Massagno, Ticino, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Massagno, Ticino, Switzerland, ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, parish census, civil census, family history, area history, and military records.



Geography
As of 1997, Massagno has an area of 0.74 square kilometers (0.29 sq mi). The municipality is situated in the Lugano District, in the north-western agglomeration of Lugano. It includes the village of Massagno, the settlement of Gerso, and, since 1804, part of the former municipality of Rovello.

The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 1.4% - forested
 * 98.6% - settled (buildings or roads)

History
The first mention of Massagno was in 1146 as Masagnio. Later in 1198, it was mentioned as Maxanio.

Since 1804, part of the former municipality of Rovello was included in Massagno.

The population history of Massagno is: 1698 - 35 hearths 1820 - 250 inhabitants 1850 - 329 inhabitants 1880 - 580 inhabitants 1900 - 773 inhabitants 1950 - 2304 inhabitants 1970 - 5214 inhabitants 2000 - 5558 inhabitants

The neighborhood of Massagno emerged from the villages of Massagno and Gerso, and during the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Pieve of Lugano. During the 9th and 10th Centuries, the Cathedral of S. Lorenzo in Lugano seems to have owned separate farms and houses in the village, and in 1198 it was the main landholder. At the same time, the Kastlanei Sonvico owned some properties. In 1262, the hospital of St. Mary of Lugano acquired some properties as well, which were sold in 1739 to the Luvini family in Massagno. In 1329, the provost of the Humiliati monastery of S. Antonio in Lugano purchased land in the village. Then, in the 14th Century, the Bishop of Como acquired the authority to tithe in Massagno and land in Gerso. Historically, Massagno belonged to the Lugano parish. Between 1920 and 1927, together with Rovello, it formed one of Luganos five rectorates. The Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua in Gerso is from 1655 to 1670 and was rebuilt in 1983.

Census
(See here for information regarding Ticino census records.)

The 1808 Ticino census for Massagno can be accessed here.

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Massagno prior to 1900, along with any known soprannomi. For more information about soprannomi, click here.

Related sources
The town's website (in Italian) can be found here.

Libraries and archives
State Archives of Ticino

Societies
Società Genealogica della Svizzera Italiana (SGSI)