Breno Parish, Ticino, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Breno 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
Breno is located in upper Malcantone. A new municipality of Alto Malcantone formed in 2005 which included:
 * Arosio
 * Breno
 * Fescoggia
 * Mugena
 * Vezio

Situated at the foot of Mount Torri, on a terrace overhung by the church built, it is believed, on the ruins of a castle.

History
The first mention of Breno is in 1140 as Breno.

The population history of Breno is: 1692 - 521 inhabitants 1801 - 459 inhabitants 1850 - 395 inhabitants 1900 - 398 inhabitants 1950 - 281 inhabitants 1980 - 172 inhabitants 1990 - 197 inhabitants 2000 - 255 inhabitants

Archaeological discoveries have uncovered items from the Roman era in Breno. The village name is Celtic in origin, though the exact meaning is unknown. At some time after the year 1000, the Abbey of Saint-Abonde in Côme acquired some rights and land in Breno. The parish was established as Fescoggia parish in 1592. The Parish Church of Saint-Laurent was built in 1233, rebuilt in 1596, and expanded in 1852. The municipality bought the property and rights in 1579. Modernly, the village includes the south land that once belonged to the municipality of Tortoglio. This land was abandoned during a plague in the 15th Century. The village was involved in a land dispute with Miglieglia until 1890.

According to records from 1571, Breno Parish was part of the Agno Pieve. The Pieve was formed from the following parishes: In Swiss territory -

In what is now Italian territory. With the exception of Cremenaga, all these parishes were separated from Agno by 1633.

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

The 1808 Ticino census for Breno can be accessed here.

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Breno 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)