Italy
Abruzzo
Chieti
Ortona is a comune in the provincia of Chieti, Abruzzo with a population of 21,984 as of 2025. Between 1830 and 1912, at least 974 passengers departing from Ortona arrived in the United States.
Contact
To request vital records from the anagrafe (records office), write to the PEC address or email below. Include the full name, approximate date, and record type in Italian.
Map
Località
Each Italian comune is divided into località (localities), which include centri abitati (populated centers) and nuclei abitati (smaller settlements).
Centri abitati
AltitudePopulation- Ortona72m12,317
- Villa Caldari182m1,211
- Villa San Leonardo109m565
- Villa Grande131m453
- Lido Riccio5m365
- Villa San Nicola108m316
- Foro6m284
- Postilli3m265
- Villa Carlone157m260
- Villa Rogatti145m235
Nuclei abitati
AltitudePopulation- Santa Lucia85m526
- Lazzaretto80m451
- San Donato-Moro76m315
- Riccio67m222
- Villa Iubatti161m174
- Savini110m162
- San Pietro79m145
- Aquilano100m138
- Ripari Bardella30m137
- Civitarese110m130
Population and Migration
This chart shows annual resident population, US arrivals (1830 to 1912), and international migration (2001 to present). Not all data is available for every period, so gaps are normal.
The population has grown 70% since 1861. US arrivals peaked in 1903 with 194 recorded passengers. Since 2001, net international immigration has added the equivalent of 6% of the current population.
Total US arrivals
974
1830–1912
Peak year
1903
194 arrivals
Cittadinanza per discendenza
Could a line from Ortona qualify for Italian citizenship?
Between 1830 and 1912, at least 974 passengers from Ortona arrived in the United States. Arrivals peaked in 1903. If one of them is your ancestor, Italy may recognize you as a citizen under jure sanguinis (citizenship by descent).
The birthplace alone does not decide it. Each generation between that ancestor and you does: who naturalized, and when. Since the 2025 law, the number of generations matters too.
The checker goes back through your line one generation at a time. It is not legal advice, and it does not search for records.
Check your lineItalian-born ancestor
Your ancestor from Ortona
Born in Ortona (CH), Italy
Each generation between
Name and dates
Did this person naturalize before their child was born?
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A likely outcome
and the documents your line would need
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Top Emigrant Cognomi
Most common cognomi (family names) among emigrants from Ortona recorded in US arrivals, 1830 to 1912.
- 1.Eramo13
- 2.Taglieri12
- 3.Dicicco11
- 4.Pecce10
- 5.Asci9
- 6.D angelo8
- 7.Venti8
- 8.Di salvatore8
- 9.De angelis7
- 10.Dragoni7
Notable People
People born in Ortona.