As a nation state, Italy has emerged only in 1871. Until then the country was politically divided into a large number of independant cities, provinces and islands. The currently available evidences point out to a dominant Etruscan, Greek and Roman cultural influence on today's Italians.
I'm wondering if I should keep in mind differences in names in records. Most of my family is from Northern Italy, which the borders changed quite a bit AND it is in close proximity to other nations.
Like if I have a "Francesco Turci" is it reasonable to look for a "Françoise Terzi"?
