Scharans Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Scharans / Scharons 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 Scharans (Romansh: Scharons) is in the Viamala Region in the canton of Graubünden. It includes the haufendorf (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) of Scharans and the hamlets of St. Agata, Stufels, Parnegl, and Prin. It is situated on a low terrace on the right-hand side of the Albula and Hinterrhein rivers.

Scharans (as of 2006) has an area of 14.3 km² (5.5 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 26.1% - agricultural purposes
 * 62% - forested
 * 2.9% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 9% - non-productive

History
In 1200, Scharans was first mentioned by the name of agrum Schraunis. Before 2017, Scharans (Romansh: Scharons) was in the Domleschg sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Scharans became part of the Viamala Region.

The population history of Scharans is: 1803 - 336 inhabitants 1850 - 416 inhabitants 1900 - 439 inhabitants 1950 - 480 inhabitants 1960 - 473 inhabitants 2000 - 817 inhabitants 2020 - 796 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 38.4% were Roman Catholic
 * 49.2% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 2.48% were Orthodox Church
 * 1.96% were another Christian church
 * 0.62% were Islamic

A separate parish is attested in 1410 and the Marian patronage in 1451. The Reformation took place between 1525 and 1530.

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 church records are available on FamilySearch. These records have a restriction for use only at a FamilySearch center near you.

Catholic
Established as a parish in 1410, Scharans became Reformed between 1525-1530. Scharans includes the municipality of Fürstenau. Church records begin in 1573. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1573-1754
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1754-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Scharans:
 * 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 Scharans 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)