About me
Professional Italian genealogist helping families worldwide uncover their roots
Professional Italian Genealogist in Italy
Italian genealogist based in Milan, helping families worldwide trace their Italian roots
My name is Eleonora Lesina, and I am a professional Italian genealogist based in Milan, Italy. I help families around the world discover their Italian origins through civil records, parish archives, local historical sources and direct research in Italy. As a professional Italian genealogist, I work with original records preserved in Italy, helping clients move from family stories to documented history.
My work combines genealogical method, historical research and careful interpretation of original documents. I do not simply collect names and dates. I reconstruct family histories through evidence, context and memory, helping clients understand not only who their ancestors were, but where they lived, how they moved, what work they did and how their lives were shaped by the society around them.
As a genealogist based in Italy, I regularly work with Italian municipalities, parish offices, diocesan archives, civil records, historical registers and local archival collections. This direct knowledge of Italian sources is essential, because many Italian records are not available online and can only be accessed through precise requests or on site research.
Professional Memberships and Ethical Commitment
I am a member of the (APG) Association of Professional Genealogists, an international organization that promotes ethical standards, professional excellence and responsibility in genealogical research. I am also a founding member of PROGENITA , the first Italian association of professional genealogists, operating within the framework of Italian Law 4/2013 on professions not organized into official orders or colleges. My PROGENITA membership number is SF 526826. Within the association, I serve as a member of the Board of Probiviri, supporting its commitment to professional ethics, transparency and quality standards in genealogical research.
For me, professional genealogy requires more than searching databases. It requires accuracy, respect for the sources, responsible communication with clients and a clear distinction between documented facts, reasonable hypotheses and family traditions that still need to be verified. This commitment is central to my work as a professional Italian genealogist and to the way I communicate research results to every client.
My Academic Background
I currently study History at the University of Milan, where I focus on archival research, historical sources, paleography and the interpretation of documents in their proper historical context. Before university, I studied Greek and Latin, which gave me a strong foundation for reading and understanding older documents. This background is particularly useful when working with parish registers, notarial acts, ecclesiastical records and nineteenth century civil documents, where language, handwriting and formulaic expressions can be difficult to interpret correctly. My historical training supports my work as a professional Italian genealogist, especially when interpreting old handwriting, Latin records and complex archival sources.
Many Italian genealogical records are written in old Italian, Latin or administrative language that is no longer used today. Reading these sources requires attention, patience and historical training. A name, a place or a marginal note can completely change the interpretation of a family line.
How My Interest in Genealogy Began
My interest in genealogy began with a family story that had been passed down for generations. Like many families, mine preserved fragments of memory, names, legends and unexplained connections.
When I started to investigate those stories through documents, I discovered that the truth was different from the legend, but in many ways even more meaningful. That experience taught me what genealogy really is: not the search for a perfect family myth, but the reconstruction of real lives through evidence, context and memory. Through my own research, I learned how powerful a single document can be. A baptism record, a marriage act, a death certificate, a notarial deed or a parish register can reveal not only a name, but an entire world: family relationships, social position, occupations, migration, property, faith and community. This personal journey became the foundation of my professional work. Today, I help other families move from scattered memories to documented history.
My Research Method
Every genealogical project begins with the evidence already available. I review names, dates, places, family stories, immigration documents, certificates, photographs and previous research. From there, I identify the most reliable path forward. Italian research often depends on the exact town of origin. A family may remember that an ancestor came from Naples, Palermo, Milan or Sicily, but the actual record may be preserved in a smaller municipality, a local parish or a diocesan archive. For this reason, I pay close attention to geography, historical jurisdictions and local archival organization. My work includes the search and analysis of civil records, parish registers, marriage files, baptism and burial records, population registers, military records, notarial sources and other historical documents when available.
When records are difficult to read, I provide transcription and translation. When documents are incomplete, I compare multiple sources. When a family story is uncertain, I explain what can be proven, what remains hypothetical and which records may help confirm the next step. This method allows me to work as a professional Italian genealogist with accuracy, transparency and respect for every family history.
My goal is to provide research that is accurate, clear and useful. Each report is written in understandable English and includes both documentary evidence and historical context.
My Mission and Values
My mission is to uncover, preserve and honor the lives of Italian ancestors through careful research and truthful storytelling. I believe that genealogy should be both accurate and meaningful. Every family history deserves to be reconstructed with respect for the sources, attention to detail and awareness of the historical context in which each ancestor lived. For this reason, my work is guided by clear values:
Accuracy
Every name, date and place is verified through original or reliable sources.
Clarity
Research results are explained in clear English, with documents, context and conclusions presented in an accessible way.
Responability
I distinguish clearly between documented evidence, possible hypotheses and family traditions that still need verification.
Context
Records are not isolated facts. They are interpreted within the social, geographical and historical world in which each family lived.
Respect
Every ancestor’s life is treated with dignity, care and historical sensitivity.
Dedication
I approach each project with the same attention and seriousness that I would give to my own family history.
My Journey
Age 12 – First discovery
My interest in genealogy began with my own family papers, stories and unanswered questions.
Classical Studies (Greek & Latin)
My training in Greek and Latin gave me the tools to approach old manuscripts, parish records and historical documents.
University of Milan – History
My studies in History at the University of Milan strengthened my work with archival sources, paleography and historical context.
Professional Genealogist
Today, I help families worldwide trace their Italian roots through civil records, parish archives and local historical research.
Who I Work With
I work with families and researchers from all over the world, especially from the United States, South America, Australia and Europe, who wish to explore their Italian origins or obtain certified Italian records for family history and citizenship purposes.
Many of my clients contact me to reconstruct their family history or to obtain certified documents required for Italian dual citizenship (jure sanguinis). Clients often contact me because they need a professional Italian genealogist who can work directly with Italian municipalities, parishes and archives.
United States
Most of my clients are American families searching for Italian records for both family history and dual citizenship.
Australia
I support descendants of Italian immigrants in Australia, obtaining certified documents from Italian municipalities and parishes.
Europe
I have successfully completed projects for families in Europe, delivering accurate records with clear English reports.
South America
I support families of Italian descent in South America, especially those tracing ancestors who emigrated to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Venezuela.
