S-chanf Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to S-chanf / Scanfs 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 S-chanf (Romansh: S-chanf, German: Scanfs) is in the Maloja Region and the Graubünden canton. It includes the linear village of S-chanf with the sections of Cinuos-chel and Susauna. Susauna is a hamlet on the territory of S-chanf municipality, located on the road to Scaletta Pass, a historic international trading route.

S-chanf (as of 2006) has an area of 138 km2 (53 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 23.7% - agricultural purposes
 * 18.6% - forested
 * 0.6% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 57.1% - non-productive

History
In 1137–39, S-chanf was first mentioned by the name of Scaneves. It was also mentioned in 1356 as Scanevo The German name Scanfs was official until 1943. Before 2017, the municipality of S-chanf ((Romansh: S-chanf, German: Scanfs) was in the Oberengadin subdistrict of the Maloja district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, it was part of the Maloja Region.

The population history of S-chanf is: 1781 - 423 inhabitants 1806 - 450 inhabitants 1850 - 439 inhabitants 1900 - 402 inhabitants 1950 - 460 inhabitants 2000 - 620 inhabitants 2020 - 697 inhabitants

The Notre-Dame church, mentioned in 1450, was redone in the late Gothic style in 1493. In 1518-20, S-chanf separated from the large parish of Zuoz. The community waited for their beloved priest's death before switching to Protestantism in 1570.

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.

Reformed
The parish of S-chanf, established in 1518-1520, became Reformed in 1570. Church records begin in 1633. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1633-1818
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1818-1838
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1818-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for S-chanf:
 * 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 S-chanf 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)