Genealogy in Pietrabbondante
Tracing your Italian roots back to Pietrabbondante (in Isernia province, Molise 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 Pietrabbondante.
Pietrabbondante family history at a glance
- Region: Molise
- Province: Isernia
- Record types available: civil and parish records
- Civil registration: introduced in 1809 (Napoleonic era, former Kingdom of Naples)
- Parish registers: often earlier than civil records (sometimes dating back to the 1600s)
How to research your ancestry in Pietrabbondante
Thanks to its network of local experts, Italianside has developed significant experience in genealogical research in the province of Isernia. 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 Molise region, conducted genealogy research on historical families from Pietrabbondante, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Celli, D’Onofrio, Di Carlo, Di Pasquo, Di Salvo, Donofrio, Marchesani, Massaro, Melaragno, Nerone, Santangelo, Sforza, Tesone, Vitullo, Zarlenga 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 Pietrabbondante 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 Pietrabbondante and Molise 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
• cadastral and property 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.
ItalianSide research: Beyond Names and Dates
Italian genealogy is deeply local. It can’t be reduced only about collecting birth and death dates.
In Molise, every municipality — including Pietrabbondante — 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 Pietrabbondante and in the Province of Isernia knows how 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 Pietrabbondante community.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Pietrabbondante
In towns and villages of Molise and across Isernia province, civil registration offices were formally established in 1809, when this area was part of the Kingdom of Naples. This means you can often find your ancestors’ civil records in the Town Hall archives of Pietrabbondante from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Pietrabbondante, please follow this link.)
If you know that your ancestors lived in Pietrabbondante during the past centuries, the City Office of Pietrabbondante 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 Pietrabbondante.
- 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 Molise and specifically in Pietrabbondante.
Population trends in Pietrabbondante
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Pietrabbondante 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 Pietrabbondante
Church archives in Isernia 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 Molise, 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 Pietrabbondante on your behalf and reconstruct your family history through the centuries.
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.
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 Pietrabbondante
Historical cadastral and land records used to identify property ownership, track real estate transfers over time, and confirm the historical presence of families within Pietrabbondante. ItalianSide provides professional assistance in accessing and interpreting these records, where available.
Historical and photographic sources available in private archives
Historical photographs, prints, and documents from private collections—including ItalianSide’s archive of vintage images from Pietrabbondante and Molise 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.
Planning a visit to Pietrabbondante
From our experience, if you plan to visit Pietrabbondante 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.
Thanks to the findings gathered by our genealogist before your trip, and the help of our local guides, you’ll have more time to plan the exact locations (family homes, churches, streets, cemeteries, etc.) you’ll visit during your stay in the city.
This way, you can enjoy the city and its surroundings, following in the footsteps of your ancestors for an unforgettable journey back to your roots.
Professional help for research in Pietrabbondante
If you need professional support from our local genealogist in the Pietrabbondante area, write to pietrabbondante@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 Pietrabbondante
Here below you can read messages from other visitors in the Pietrabbondante forum. If you simply want to discuss genealogy in Pietrabbondante with other people, feel free to leave a message.
Hello,
I’m looking for any information that could help me with my family tree. After talking with my grandfather he has informed me that my family is originally from Pietrabbondante and I would love to learn more about my family’s history. My great grandfather would be Enrico Santangelo and great great grandfather would be Onorato Santangelo, my great great grandmother would be Cessna Tesone.
My grandmother, Marie Tesone, her father was Joseph and she had a brother Joseph (moved to NY), and she married Francesco Zarlenga. My grandmother lost a daughter at around 6 months old, and they had 3 children, John (born in Italy, born in NY Dante and Youngstown, Anna). Marie’s parents, Giovanni & Maria DiTullio Tesone, Francesco’s mother’s name was Generosa. Don’t know my great-grandfather’s first name or my great-grandmother’s maiden name.
Francesco and his brother Sam moved to Youngstown, Oh. I was told my grandfather had 13 siblings. We went to Pietrabbondonta, to try and locate family, but no one spoke English. We were told that my grandmother worked on their families vineyard feeding the workers. We tried to locate family, but was interested where exactly the vineyard was where my grandmother Marie Tesone, cooked for the workers. Any help in locating family and the vineyard would be greatly appreciated.
I see that there is a tree that has Maria’s parents as Giovanni Tesone and Marianna Di Tullo and Francesco’s parents as Anselmo Zarlenga and Generosa Pratola, so it looks like you have what you were looking for. Do you need any other information?
Hello everyone from Pietrabbondante and Campobasso, my grandfather by mother´s side named Pasqualino Zarlenga, and his father Vicente Zarlenga and mother Lucia di Jacovo(Luzia Zarlenga) both my great grandparents. I would like to start my dual citizenship and find their birth records and papers.
Pasqualino moved to São Paulo SP Brazil probably during 1940´s, and also brought more relatives like his sister Antonieta and nephew Ivo. He might bornt 1909 with a big Zarlenga´s family in both cities. Can somebody give me some info about them and how to start my dual citizenship and rules to aplly??
Thank you,
Grazie
Decio
My grandfather, Anthony Zarlengo was born in Pietrabbondante. I would like to continue with my dual citizenship. Please advise
Hello Lisa, my grandfather also was born in Pietrabbondante or nearly there in Campobasso… and probably have related with your family, the only difference is the spelling, mine is Zarlenga in the papers. Where do you from ?
Buona Sera,
I am looking for the birth record of my grandfather Giuseppe Lastoria (La Storia). It is believed that he was born in Pietrabbondante in December 1893. Would you be so kind as to suggest where I may find his birth record?
Grazie,
Donna
Hi everyone!
I’m from Argentina and my bisnonno, Giussepantonio DI SALVO was born in june 1869 in Pietrabbondante. He married Maria Lucia D’Yorio from Olavarría, I guess in Tres Arroyos where my grandparent was born.
I’m trying to get the born certificate (I have a digital copy) but I couldn’t get in touch with the civil registration. Do you have any advice?
Thanks!!!
I am looking for my husband’s great grandfather, Domingo Antonio di Pasquo, born in 1873 in Pietrabbondante and his wife Maria del Carmen Filomena Zarlenga, born in 1872
This is to all the DiLullo/Zarlengo families of ancestors from Pietrabbondante who came to settle in Hillsville Pennsylvania USA to cut limestone during the industrial revolution. Their grit supplied the steel industry in nearby Youngstown, Ohio. What a proud legacy! Brave souls to leave their homeland to start a new life in a country of opportunity and bring such a work ethic and family value along with solid traditions to a new life. I honor my ancestors!! Salute!
My grandfather, Joseph (Guiseppe?) Amanzio DiIorio and his brother, Antonio, immigrated to the US @1912 and settled in Northeast Ohio. Both were tailors. They came through Ellis Island where the spelling of their last name was changed to DeOrio.
Dear
I found your information at internet. I am from Argentina (currently I live in Mexico) and I am trying to get an Italian Passport. I hired 1 year ago a Lawyer from El Salvador who sell as an expert in that field. Unfortunately, at that moment, was impossible to get some papers and good information.
Mi second grandfather born in Pietrabbondante, Isernia, Italy, in 1.861 (in don’t know the exactly date). His name was Luciano Di Giuseppe Di iorio. When he arrived to Argentina his last name was changed to Diorio . He die as a Italian (it means he never get the Argentinian nationality). I have the death certificate and the rest of information, but I don’t have the Born certificate (from Pietrabbondante, Isernia, Italy).
Could you help me to get it?. How much time does it take?. How much is the cost for that task?.
I appreciate your feedback?
Regards
MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER ALESSANDRINA ZARLENGA BORN FEB 28 1877 IN PIETRABBONDANTE ISERNIA MOLISE ITALY. sHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF VINCENZO ZARLENGA AND MICHELINA DI SALVO. SHE MARRIED GIOVANNANTONIO DI LULLO
Hello, June. I am researching a DiTullio/Zarlenga connection. My Mother is a Ditullio, and her grandfather was Vincenzo Gerardo DiTullio.
My grandfather, Joesph Amanzio Di Iorio, and his brother, Antonio immigrated to the US in 1912 and settled in Northeast Ohio… we might be related???
Hi, would like help if you can. My father was Enrico Santangelo 1914-1999. his dad was Onorato Santangelo 1879-? His mother was Cessna Tesone 1879-?
Hi! Im from Argentina I am looking for information about my great-grandfather Santoro, born on March 28, 1867. But I do not have the name of him or his wife. I would like to know any type of information.
I am seeking information about my grandmother,
Angelica Vitullo DeTata. Upon the death of
her husband/fiancé, she left her hometown of Pietrabbdonte
in June 1897 at age 25 sailed to New York arriving June 30
aboard SS Werra. She left Italy to marry the brother
Cesino DeTata, of her deceased husband/fiancé, He
was residing in Colorado.
Angelica may have been adopted by the Vitullo family.
We had heard that she was an orphan.
Also, any information regarding my grandfather,
Cesino DeTata , Born 4/11/1872.
Parents Domenico DiTata and
Maria Santangelo.
Hello,
I am not sure where to start. My family is named Zarlenga and from Pietroabbondante. My grandfather John Zarlenga (I am the third) immigrated to the US in I believe 1902 (I know I will need further detail than this). I am traveling to Italy in a few months and would love to go to my hometown and possibly visit with any relatives I may still have there. Sounds like Zarlenga is a common name there. Where do I start with this process and what information do I need to provide?
Thank you,
Hello John,
I am sure by now your trip to Italy has come and gone. If you made it to Pietrabbondante, I am sure you met a Zarlenga or two. As you are aware, while not a common name here in the U.S in the Townships of Pietrabbondante and Castelverrino Italy, that is not the case. Many with the surname Zarlenga immigrated from Molise to Argentina and the United States. From the late 1800’s to early 1900’s many of those coming thru Ellis island had their names mistakenly changed by immigration officers from Zarlenga to Zarlengo. Many of those with the surname Zarlengo ended up in The state of Colorado. They were expert carpenters and woodsmen. They came to cut wood and build the railroad. Many with the name Zarlenga ended up in Buenas Aires Argentina.
It should not be hard to find a cousin or two in Pietrabbondante
Best to you
Hello John, my name is Tim Zarlenga, my great grandparents came from Castelverrino and Pietrabbondante (there is only a rock fissure between the two cities, one can walk tot he other very easily. I recommend you visit the churches in both cities. If you (or someone, like Italianside) can write Italian, then you can write to the churches for records BEFORE traveling to Italy.
Good luck with your continued genealogy research!
Tim
Hello, did you ever make the trip to Italy and find your relatives. If you have a birth date for Giovanni from Pietrabbondante perhaps I can help you find information about his parents and children.
Hi I’m from Argentina and I am looking for information about my great grandparents, Francisco Disalvo and Victoria Zarlinga, born in Pietrabbondante. Francisco was born in February 1846 and Victoria in 15/04/1859. They moved to 16 de Julio, Buenos Aires Argentina around 1878 and had 7 kids. Francisco died in 1929 in Olavarria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Any help is welcome, thank you very much!
Hello, I volunteer to help people with researching their Italian relatives. I found that Francesco di Salvo was born on Feb 7 1846 to Giuseppe Nicola di Salvo and Rubin d’Orofrio. He married Vittoria Zarlenga on Jan 23 1873. Vittoria Zarlenga was born on April 17 1851 to Angelo Maria Zarlenga and Carmela Colaviello. . For their wedding it is for 1873. For Francesco’s birth it is image 7 out of 63 for the Nati in 1846. And for Vittoria’s birth it is image 27 out of 75 for Nati in 1851. Glad to help.
my reply had a typo. It’s Rubina d’Onofrio.
I am searching for information on my paternal grandmother. She was born on March 18, 1893. Her name was Luisa Tesone. I would like to know her parents names and also date of her marriage to Giuseppe Perreca from Recale. I don’t know if they were married in Italy or in the US.
Thank you.
Looking for any information on Alberico Zarlengo. He was born on 5/11 1872 in Pietraabbondante according to my grandmother Giovanna ZARLENGO. she was born May 7, 1899. His death record in Philadelphia lists his father as Vincenzo and mother , Vittoria. Alberico married Palmina Tesone in Italy also. Any info on any of those Zarlqengos would be so helpful.
Since my message just a year ago, I found my grandfather was indeed born in Pietrabbondante with his brothers and sisters, and then moved to Vastogirardi before coming to the U.S. His name was Florindo Ionna, and his first wife was Maria Domenica De Dominicis. My 2x great grandmother was Maria Giuseppa Zarlenga, who was born in Castelluccio. She moved to Pietrabbondante when she married my 2x great grandfather, Felice Mariani. It seems Zarlenga is a common name in Pietrabbondante.
Hi I’m from Argentina and I am looking for information about my great grandparents, Francisco Disalvo and Victoria Zarlinga, born in Pietrabbondante, between 1840 and 1860.
Any help is welcome, thank you very much!
Hola! tenemos los mismos antepasados y estoy tratando de buscar info, yo tengo las fechas de nacimiento de Francisco y Victoria, pudiste encontrar algo mas vos?
saludos!!
Agustina
Hola Agustina, en su momento abandone la búsqueda pero estuve en Pietrabbondante para conocer el pueblo, es increíble. Fui al anagraffe pero estaba cerrado porq era día festivo. Igualmente antes de abandonar la búsqueda me puse en contacto con el párroco de la ciudad y me mando el registro de casamiento y el bautismo de 2 victorias zarlenga. De Francisco no encontró. Mandé varios mails al anagraffe y nada.
Hi, I was wondering if there were any records of Sestino DiSalvo who married Angela DiTomasso. They were from Pietrobondante. Left Italy in the early 1920’s . Supposedly had a daughter that died a few years before they left for the United. States to reside in Youngstown, OH.
Hello,
It has been years since this message was sent and I hope this can still help someone. However, this sounds like my grandparents. I never new my Grandmother Angelina she died before I was born. My Mother is one of 7 and is still living she talked about having a sister that died in Italy. My grandparents were hard working people and struggled to keep their family together. My Grandfather Sestino lived to be 91. If there are any records they would be interesting to view. Thank you.
Mis padres eran de esa ciudad, sus nombres eran: mi padre Pierino DI IACOVO, hijo de Vicente DI IACOVO y de Elcira SANTORO y mi madre: Beatrice DI SALVO, hija de Emilio (creo que era así) DI SALVO y de Adelina DI TULLIO.
Mi padre vino en el año 1924 a Buenos Aires y mi madre lo hizo en el año 1932.
Quisiera tener contacto con algún familiar de esa ciudad, ya que tengo planificado ir a conocer esa ciudad en un futuro cercano. Muchas gracias.
i would like to find any information about my grandfather Antonio DiPilla who married Teodora Nappa in
Either 1891 or 1892 he emigrated to Canada in 1899 or 1900.
He died in Italy in either 1967 or 1968.
Hello! I’d like to start a research on my family roots. My great great grandparents emigrated from Pietrabbondante by the end of the 19th century. They came to Argentina. Their surname was Di Salvo. They had a daughter, Concepcion, who married Maximo Zarlenga.
I have hit a brick wall searching for my grandfather, Florindo Ianno. He immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1890’s, and settled in Pittsburgh, PA. I have his naturalization papers, but there is no information pertaining to the exact town he was from or the ship he came in on. I believe he was from Pietrabbondante, Italy, but I’m not sure. He had two sons, Giovanni Ianno and Nicola Ianno. Rumor has it that his first wife died in childbirth, and I don’t have her name. He married my grandmother here in the U.S. sometime between 1913 and 1914. If you have any information on my grandfather, please contact me.
I would like to request a birth record from the City Office of Pietrabbondante for my grandfather Domenico Mario Zarlenga (1927-2004). Can you help with translating the request and telling me where I should send it?
Looking for Adamo and Beatrice Zarlenga family information. Beatrice maiden name is Messaro from Pietrabbpndante Italy. Adamo came to Ellis Island in 1910. Settled in Hillsville, Penn. would love to contact cousins and find out family tree.
We could be relatives! My grandmother´s maiden name is Zarlenga. She was the daughter of Maximo Zarlenga and Concepcion di Salvo, who were born here in Argentina. Maximo´s parents had emigrated from Pietrabbondante.
Hello, I am writing to learn more about my family history. My great grandparents immigrated to the United States from Pietrabbondante in the 1920’s. Elena Zarlenga was born in 1901 and Romolo DiPinto was born around 1900. Please, if there is any information pertaining to either of these two families, contact me.