Seewis im Prättigau Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Seewis im Prättigau / Sievgia 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 Seewis im Prättigau is in the Prättigau/Davos Region and the Graubünden canton. It is situated on a terrace on the right valley side at the entrance to the Prättigau valley. It includes the village of Seewis im Prättigau and the sections of Schmitten-Pardisla and the Seewis-Pardisla railway station on the valley floor.

Seewis im Prättigau (as of 2006) has an area of 49.6 km² (19.2 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 41.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 34% - forested
 * 2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 22.6% - non-productive

History
In 1224, Seewis im Prättigau was first mentioned by the name of de Sevve. Until 1961 Seewis im Prättigau was known as Seewis im Prätigau. Before 2017, Seewis im Prättigau was in the Seewis sub-district of the Prättigau/Davos district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Seewis im Prättigau became part of the Prättigau/Davos Region.

The population history of Seewis im Prättigau is: 1850 - 791 inhabitants 1900 - 901 inhabitants 1950 - 955 inhabitants 1970 - 923 inhabitants 2000 - 1,323 inhabitants 2020 - 1,376 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 14.1% were Roman Catholic
 * 69.8% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 2.57% were another Christian church
 * 5.59% were Islamic

The old parish church of St. Maria auf Solavers served Seewis and Fanas. Subsidiary churches were established in the two parishes, which formally separated themselves in 1487. The village church of St. Lorenz in Seewis (first documented mention 1483) was transformed in 1756-1758. The Chapel of St. Aprus auf Fracstein (mentioned 1370) remained a branch of Schiers. In 1587, the Reformation was adopted in Seewis. From the 14th to the beginning of the 17th century, Walsers located on Stürfis, whose St. Nikolaus church was a Maienfeld branch.

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.

Seewis Reformed
Seewis became an independent parish in 1487. The parish became Reformed in 1587. Church records begin in 1644. Records for Schmitten were kept separately after 1696. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1644-1747
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1744-1822
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1823-1836
 * Baptisms 1837-1875
 * Marriages, burials 1837-1875

Schmitten Reformed
Church records begin in 1696. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1696-1796
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1767-1868
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Seewis im Prättigau:
 * 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 Seewis im Prättigau 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)