Footnotes for The Ascoli Database
State
of Souls registers were made in areas where most people belonged to
the Catholic faith, mainly in southern Europe. They list people in
parishes, usually by household, noting whether or not they are communicants.
Some registers give additional information such as age, occupation,
birthplace, names and birthplaces of parents. The most detailed registers
can be very useful in examining demography, household, kinship, migration
and community. The earliest registers date from the 17th century and
in some areas, notably parts of Italy, they are still made. In southern
France most registers date from between the 17th and 19th centuries.