Brienz/Brinzauls Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Brienz/Brinzauls 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 former municipality of Brienz/Brinzauls (Romansh: Brinzauls) is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on a terrace north of the Albula river and on the road from Davos to Lenzerheide. The municipality of Brienz/Brinzauls includes the village of Brienz/Brinzauls and the Vazerol hamlet. Brienz/Brinzauls (prior to 2015) has an area of 13.4 km² (5.2 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 22.8% - agricultural purposes
 * 50.8% - forested
 * 2.1% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 24.3% - non-productive

History
In 840, Brienz/Brinzauls was first mentioned by the name of Brienzola. Until 1996, Brienz/Brinzauls was known as Brienz. Brienz/Brinzauls (Romansh: Brinzauls) is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. Brienz/Brinzauls merged into the Albula/Alvra municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Alvaschein
 * Alvaneu
 * Mon
 * Stierva
 * Surava
 * Tiefencastel

The population history of Brienz/Brinzauls is: 1808 - 111 inhabitants 1850 - 191 inhabitants 1860 - 205 inhabitants 1888 - 146 inhabitants 1900 - 158 inhabitants 1941 - 186 inhabitants 1950 - 172 inhabitants 1980 - 95 inhabitants 1990 - 112 inhabitants 2000 - 117 inhabitants 2013 - 128 inhabitants

In 840, the village church as first mentioned. In 1519, this church was dedicated to Saint Callistus. Until 1526, it was part of the Lantsch/Lenz parish. In 1725, Surava split from the Brienz/Brinzauls parish to form its own parish.

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 FamilySearch center near you.

Catholic
Brienz/Brinzauls was established as a parish in 1526. Surava became an independent parish in 1725. Church records begin in 1627. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1627-1838
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1838-1875

The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms 1799-1875
 * Baptisms 1799-1875 (duplicate filming)

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Brienz/Brinzauls:
 * 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 Brienz/Brinzauls 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)