Samnaun Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Samnaun / Samagnun Parish, Graubünden, 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 Samnaun (Romansh: Samignun) is in the Engiadina Bassa/Val Müstair Region and the Graubünden canton. It is also a high Alpine Village and a valley at the eastern end of Switzerland with the same name. It is situated in a left side valley of the Engadin valley and consists of five village sections; Compatsch, Laret, Plan (Plaun), Ravaisch and Samnaun.

Samnaun (as of 2006) has an area of 56.2 km² (21.7 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 46.1% - agricultural purposes
 * 11.7% - forested
 * 0.9% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 41.2% - non-productive

History
In 1220, Samnaun was first mentioned by the name of Samaium. Before 2017, Samnaun (Romansh: Samignun) was in the Ramosch sub-district, of the Inn district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, it became part of the Engiadina Bassa/Val Müstair Region.

The population history of Samnaun is: 1835 - 387 inhabitants 1850 - 313 inhabitants 1900 - 357 inhabitants 1950 - 424 inhabitants 2000 - 743 inhabitants 2010 - 808 inhabitants 2020 - 784 inhabitants

From about 1530, there were some who adopted the Reformation. After 1622, Capuchins settled there. The parish church of Compatsch served both denominations in 1651.

Church Records
Original church records are held in the local municipal archive or civil registration office. Microfilm copies are available at the Graubünden State Archives.

Digital images of some church records are available on FamilySearch. These records have a restriction for use only at a family history center near you.

Catholic
Samnaun has had a church since 1651. Church records begin in 1695. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms 1695-1764; marriages 1695-1782; burials 1695-1783; confirmations 1705-1765
 * Baptisms 1765-1837; marriages 1783-1836; burials 1783-1837; confirmations 1778-1821

The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1695-1875 (copy)
 * Baptisms 1765-1785 (copy)
 * Baptisms 1785-1876
 * Confirmations 1838-1870

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Samnaun:
 * 1835
 * 1838
 * 1848
 * 1850
 * 1850, form C

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in 1876.

Duplicate civil registration registers are located at the Graubünden State Archives. The following records are available:
 * Both A and B registers are available through 1916-1917 and are open without restriction.
 * Family registers are available from at latest 1860 through 1910; these records are viewable but require permission to access. For more information, contact the State Archive.

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Samnaun prior to 1875:

Related sources
The town's website (in Romansh and German) can be found here.

Libraries and archives
State Archives of Graubünden

Societies
Rätische Vereinigung für Familienforschung (RVFF)

Società Genealogica della Svizzera italiana (SGSI)