IMMIGRATED TO NY……FIRST CARMINE WHO SPONSORED ROCCO WHO BECAME A BUTCHER AND MARIED MARIA DALLLESSANDRO . THEN SPONSORED HIS PARENTS..SISTERS GIOVANINA (BECAME CONCELIERI), MOLLY (BECAME SICA), BROTHERS PASQUALE, PAOLI, ANGELO ALSO A BUTCHER..AND GEORGE…ALSO A BUTCHER. RAISED 7 CHILDREN AND EVENTUALLY SETTLED ON FENTON AVE IN THE BRONX AS DID HIS SISTERS. HIS SON JOSEPH WAS ALSO A BUTC.HER….WAS GIUSEPPI A BUTCHER IN BUCCINO? OR VALVA? OR COLIANO?
DOES ANYONE HAVE INFO OR STORIES ARE THERE ANY BOOKS OR POSTINGS ABOUT THEIR EVERY DAY LIFE IN ITALY. THE ALL SEEM TO HAVE COME TO NY IN LATE 1800 OR EARLY 1900
My grandfather was Antonio Yannuzzi. He came to USA in 1830’s or 1840’s. He was engaged to a much younger
woman named Francesca Spatola or Spadola. She eventually came to USA. They both settled in Jersey City, NJ.
I’ve been told they came from Valva.
Is there any information on them?
Looking for info on my grandfather’s parents.
Angelo Donato Voltura or Volturo
I am interested in finding out my fathers grandparents name his father was born in Valva around 1850 he lived and died in Italy my grandfather was born in Valva Salerno Campania, on Sept 25, 1883 his name was Francesco Spiotta he immigrated to the US around 1901. If you could assist me with any information about my Dads grandfather, and grandmothers name that would be awesome.
Thanks you for your time it is really appreciated.
Julie
Julie, my grandmother’s maiden name was Santina Spiotta, she Married Nicola Cuozzo, they were both from Valva, they came to the US in 1901. My grandmother had cousins from Valva that lived in Kansas City Missouri, and decided that they wanted to move to Kansas City. They returned to Valva and in 1903 returned to KC with Family members and one of them was my grandmother’s brother Angelo Spiotta. My Great Grandmother Spiotta’s maiden name was Feniello. All from Valva.
Just came across your posting re Spiotta relations. I’ve been trying for a long time to get information on my great-grandfather who I believe was called Donato Spiotta or Spiotto born according to his marriage certificate 10 March 1867 in Italy. He immigrated to the US in about 1890. He lived in Hazleton Pennsylvania and Rochester NY. He was married to Anna Maria Rizzo and they had several children. We’ve been told he died in 1908 but cannot find a death certificate. I’ve contacted many commune in Italy including Valva but there seems to be no record of his birth. In your family histories do you have a Donato (or Daniel Spero as he began to call himself)? Thanks!
Hi I believe Michele was my grandfathers cousin. His name was Frank or Francesco Fenello. He was born in 1897 in Valva… They looked very similiar and lived in Batavia New York..
Ciao, I’m looking for birth records and correct names for my Grandfather Frank Fennello (possibly Fennell or Fenell), and my grandmother Mary Josephine Strollo, Frank Fennello born 1873-1880?
Arrival in USA 1899 (NA 1901,1903 or 1914.) Passed in Michigan or Pennsylvania somewhere between 1945-1958.
Mary Josephine Strollo (Fennello) born April 29, 1878
Passed May 3, 1965 Wayne county MI, USA
1927-NY
1930 -1940 Spangler PA
Brothers: Adam P Strollo- Valva, Salerno born Oct. 28-1889- passed 1964 PA
Anthony Strollo born-12-31-1894 Valle d’Aosta,-passed in Spangler Cambria PA 1953
and my great grandparents: Michael and Beatrice Strollo, are all from Valvs Salerno. Michael Strollo April 19 1853 Palermo, Scicilia -1929 Cambria county PA USA.
Beatrice Strollo-co nome Ceceri or Cecere born abt.1854 Valva. Salerno Campania
stayed in Italy but Frank and Mary came to USA in the early 1900s.
Frank Fennello and Mary Strollo were married in Italy. Had two children born in Italy before they came to USA. Anthony Fennello (or optional spellings) and Lilia or Jennie Fennello. My father Arthur was a younger son born in PA. Both my parents passed away and my grandparents died when I was very young or before I was born. I’ve been at a dead end in the USA. I can’t even find either of their birth or death records.
I have been coming to Italy for three years to research, I have found my mother side in Abruzzo and I actually found cousins, it has been amazing. I will be there in September 2017 and have a car I could come to Valva to the commune if I have any leads or you can find any information. Thank you from the bottom my heart for any help that you have. Or suggestions of the churches or the websites that may have more information. Neither of these names are the common names of the community?
My Great great grandparents were: Guiseppe Strollo 1842 Colliano, Salerno, Campania -1907
Maria Goffredi-1843-1907 Westchester NY
Arrived-25-1898
Lived in PA 1930’s
I am currently in Italian citizen by virtue of finding family and becoming a EU citizen if that helps in anyway.
GRAZIE’
I have Feniello family on my side from Valva as well! Anthony Feniello was my great great grandfather, born in 1883, and had 3 siblings: Michael, Charles, and Herman. From research on Ancestry it looks like their father was Alfonse.
Hello, my grandmother was Maria Grazia Feniello, she had a sister Angelina and 2 brothers Joe and Vito Feniello. They were all born in Jersey City, NJ and my great grand parents went back to Valva with my grandmother and her sister. Her brothers remained in New Jersey. I am also a Maria Grazia. I was born in Connecticut. I have been fortunate to go back and forth to Valva growing up.
It’s amazing how many people had the same name from this area. My great grandmother was a Maria Feniello as well, born to Clelia Fredo and Giuseppe Feniello. They came to New York in 1909 and ended up near lake Erie…I would someday like to visit valva hopefully as a citizen.
My Great-Grandmother was Guiseppa Josephine Strollo from Valva and they settled in PA as well maybe Connesville? i think she passed about 1957 before I was born.
I had no luck finding information on my great-grandparents. Their names were Salvatore and Vincenza (Del Plato) Anastasio. Their parents’ names were Antonio Anastasio and Giuseppa Mastrantonio, and Vito Del Plato and Maria Mastrolia. I do know Salvatore and Vincenza left Valva and settled in Batavia, NY.
(Salvatore’s first wife was Antonia Torsiello. They had two children before she died, Fiorentino and Anna.)
Salvatore was born in 1880, and Vincenza was born in 1891 (I think).
I am trying to find out information on my grandfather, Michele Fasano, born in Valva, Italy about 1875. He was married to Vincenza Torsiello from Laviano.
Any information on siblings, parents of Michele would be appreciated.
He came to America about 1910.
My name is Donna. My grandparents were from valva, Italy. Michael Spiotta and Mary Spiotta. Born in the mid 1800. Im trying to track down distant relatives or information. In a couple years myself and my husband will travel to Italy and surrounding areas and want to visit.
Hi Donna
Looking for information on my great-grandfather Donato Spiotta. I think that he was born in Campania in 1866. He came to the US and married Anna Maria Rizzo from Ascea. The family lived in Hazleton Pennsylvania and Rochester New York. I’ve been unsuccessful in finding any information about him. Do you know anything about this Spiotta family?
Thanks, Stephanie