Who We Are
A Story of Research, Memory, and Identity
Michele Cartusciello is a genealogist, researcher, and a deep connoisseur of local history, traditions, and culture. His passion for genealogy began in 1984, when he first entered the municipal archives of Padula, the town in the Vallo di Diano where he grew up.
That moment marked the beginning of a long journey of research that led him to explore municipal, parish, and state archives throughout Italy. Over the years, he reconstructed his own family tree back to the 1600s, tracing more than 4,000 names.
This patient and rigorous work gradually evolved into a broader vision: to make genealogy an accessible and living tool, capable of connecting historical research with personal identity and collective memory.
The Birth of the Surname Museum
This vision took shape in April 2012 with the founding of the Museo del Cognome in Padula.
The museum brings together years of study and research and presents them to the public through an educational path designed to guide visitors through their first steps in genealogical research.
Over time, the museum became a point of reference for enthusiasts, scholars, families, and people of Italian descent — a place where a surname is not just a name, but a key to understanding family histories, migrations, and ancestral connections.
The New Home at the Certosa of Padula
In 2025, the Museo del Cognome inaugurated its new location inside the Certosa di San Lorenzo , one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The new exhibition features a multimedia and interactive journey dedicated to the origins, evolution, and meaning of surnames. It also includes spaces for educational workshops and school visits, designed to engage younger generations and make genealogy a living, shared experience.
