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Ancestry Research in Matera, Italy

Frederick II from De Arte Venandi cum Avibus

The Italian province of Matera is a great place to do research because of the wealth of historical material that can be found in local archives, libraries, and other repositories. Some of Matera's best resources for historical research can be found at the provincial capital in Matera, as well as various provincial archives, churches, and libraries throughout the area. Many records are also now available online at a number of great websites like Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, Antenati, and FamilySearch, all of which have large searchable databases relating to Italian history and genealogy.

There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Matera. Italy began countrywide registration of vital records in 1809, and Antenati has digitized many of these records from that date up to the early 1900s. Prior to 1809, birth, marriage, and death records would have primarily been recorded by church parishes, which would have been responsible for keeping track of baptisms, marriages, and burials in different parts of the country.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also holds a variety of records relating to the province of Matera. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for the province of Matera. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed billions of Italian church records, civil registration, and other types of records which are available to view or download online at FamilySearch.org.

Genealogy Resources in Matera, Italy

Many Italian family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout Matera. Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at civil registry offices, church parishes, and elsewhere in Italy. To find these and other records, click on the links below to find more information about the specific counties where your ancestors lived in Italy. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.

It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain areas in Italy have changed over the past few hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived in one area and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, church, civil registration, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent areas. Following is a complete list of Matera's municipalities (comuni), along with links where you can find civil registration and church records in the province.

Municipalities

Accettura

Aliano

Bernalda

Calciano

Cirigliano

Colobraro

Craco

Ferrandina

Garaguso

Gorgoglione

Grassano

Grottole

Irsina

Matera

Miglionico

Montalbano Jonico

Montescaglios

Nova Siri

Oliveto Lucano

Pisticci

Policoro

Pomarico

Rotondella

Salandra

San Giorgio Lucano

San Mauro Forte

Scanzano Jonico

Stigliano

Tricarico

Tursi

Valsinni

Population

2,237 (2005)

1,244 (2005)

12,056 (2005)

845 (2005)

430 (2005)

1,505 (2005)

800 (2005)

9,329 (2005)

1,193 (2005)

1,119 (2005)

5,623 (2005)

2,547 (2005)

5,564 (2005)

59,144 (2005)

2,592 (2005)

7,880 (2005)

10,112 (2005)

6,578 (2005)

563 (2005)

17,855 (2005)

15,422 (2005)

4,438 (2005)

3,133 (2005)

3,075 (2005)

1,446 (2005)

2,042 (2005)

6,946 (2005)

5,345 (2005)

6,115 (2005)

5,390 (2005)

1,760 (2005)

Municipal Offices

Comune di Accettura

Comune di Aliano

Comune di Bernalda

Comune di Calciano

Comune di Cirigliano

Comune di Colobraro

Comune di Craco

Comune di Ferrandina

Comune di Garaguso

Comune di Gorgoglione

Comune di Grassano

Comune di Grottole

Comune di Irsina

Comune di Matera

Comune di Miglionico

Comune di Montalbano Jonico

Comune di Montescaglioso

Comune di Nova Siri

Comune di Oliveto Lucano

Comune di Pisticci

Comune di Policoro

Comune di Pomarico

Comune di Rotondella

Comune di Salandra

Comune di San Giorgio Lucano

Comune di San Mauro Forte

Comune di Scanzano Jonico

Comune di Stigliano

Comune di Tricarico

Comune di Tursi

Comune di Valsinni

Churches

Parish List