Archives & Libraries

Ancestry research in ticino, switzerland

Battle of Arbedo 1422

The Swiss canton of Ticino is a great place to do research because of the wealth of historical material that can be found at the canton's many archives, libraries, and other repositories. Some of Ticino's best resources for historical research can be found at the capital in Bellinzona, as well as various archives, churches, and libraries in the neighboring city of Lugano and elsewhere. In addition to official state and church archives, records can also be located at the local level at various civil registry offices, public libraries, church parishes, cemeteries, and historical societies. Many records are also now available online at a number of great websites like Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch, all of which have large searchable databases relating to Swiss history and genealogy.

There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in the canton of Ticino. Switzerland began countrywide registration of vital records in 1876, and copies of these records would generally be ordered from civil registry offices at the local level. Prior to 1876, birth, marriage, and death records would have primarily been recorded by church parishes, which would have been responsible for keeping track of baptisms, marriages, and burials in different parts of the country.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also holds various records relating to Ticino. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for Ticino. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed a variety of Swiss church records, published histories, censuses, and other types of records which are available to view or download online at FamilySearch.

the Ticinese Diaspora

Coat of arms of Switzerland

If your goal is to trace your immigrant ancestors back to their place of origin, it is important to first locate the many different types of records that your ancestors left behind in places like the United States, Argentina, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. Records like ships' passenger lists, naturalization petitions, censuses, military records, vital records, obituaries, and cemetery records can often provide you with information about your ancestor's birthplace, names of relatives, and other important information. This will help you narrow down your search parameters when your ancestry search continues overseas. It is generally not possible to locate family records in Switzerland without first conducting extensive research in the places where your ancestors immigrated to.

getting started with your research

16th century map of Bellinzona

Many people wonder where they should begin with their family history research in Ticino. If you are new to genealogical research, the first thing you'll need to do is to start building a family tree with the information you already have at your disposal. There are some great genealogy software programs available that will help you get started with this process. Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Family Historian, and RootsMagic all make great programs that can help organize your research.

Get started by first creating a pedigree chart for yourself and family group sheets for your parents, grandparents, and other close family members. You can download free copies of these forms at FamilySearch and Ancestry.com. You can also create these records using a genealogy software program. Family group sheets allow you to record information like family members' birth dates, marriage dates, death dates, burial places, spouses' names, and other information that will be helpful to you as your research progresses. Interview living relatives and take notes about the major events of their lives. Add this information to your family files so that you will have a strong foundation of information as you move forward with your project.

A professional genealogist could also be helpful to your research in Switzerland. With the expertise and knowledge of a skilled researcher, you can have someone visit local archives and libraries on your behalf in Ticino and elsewhere. This is especially helpful if you don't live in the area and don't have ready access to church parish registers, civil registration, and other types of records that can often only be found after a visit to a local church, public library, or registry office. If you would like a professional genealogist to assist you with your ongoing research, please click here.

It is important when carrying out your research that you are thorough in documenting your family tree. Don't overlook the importance of finding your ancestor's siblings, cousins, and other close relatives. Brick walls are often encountered in genealogical research. To get beyond an apparent impasse it is often worthwhile to approach your research holistically. Many researchers who are new to genealogy often just want to get back as far as possible along a direct paternal or maternal family line. However, it is often the death certificates, obituaries, or other records of your direct ancestor's siblings and other close relatives that will provide you with the breakthroughs you are looking for.

districts of ticino

1881 Stamp

Many Swiss family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout Ticino. Many billions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at church parishes, civil registry offices, and elsewhere in Switzerland. To find these and other records, click on the links below to find more information about the specific places where your ancestors lived in Switzerland. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.

It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain areas in Ticino have changed over the past few hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived in one area and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for Swiss land, church, civil registration, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent areas. Following is a complete list of Ticino's municipalities, circoli, and districts, along with links to local resources in these localities.

Municipality

Acquarossa

Agno

Airolo

Alto Malcantone

Aranno

Arbedo-Castione

Arogno

Ascona

Astano

Avegno Gordevio

Balerna

Bedano

Bedigliora

Bedretto

Bellinzona

Biasca

Bioggio

Bissone

Blenio

Bodio

Bosco/Gurin

Breggia

Brione sopra Minusio

Brissago

Brusino Arsizio

Cademario

Cadempino

Cadenazzo

Campo di Vallemaggia

Canobbio

Capriasca

Caslano

Castel San Pietro

Centovalli

Cerentino

Cevio

Chiasso

Coldrerio

Collina d'Oro

Comano

Cugnasco-Gerra

Cureglia

Curio

Dalpe

Faido

Gambarogno

Giornico

Gordola

Grancia

Gravesano

Isone

Lamone

Lavertezzo

Lavizzara

Linescio

Locarno

Losone

Lugano

Lumino

Maggia

Magliaso

Manno

Massagno

Melide

Mendrisio

Mergoscia

Mezzovico-Vira

Miglieglia

Minusio

Monteceneri

Morbio Inferiore

Morcote

Muralto

Muzzano

Neggio

Novaggio

Novazzano

Onsernone

Origlio

Orselina

Paradiso

Personico

Pollegio

Ponte Capriasca

Porza

Prato di Leventina

Pura

Quinto

Riva San Vitale

Riviera

Ronco sopra Ascona

Sant'Antonino

Savosa

Serravalle

Sorengo

Stabio

Tenero-Contra

Terre di Pedemonte

Torricella-Taverne

Tresa

Vacallo

Val Mara

Vernate

Verzasca

Vezia

Vico Morcote

circle

Acquarossa

Agno

Airolo

Breno

Arbedo-Castione

Ceresio

Isole

Sessa

Maggia

Balerna

Taverne

Sessa

Airolo

Bellinzona

Riviera

Agno

Ceresio

Olivone

Giornico

Rovana

Caneggio

Navegna

Isole

Ceresio

Agno

Vezia

Sant’Antonino

Rovana

Vezia

Capriasca

Magliasina

Balerna

Melezza

Rovana

Balerna

Mendrisio

Paradiso

Vezia

Verzasca

Vezia

Magliasina

Quinto

Faido

Gambarogno

Giornico

Navegna

Paradiso

Taverne

Sant’Antonino

Vezia

Verzasca

Lavizzara

Rovana

Locarno

Isole

Lugano

Arbedo-Castione

Maggia

Magliasina

Taverne

Vezia

Paradiso

Mendrisio

Navegna

Taverne

Breno

Navegna

Taverne

Balerna

Paradiso

Locarno

Agno

Magliasina

Breno

Stabio

Onsernone

Capriasca

Locarno

Paradiso

Giornico

Capriasca

Vezia

Quinto

Magliasina

Quinto

Riva San Vitale

Riviera

Isole

Sant’Antonino

Vezia

Malvaglia

Vezia

Stabio

Navegna

Melezza

Caneggio

Ceresio

Agno

Verzasca

Vezia

Verzasca

district

Blenio

Lugano

Leventina

Lugano

Bellinzona

Lugano

Locarno

Lugano

Vallemaggia

Mendrisio

Lugano

Leventina

Bellinzona

Riviera

Lugano

Blenio

Leventina

Vallemaggia

Mendrisio

Locarno

Lugano

Bellinzona

Vallemaggia

Lugano

Mendrisio

Locarno

Vallemaggia

Mendrisio

Lugano

Locarno

Lugano

Leventina

Locarno

Leventina

Locarno

Lugano

Bellinzona

Lugano

Locarno

Vallemaggia

Locarno

Lugano

Bellinzona

Vallemaggia

Lugano

Mendrisio

Locarno

Lugano

Locarno

Lugano

Mendrisio

Lugano

Locarno

Lugano

Mendrisio

Onsernone

Lugano

Locarno

Lugano

Leventina

Lugano

Leventina

Lugano

Leventina

Mendrisio

Riviera

Locarno

Bellinzona

Lugano

Blenio

Lugano

Mendrisio

Locarno

Lugano

Mendrisio

Lugano

Locarno

Lugano

Canton

Ticino

TICINO GENEALOGY

Ancestry research in ticino, switzerland

the Ticinese Diaspora

getting started with your research

districts of ticino

Municipality

circle

district

Canton