Semione Parish, Ticino, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Semione 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
The municipality of Semione is in the Blenio district and the Ticino canton. It is located in the Blenio valley on the right side. Its elevation ranges from 360 to 2,170 meters. The Navona hamlet is included in this municipality. Semione (as of 1997) has an area of 10.42 km² (4.02 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 10.2% - agricultural purposes
 * 78.3% - forested
 * 3.5% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 0.5% - rivers or lakes
 * 2.4% - non-productive

History
In 1192, Semione was first mentioned with the name of Xamiono. In 1343, it was known as Simionum. Semione is in the Blenio district and the Ticino canton. Semione merged into the Serravalle municipality on 15 March 2011.

The population history of Semione is: 1602 - 600 inhabitants 1850 - 755 inhabitants 1860 - 622 inhabitants 1870 - 879 inhabitants 1880 - 595 inhabitants 1890 - 632 inhabitants 1900 - 472 inhabitants 1950 - 349 inhabitants 1970 - 268 inhabitants 1990 - 281 inhabitants 2000 - 320 inhabitants 2010 - 332 inhabitants 2011 - 334 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 77.8% were Roman Catholic
 * 8.1% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 11.6% belong to another church

In 1207, the parish church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption was mentioned. It was rebuilt in 1733. In 1606, the Saint-Charles oratory was built. In 1680, the Nativity of the Virgin oratory was established and is located in Navona. In 1329, the oratory of Notre-Dame-du-Château was mentioned.

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

The 1808 Ticino census for Semione can be accessed here.

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Semione 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)