If you search your ancestors in Roccamena, in the province of Palermo, Sicilia region, the documents about your Italian family are stored in the City Office archives and in the parishes in the town.This is where to start your family history research.
Civil Records in Roccamena
In towns and villages of Sicilia and in Palermo province registry offices were established in 1809: it means that you could find your ancestors records in Roccamena town hall archives as of that date.
(If your goal is to get your Italian Citizenship and you need official certificates from Roccamena, please follow this link)
.
So, if your ancestors lived in Roccamena during the past centuries, then you should start your family research from the City Office of Roccamena to know more: our local expert is ready to help you in your research!
Otherwise, 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 Sicilia and of course in Roccamena too!
Next picture shows the demographic trends in Roccamena 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 Roccamena. As more your surname is common, as more it could be difficult to find the right branch of your ancestors family in Roccamena archives, expecially if you have not exact dates.
It could be useful for you to know that some of the most common surnames in Palermo province are:
Aiello, Amato, Barone, Battaglia, Bruno, Caruso, Catalano, Costa, Cusimano, D’Amico, D’Angelo, Di Maggio, Di Salvo, Ferrante, Ferrara, Gambino, Geraci, Giordano, Greco, La Barbera, La Rosa, Lo Cascio, Lombardo, Macaluso, Mancuso, Maniscalco, Mannino, Marchese, Marino, Martorana, Mazzola, Messina, Mineo, Orlando, Palazzolo, Parisi, Pecoraro, Piazza, Randazzo, Rizzo, Romano, Russo, Sciortino, Siragusa, Taormina, Tarantino, Vassallo, Vitale.
Church Records in Roccamena
Church archives in Palermo 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 Sicilia started during 1500!
They 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 Roccamena on your behalf.
Anyway for our experience, if you plan to come here, we always suggest to start the research months before the arrival.
In this way you will avoid 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 before your arrival, you will have more free time to visit the town and surroundings on your ancestors footsteps.
Another important source of information are the notary documents available to expert researchers in the State Archives.
If you are in Sicilia and you are able to decipher old italian handwritten documents you can reach the archive here:
Archivio di Stato di Palermo
Address: Via Vittorio Emanuele, 31 – Palermo
Phone: +39 0912704001 .002 .003
Days and opening hours: monday – friday 08:00 – 18:00 saturday 08:00 – 13:30 weekly closing: Sunday and holidays; no reservation
If you need a professional help from our local genealogist in Roccamena area , write to roccamena@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 want to read this page in other languages:
– Italiano
– Espanol
– Portuguese
Here below you can read the messages received from other visitors in Roccamena forum:
if you only want to discuss with other people interested in genealogy in Roccamena feel free to leave a message below.
Hello. My great grandmother Carmela Bruscia (Brescia) was born May 12, 1889 in Roccamena. She married Marcello Bracchi born in Palermo. They lived in Montelepre and had a son Pietro (Peter). They emigrated to America in 1912. It’s possible she is the child of Rosa Virgadamo and Giuseppe Bruscia (Brescia). If anyone could help me with this I would be so grateful.
Ciao. La mia bisnonna Carmela Bruscia (Brescia) è nata il 12 maggio 1889 a Roccamena. Sposò Marcello Bracchi, nato a Palermo. Vivevano a Montelepre e avevano un figlio Pietro (Peter). Emigrarono in America nel 1912. È possibile che sia figlia di Rosa Virgadamo e Giuseppe Bruscia (Brescia). Se qualcuno potesse aiutarmi con questo, sarei così grato.
I am looking for birth information on Philip Parenti married to Vincenza Governale came to USA 1898.
I am interested in a Filippo Ferruggia. Father of Vito Ferruggia. Vito came to New Orleans in 1897 I believe
My wife’s family is from Roccamena…Lucido is the name. Can you help us locate any Lucido’s in the area? I believe his name is Andrew Lucido?
I am looking for my mother and my grandfather’s history. My mother was born in Roccamena in 1896. Her name was Eleanora Ragusa. Her mother and father from Roccamena were Frank Ragusa and Conchetta Ferina. They were my grandparents. I would like any information you can give me. I’m considering a trip to Sicily and Roccamena. Thank you for your help in advance. Sal Anselmo
Hello, my name is Anne Saltalamacchia Pla. The reason I am contacting you is to see if you ever did visit Roccomena. I just discovered from my great uncle’s immigration documents that my grandmother’s family is from Roccamena. Her mother’s name was Giuseppa Anselmo (b 1877) and she married a man named Dominico San Fratello (b 1872). We are probably related since Roccamena is such a small town and how many Anselmo’s could there have been in the 19th century? They immigrated to the U.S. in 1909 when my grandmother was 7 years old. It took me 8 years to determine that this is the area they are from. I got this from my great uncle Leonardo Anselmo’s immigration information just today. They had his hometown listed as Boccamewa, so I had to do some detective work which led me to this site and your last name pretty much verifies that I am right. I am traveling to Sicily in November of this year and I am definitely making my way there for more information. Please respond to this email, maybe we can figure out our relationship and perhaps I can help you when I get to Sicily. Anne
I am looking to obtain the birth certificate of my father who was born in Roccamena. His name was Thomas (Tommaso) Farruggia and was born in 1906 or 1907, the child of Giuseppi Farrugia and Marianna Beninati. He emigrated to the US in 1920 with his mother and a sister Margherita Farruggia. They went to New Orleans LA to his uncle Pietro Ferruggia. There are 3 spellings to our last name (Farruggia, Farrugia, and Ferruggia) and I don’t know which is the original but he spelled Farruggia. He was never granted US citizenship and I’m looking to inherit his Italian citizenship on that basis.
Hi Marianne,
My great grandmother, Madelena Ferruggia Ragusa, was the daughter of Giuseppi Ferruggia and Marianna Beninati. I know your post is over two years old, but I am wondering how your experience has been with gaining your citizenship. Madelena’s husband was Dominick Ragusa. I have a random document that Dominick signed as a witness for your father, Thomas Farruggia. I hope all went well with your search and I would love to compare notes. I’m having trouble locating Madelena and Dominick’s marriage certificate. Fingers crossed you know of story of your aunt and can point me in the right direction.
Sincerely, Kristina
My Father was born in Roccamena Palermo Sicily on October 17, 1901. He was a child from a extra marital affair,and placed in the orphange as Vincenzo Entella. His biological Father(last name is DiBella ) brought him to the Unite States Of America in 1911.He was known as Jim Andello as his half brother Joe DiBella did not want my Father to carry the DiBella name. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
LOOKING ON INFO FOR BALDASSARI DIESI DOB 1850. WIFES NAME IS TENA. DON’T KNOW THEIR DOM OR POB. THEY HAD 2 CHILDREN LENA AND CHARLES IN ITALY BEFORE COMING TO AMERICA THROUGH THE NEW ORLEANS PORT ON THE SHIP HEXHAM. THEY HAD MORE CHILDREN AFTER ARRIVING HERE.
THEY SETTLED IN HOUSTON BEFORE MOVING TO SPRING TEXAS.
HELP PLEASE:)
LISA
Looking for records of Antonio Gerace/Geraci who married Concetta Felici. Child Russell (Rosario) Gerace b. 1886 en route to US. Info is that Concetta died on that voyage and Antonio subsequently married Christina (b. 1874).
I was in Roccamena in 1998 but it was a Sunday and all the offices were closed. I really wanted to learn about my great grandparents Guiseppe Altamore (Altimore) and Lena (Antonina) Vegil. We know nothing about the family and the family members in Texas were not close due to many circumstances.
I would like to employ a reliable genealogist to find the information for me. I know they had a daughter and 3 sons who came to Texas. Who did they remain in Roccamena with? What was Guiseppe’s occupation? etc. Were there other children? When did the name change from Altamore to Altimore. There are dozens of Altimores in our northeast. The 3 sons here all died with the name Altimore. When did they die? I can furnish all vital statistics for the 4 persons who came to Texas. My grandfather married Francesca Salvaggio (Poggioreale) in Texas in 1900.
I have one better for you. Send me an email and I will give you my number. I am part of the altimore family in Texas. I believe one of the brothers was my great grandmothers dad.
Hi, do you know the background of the Altamore people who came to Texas?
I am an Altimore in Texas and searching for information. Can you contact me.
Guiseppi and Lena were my great-great-grandparents. I lve in Texas. Peter and Annie Altimore were my great-grandparent. I would like to learn what you have learned.
Hi Judy,
My name is Alberto. My father, Giuseppe (Joseph) Altamore was born in Roccamena, Sicily, on November 23, 1923, and emigrated to the United States in December, 1948. In July of 2000 we traveled to Roccamena to attend the wedding of a cousin. While in Sicily we visited the town of Juliana and met many people with the last name Altamore. I believe that all of the people named Altimore are really Altamore because the name is commonly mispronounced as Altimore. If you would like additional information please feel free to contact me.
Guiseppe Altamore (Altimore) and Lena (Antonina) Vegil were my great great great grandparents. Their daughter Annie had a daughter named Nancy (Nunzia) Morreale Campise. Nancy had a daughter named Mary, my grandmother.
My great grandfather; Anthony (probably Antonino or Antonio) Forte or Foto and my great grandmother; Catherine (Caterina) Campisi were either from or married in Roccamena in the late 1800s. They had 4 or 5 children before they immigrated to the US in the early 1900s. They settled in Louisiana. I’d love to find some record of their marriage or even births.
I am researching the same family. Do you live in Louisiana?
Hi Ron I’m Vinny from ny. My family from Rocamanna. And I’m distance cousin with foto. Feel free to contact me 17187081771
My grandfather was born in Roccamena. His name was Filippo Giangrosso. His father was Giovanni Giangrosso and his mother was Josephine Canova. My grandfather was born Dec 8, 1906 and his family emigrated to America around 1910. His father died when he was young and his mother re-married Rosario Servello. From what information my family has, Rosario Servello was Calabrian. I would really like to find out any more information on my Giangrosso/Canova family. I know that they sailed from Palermo, I’ve also heard stories of having family from Cefalu – but I’m not sure where that comes into the story. I would appreciate any advice on where I should look to would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I am doing research on my Italian side. My great grandmother was from Roccamena. Her name was Marianna Leperi. Her father’s name was Salvador Leperi. The last name spelling may be Lapari, Lepari. Marianna was sent to live in a convent after her mother died. She was raised by the nuns and was well educated. Her year of birth would be in 1879. She married Salvatore Calamia but not sure what year. There first child Laura Calamia was born June 13, 1898 and their son Nunzio Calamia was born February 24,1901. Any information would be greatly appreciated on any of the people mentioned.
Connie,
My great grandfather had a sister named Anna Ragusa who married a Salvador Lipari in Roccamena on March 15, 1883. It is after your grandmother’s birth so I don’t think it is the same person, but the name “Salvatore Lipari” was so similar I wanted to touch base. Perhaps cousins? My grandfather worked for him as a boy before immigrating to Louisiana (circa 1900). They had children Francesca, Giuseppe, Rosalia and apparently their descendants are still in the area. Hope this is helpful.
My Father was born (out of wedlock) on October 17,1901 in Roccamena Palermo,Sicily and was placed in a orphanage until around 1909 to 1910. His name on his birth certificate is listed as Vincenzo Entella and his biological Father’s surname was DiBella.My Father came to he United States of America around 1910 and lived in St.Louis,Mo. and died in Paducah,Ky. on August 16,1987. We as a family, have a few items he had while at the orphanage(one item is a necklace with the number 6 on it. Can Sicily give us any further information?
My father had a half brother(Joseph DiBella) ,and when my father became a American citizen ,his half brother( by decree of the court) had his name changed to James Andello . Dad died in Paducah,Ky. on August 16,1987. Dad was a great father!
Please give some information,
Regards,
Frank Andello
I am looking for any additional information on Ignazio Merlo, Maria Fanara, Francesca Merlo DOB 7-22-1848 Serafino Campisi DOB 12-19-1851