Ghirone Parish, Ticino, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Ghirone Parish, 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
Ghirone included the hamlets of Baselga, Cozzera and Aquilesco.

History
The first mention of Ghirone was in 1200 as Agairono.

On 22 October 2006, Blenio was formed into a new municipality when the following municipalities were merged:
 * Aquila
 * Campo Blenio
 * Ghirone
 * Olivone
 * Torre

The population history of Ghirone is: 1682 - 370 inhabitants (including Buttino) 1836 - 162 inhabitants (with Buttino) 1860 - 111 inhabitants 1900 - 81 inhabitants 1910 - 100 inhabitants 1950 - 70 inhabitants 1960 - 340 inhabitants (construction of the Luzzone Dam) 1970 - 64 inhabitants 2000 - 44 inhabitants 2005 - 40 inhabitants

In 1334, the Disentis Monastery acquired land rights in Ghirone, which belonged to the community (vicinanza) of Aquila. In 1803, Ghirone integrated with the municipality of the same name. In 1836 Ghirone separated from Aquila and founded their own community with Buttino. Buttino is documented as an autonomous (self-governing) body as early as the 13th century and was inhabited until the late 19th century. Reunited again with Aquila (in 1842 and 1846), Ghirone and Buttino were separated from it again in 1853. The church dedicated to Saints Martin and George, mentioned in 1215, was rebuilt around 1700. The parish separated from Aquila in 1758 and became self-governing. Along with the other communities in the valley, the intensive emigration to European countries (chestnut roasters, servants, waiters), already noteworthy in the early modern period, represented a significant source of income and led to a constant decline in population.

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

The 1808 Ticino census for Ghirone can be accessed here. The village of Buttino can be accessed here.

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Ghirone prior to 1875, 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)