Italy was divided into a patchwork of independent states until unification in the late 19th century. This page on the Jews of Italy focuses on the post-unification Kingdom of Italy. Livorno and Venice have their own pages, as do the minor Italian states (meaning: Ferrara, Genoa, Lucca, Mantua, Milan, Modena, Naples, Papal States, Parma, Presidi, Savoy and Urbino). Check for more information there.
The final unification of Italy didn’t happen until the capture of Rome in 1870. The story is that the Pope stated that whichever Italian artillery officer gave the order for the walls of Rome to be bombarded would be excommunicated from the Catholic Church. So, the Italian Army had a Jewish officer give the order!
Origins of the Jews of Italy
We focus on Sephardic Jews in Italy, but Italian Jews (Italkim) are often integrated into Sephardic communities and are treated as Sephardim.
Genetic research suggests that Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish populations are offshoots of the Italkim.
Genealogy of Jews in the Kingdom of Italy
Introduction
- Italian birth, marriage, and death records for 1809-1930 available on Antenati website
- Records may not include overseas territories like Libya and Rhodes (post-1911)
Resources for Italian Jewish Genealogy
Given the number of Italian states, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive review of all genealogical sources on the Jews of Italy. The selection below is intended as an introduction.
- Video: “The Jews of Italy – Their History, Genealogy and Surnames” by Luca Ascoli (Sephardic World talk)
- A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Italy, France and “Portuguese” Communities by Alexander Beider
- Italian Family History website
- Moked – portal of Italian Jewish community
- Fondazione Centro di Documentazione Ebraica Contemporanea
- J-Italy
- Dr. Meir Padoa Collection of Italian family trees at ANU (the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv)
- “The Family Tree Italian Genealogy Guide” by Melanie Holtz (All-Italian, not just Jewish.
- “Italian Genealogical Records” by Trafford R. Cole (1995)
- Italian consular archives from around the Mediterranean (Documentazione Storico Diplomatica – Archivio Storico Diplomatico)
Bibliographies of the Jews of Italy
- Attilio Milano, Bibliotheca Historica Italo-Judaica (1954)
- Attilio Milano, Bibliotheca Historica Italo-Judaica, Supplemento 1954-1963
- Aldo Luzzatto, Moshe Moldavi, Biblioteca Italo-ebraica (1964-1973)
- Aldo Luzzatto, Biblioteca Italo-ebraica (1974-1985)
- Shlomo Simonsohn, Biblioteca Italo-ebraica (1986-1995)
Help Researching your Italian Jewish Ancestry
Do you need a professional genealogist to work on your Sephardic genealogy? Click here.
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