Radici Guides

Guide to Genealogical Research in Umbria: Archives, Historical Boundaries, Territorial Variations, and the Official Gazette

Genealogical research in Umbria offers extraordinary yet complex documentary richness, heavily conditioned by centuries of Papal State administration, reforms of the Napoleonic period, and profound post-unification territorial reorganizations. Modifications to provincial borders, inter-regional transfers (such as the separation of the Rieti area from Umbria) and municipal mergers make an accurate historical-administrative reconstruction essential to correctly trace birth, marriage, and death records.

THE PROVINCES OF UMBRIA AND THEIR VARIATIONS

1. Province of Perugia

Largely corresponding to the Department of Trasimeno in the Napoleonic era and the Papal Apostolic Delegation, the State Archive of Perugia (with the Sections of Assisi, Foligno, Gubbio, and Spoleto) preserves Napoleonic Civil Status (1810–1814), Italian Civil Status from 1860, and Conscription registers.

THE MAJOR PROVINCIAL REORGANIZATION OF 1927 (Splitting of Terni and Transfer of the Rieti Area to Lazio):

Until 1927, the Province of Perugia included the entire Umbria region and was divided into the districts of Perugia, Foligno, Orvieto, Spoleto, Terni, and Rieti. With Royal Decree of January 2, 1927, no. 1 (O.G. no. 7 of 01/11/1927):

1. The Province of Terni was established, detaching the southern part of Umbria.
2. The Province of Rieti was established, detaching the entire District of Rieti (with the municipalities of the Sabina area) from Umbria and transferring it to the Lazio region.

Genealogical impact: For pre-1927 military conscription lists of young men born in the municipalities of the Province of Rieti or the Province of Terni, the original conscription lists are preserved at the State Archive of Perugia.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Perugia (59):

Assisi, Bastia Umbra, Bettona, Bevagna, Campello sul Clitunno, Cannara, Cascia, Castel Ritaldi, Castiglione del Lago, Cerreto di Spoleto, Citerna, Città della Pieve, Città di Castello, Collazzone, Corciano, Costacciaro, Deruta, Foligno, Fossato di Vico, Fratta Todina, Giano dell'Umbria, Gualdo Cattaneo, Gualdo Tadino, Lisciano Niccone, Magione, Marsciano, Massa Martana, Monte Castello di Vibio, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Montefalco, Monteleone di Spoleto, Montone, Nocera Umbra, Norcia, Paciano, Panicale, Perugia, Piegaro, Pietralunga, Poggiodomo, Preci, Sant'Anatolia di Narco, Scheggia e Pascelupo, Scheggino, Sellano, Sigillo, Spello, Spoleto, Todi, Torgiano, Trevi, Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Umbertide, Valfabbrica, Vallo di Nera, Valtopina.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Monte Santa Maria Tiberina (Regional Transfer Tuscany -> Umbria): Ancient imperial fief of the Bourbon del Monte family, after the unification of Italy it belonged to the Province of Arezzo (Tuscany). It was detached from Tuscany and aggregated to the Province of Perugia (Umbria) in 1927 by Royal Decree of January 2, 1927, no. 1. Conscription lists and pre-1927 records are found at the State Archive of Arezzo.
• Umbertide (Name Change): Named Fratta or Fratta Todina until 1863, it took the name Umbertide in honor of Prince Umberto of Savoy by Royal Decree of January 18, 1863, no. 1140.
• Scheggia e Pascelupo (Unification): The two villages merged in the 19th century defining the single denomination by Royal Decree of March 8, 1874, no. 1845.

2. Province of Terni

Established from scratch with Royal Decree of January 2, 1927, no. 1 by detachment from the Province of Perugia. The State Archive of Terni (with the Section of Orvieto) preserves administrative, judicial, and post-1927 civil status documentation. For conscription records and civil status of the 1860–1926 period, it is also necessary to refer to the State Archive of Perugia.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Terni (33):

Acquasparta, Allerona, Alviano, Amelia, Arrone, Attigliano, Avigliano Umbro, Baschi, Calvi dell'Umbria, Castel Giorgio, Castel Viscardo, Fabro, Ferentillo, Ficulle, Giove, Guardea, Lugnano in Teverina, Montecastrilli, Montecchio, Montegabbione, Monteleone d'Orvieto, Narni, Orvieto, Otricoli, Parrano, Penna in Teverina, Polino, Porano, San Gemini, San Venanzo, Stroncone, Terni.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Terni (Capital Expansion and Suppression of 4 Municipalities in 1927): In 1927, concurrently with its elevation to provincial capital, the Municipality of Terni incorporated the suppressed autonomous municipalities of Cesi, Collescipoli, Papigno, and Piediluco by Royal Decree of January 18, 1927, no. 91 (O.G. no. 22 of 01/28/1927). For research on these centers before 1927, consult the separate records of the former autonomous municipalities.
• Avigliano Umbro (Municipal Autonomy): Historical hamlet of the municipality of Montecastrilli, erected into an autonomous municipality by Law of June 7, 1975, no. 217 (O.G. no. 162 of 06/21/1975). Pre-1975 records are preserved at the Municipality of Montecastrilli.
• San Venanzo (Incorporation of Former Municipalities): In 1929 it incorporated the suppressed autonomous municipalities of Rotecastello and San Vito in Monte by Royal Decree of February 14, 1929, no. 312.

Synoptic Table of Territorial Variations, Provincial/Regional Changes, and Decrees in Umbria