Genealogy in Silvano d’Orba
Tracing your Italian roots back to Silvano d’Orba (in Alessandria province, Piemonte 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 Silvano d’Orba.
Silvano d’Orba family history at a glance
- Region: Piemonte
- Province: Alessandria
- Type of records: civil and parish records
- Civil registration: in the town hall from 1866 onwards
- Parish records: often older than civil records (in some cases from the late 1500s)
Research experience on families in Silvano d’Orba
Over the years, ItalianSide has conducted genealogy research on historical families from Silvano d’Orba, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Bisio, Repetto, Pestarino, Scalzo, Maranzana, Scalzo., Ravera, Robbiano, Lanza, Lasagna, Perasso, Motta, Gualco, Scarsi and many 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 Silvano d’Orba 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 Silvano d’Orba and Piemonte 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 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.
Genealogy in Silvano d’Orba
If your ancestors came from Silvano d’Orba, in Alessandria province (Piemonte 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 Silvano d’Orba
Vital records for people born, married or deceased in Silvano d’Orba are usually preserved in:
- Silvano d’Orba City Hall archives: civil records (births, marriages, deaths) from 1860 onwards.
- Silvano d’Orba parish churches: in Piemonte religious registers, which can often take your research back to the 1600s and sometimes as far as the 1500s.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Silvano d’Orba
In towns and villages of Piemonte and in Alessandria province, as Silvano d’Orba, civil registry officially began on january 1 1866.
A first civil registry system had already been introduced during the Napoleonic period (1806–1814). This means you can often find your ancestors’ civil records in the Town Hall archives of Silvano d’Orba from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Silvano d’Orba, please follow this link.)
If your ancestors lived in Silvano d’Orba during the past centuries, the City Office of Silvano d’Orba 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 Silvano d’Orba.
- 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 Piemonte and specifically in Silvano d’Orba.
Street names in Silvano d’Orba
The names of the street in Silvano d’Orba, can help identify ancestral addresses found in civil records, parish documents, and old family papers.
At today, some of the main streets in Silvano d’Orba are: VIA VILLA SUPERIORE, VIA VENTI SETTEMBRE, VIA ROMA, VIA LERMA, PIAZZA CESARE BATTISTI, VIA OVADA, VIA MARTIRI DELLA BENEDICTA, VIA MERLI, VIA CONTRADA FONTANA, VIA VALLE, VIA CASTELLETTO, VIA SAN GIOVANNI, VIA NOVI, VIA RIOFREDDO, VIA PAOLO PERFUMO, VIA CONTRADA POGGI, CONTRADA ZUCCA, VIA ANTONIO GRAMSCI, VIA CALCINARA, VIA ROCCA GRIMALDA and others.
If you want help to identify street names connected with your ancestors in Silvano d’Orba just follow the link below.
Population trends in Silvano d’Orba
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Silvano d’Orba 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 Silvano d’Orba
Church archives in Alessandria 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 Piemonte, 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 Silvano d’Orba 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 Silvano d’Orba:
S. PIETRO APOSTOLO – Via Villa Superiore, 45
S. SEBASTIANO – Via IV Novembre, 11
Our experts could search registers and historical religious documents collected and kept at the diocesan archive:
Archivio Diocesano di Alessandria – Via Vescovado, 1 – Alessandria
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.
The provincial archive is:
Archivio di Stato di Alessandria – Via Giorgio Solero, 43 – 15121 Alessandria
Historical and photographic sources available in private archives
Historical photographs, prints, and documents from private collections—including ItalianSide’s archive of vintage images from Silvano d’Orba and Piemonte 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 Silvano d’Orba
Historical cadastral and land records used to identify property ownership, track real estate transfers over time, and confirm the historical presence of families within Silvano d’Orba. ItalianSide provides professional assistance in accessing and interpreting these records, where available.
Planning a visit to Silvano d’Orba
From our experience, if you plan to visit Silvano d’Orba 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 Silvano d’Orba
If you need professional support from our local genealogist in the Silvano d’Orba area, write to silvanodorba@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 Silvano d’Orba
Here below you can read messages from other visitors in the Silvano d’Orba forum. If you simply want to discuss genealogy in Silvano d’Orba with other people, feel free to leave a message.







I am researching my husbands side of the family and seeking information regarding his great grandfather and his family who came from Silvano d’Orba to the United States between 1911 and 1917. It appears there may have been several crossings to gather everyone. His name is Giovanni Guiseppe Banchero b. 1862 and his wife was Luiga Campora b. 1881. Any information would be much appreciated.
Hi ,I was interested for sure on my family history my great great grandfather is from here he lived till was 96 and was my favorite to hangout with when I was a kid so seeing what he did where his country is his parents he lived here Allesandria till he was 20 yrs old his name is Claudio Bisio something of Antonio Bisio and know Antonio bisip passed in 1920 as well here..Any info be great I’m sure I have relatives that still live here as well be very intriguing to find out thanks
Hi Phillip,
My great great grandfather was Giovanni Bisio, Claudio Bisio brother, and son of Antonio Bisio and Theresa Grillo. I think we might share these relatives. I am slowly piecing together this part of my family tree and might have some more names for you. I’m also looking for more info from Silvano D’orba, most of what I’ve found is from after they’ve immigrated. I’d love to chat more.
Looking for names and dates of ancestors from Silvano. Both my grandfather (Giovanni Ragno) and grandmother (Gugliemina Robbiano) were born in Silvano. I have their dates and names of their parents. Especially interested in more information about the Ragno side.Giovanni’s father was Carlo Ragno b.1855 and his mother was Rosa Beroldo. Carlo’s father was Giovanni Ragno. Wondering if Carlo and Giovanni had any brothers. Thank you n advance for any information you may be able to provide.
Juan hola, también estoy buscando por el lado Robbiano. Tu abuela Gugliemina quizá era hermana de mi abuela. Cómo se llamaban sus padres? Saludos
My 3x great grandparents were Giovanni BISIO and Catterina GUALCO, both from Silvano D’orba. Looking to piece together some missing parts of my family tree and connect with folks in the community or who might have more information for me. Thank you
Hola estoy buscando la familia de mi nono GIUSEPPE BARISONE nacio el 16/11/1901 era hijo de CARLO y tenia un hermano llamado PIETRO ,no conocemos a nadie de la familia ,mi nono se vino a la Argentina solo y muy chico ,nos gustaria por cuestion afectiva conocer alguien ,yo tengo mi madre de 78 años y es la unica que queda. muchas gracias
My grandfather, John Rubbiano, was born in Silvano D’Orbo. He left Silvano D’Orbo in 1916 for Ellis Island, New York. He was born around 1890. He was one of four brothers. He married Catherine Choni in California. I am trying to locate relatives in Silvano D’Orbo. Thank you.
Looking for history of my Italian family. I know My great grandfather and grandfather were from Silvano d’orbo.
Not sure of my Great Grandmothers name…
Paolo Arcella Great Grandfather
Oeste “Ernest” Arcella Grandfather
Immigrated they Ellis Island NY in 1907