Genealogy Research
in Agrigento, Sicily
Family history research
If your family came from Agrigento or elsewhere in the province, I can investigate the documentary evidence for your ancestry and locate relevant civil and church records. Every research project is planned around the information available, the historical period and the records that have survived.
I am Giuseppe Sorbello, founder of Sicilian Ancestry. Based in eastern Sicily, I carry out genealogy research across the island for clients in Italy and overseas. You can commission the research without visiting Sicilian archives yourself.
My Genealogy Research Experience in the Province of Agrigento
Throughout my professional career I have investigated families originating in the province of Agrigento, tracing documentary connections across both coastal communities and inland towns.
My work has involved Grotte, Sciacca, Siculiana, Aragona, Licata, Canicattì and Favara, along with Montevago, Caltabellotta, Santa Elisabetta and Santo Stefano Quisquina. I have also undertaken record searches involving Agrigento, Bivona, Campobello di Licata, Racalmuto and Ribera.
Research into an Agrigento family often requires records from more than one municipality. Historical names are also important: Girgenti, for example, is the former name of Agrigento. Identifying the correct municipality, parish and civil registration office for the period in question helps avoid mistaken connections.
My experience includes multi-generation family tree research, identifying emigrant ancestors in overseas documentation and locating birth, marriage and death records. I can investigate a single branch or undertake a broader reconstruction of an ancestral line.
I provide these services throughout the province of Agrigento, including to descendants living outside Italy.
Where Are Agrigento Genealogy Records Kept?
Civil Registration Records
The State Archive of Agrigento describes civil registration records for the district of Girgenti (1820– 1865). The availability of any particular register must be checked within the collection. Other institutional holdings include municipal documents, land records, notarial acts and records from suppressed religious institutions.
Archival responsibilities vary across the province, including the Sciacca branch of the State Archive. An overall collection date range does not establish complete coverage for every town and year. For later documents and official extracts, the relevant municipal authority must be identified.
Parish Registers and Diocesan Archives
For families living before the introduction of civil registration, parish records may be essential. The Archdiocese of Agrigento and individual parish archives preserve ecclesiastical sources relevant to the province.
Baptisms and marriages may identify parents and link generations, while burial registers and related records can add context. The survival of specific volumes and the conditions for consultation must be verified for each locality.
Other Historical Sources
When standard civil records leave questions unresolved, I may examine marriage supporting documents, notarial acts, cadastral sources or military records. Overseas passenger and naturalization records can help identify a Sicilian town and time period, but their details must be checked against the original local sources.
Research in Sciacca may require different archival collections from research in Grotte or Canicattì, especially for earlier periods. The record search is tailored to the family and the available series.
Agrigento, Girgenti and Sciacca: Understanding the Place of Origin
If a document names Girgenti, it is important to establish whether it refers to the historical name of Agrigento itself or to a wider administrative district. Similarly, an overseas record saying simply “Agrigento” may not identify the actual town of birth.
For families connected with communities such as Aragona, Grotte and Canicattì, I locate each event in its proper municipality before treating two records as belonging to the same person. This is especially important when surnames are common and dates are approximate.
Genealogy Services in the Province of Agrigento
Family Tree Research
Starting from an identified ancestor, I can trace earlier generations and reconstruct family relationships supported by historical records. My family tree services offer different levels of research. Depending on the project and the records found, the final materials include a genealogy research report, family tree and digital copies of original sources. The depth of any family line depends on the surviving evidence.
Italian Record Retrieval and Citizenship Documents
You can commission the search for one or more birth, marriage or death records, even if you only know an approximate time frame. The work may include identifying the appropriate office, preparing document requests and checking the records received. Official certificates and extracts are issued by the competent public authorities.
For Italian citizenship applications, I offer a dedicated document research and retrieval service. It does not include legal advice or an assessment of citizenship eligibility.
Targeted Archival Research
If you already have a partial family tree, or need to verify one specific connection, I can investigate an individual, family, record or locality without undertaking a complete genealogical reconstruction. Research may involve digital collections, enquiries to record repositories and, where necessary and possible, in-person archive visits. DNA findings can also be considered through the appropriate specialist service alongside documentary evidence.
How to Start Your Agrigento Family History Research
Please provide the ancestor’s name, even an approximate date, the suspected town of origin and the names of any known parents or spouse. If an overseas document uses the word “Girgenti” or “Agrigento,” include its exact wording because this can affect which records should be searched.
The preliminary assessment establishes whether the investigation can be limited to one municipality and period or needs broader territorial research. Fees and terms are agreed before the work begins.
Contact Me About Genealogy Research in Agrigento and Its Province →