The Walser village Damüls lies in the heath of Vorarlberg. The wide-stretching scattered settlement lies between 1300 and 1700 metres and contains of three parcels: Oberdamüls, Uga and Schwende. There are two interpretations for the place name Damüls.

In the eldest existing document dating 1382, the term Tumulus can be found. This probably derives from the Latin tumulus = hill. It was written Damüls in 1436 and Damulc in 1465.

In a letter of indulgence from 1500 the rare version “Ufi dem Mulcz” is found. Mulcz is a Roman word which is related to the Latin word mulgere = to milk. “Ufi dem Mulcz” could also mean up the milking alp (Melkalpe) which would correspond with reality to a large extent.

Singel German names like Trischta, Gregez and Portla suggest that Damüls was used as a hunting and farming region quite early. The permanent colonisation definitely goes back to the Walser from the Swiss canton of Valais. This colonisation is to be seen in context with the one in Laternsertal. The foundation of this Walser colony builds a contract from 1313. The earls Rudolf and Berchtold of Montfort/Feldkirch leased the alp Ugen to the followingen people from Valais against an interest of four pound Constance coins: Thomas and Jakob Bondt, „Walters Söhne ze der Tannen“, Heinrich Vogel von Bont, Jakob von Nifesinen and his son Walter. The soccage took place simultaneous as did the one to further Walser with Bonacker/Außerlaterns.

After 13 years, on 16.6.1326 a further soccage took place by earl Ulrich von Montfort by mutual agreement with his brother Rudolf. Eight Walser received the alp “Allb Tamuls” as long lease. The liege men mostly were the same as those named in the first document of 1313, partly they were descendents. Not only the people of Damüls but also of Fontanella and other villages of the Großwalsertal, descend mostly from these Walser colonists. Also in the rear part of the Bregenzerwald an not unimportant part of the populated descends from Walser as can be established due to family names. Of course, an immigration takes place inversely, too.