Pratval, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Pratval, 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 Pratval is in the Domleschg sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located above the Hinterrhein river on an east plateau. Pratval was the smallest community in the canton. It included the Gross- and Kleinrietberg, Rietbach, Mühle and Hof hamlets. Pratval (prior to 2015) has an area of 0.8 km² (0.31 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 55.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 26.3% - forested
 * 17.5% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 1.3% - non-productive

History
In 1345, Pratval was first mentioned by the name of Prau de Valle. In 1506 as Pradval. Until 1845, Pratval was part of Almens. Pratval is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. Pratval merged into the Domleschg municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Almens
 * Paspels
 * Rodels
 * Tomils

The population history of Pratval is: 1850 - 82 inhabitants 1900 - 67 inhabitants 1950 - 83 inhabitants 1960 - 97 inhabitants 1970 - 88 inhabitants 1980 - 128 inhabitants 1990 - 178 inhabitants 2000 - 240 inhabitants 2013 - 254 inhabitants

Until 1845, Pratval was spiritually part of Almens. Pratval is unique because it was deprived of a church, school, post office and shops.

Church Records
Pratval belongs to the parish of Almens. See Almens for more information.

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

Before 1845, Pratval belonged to Almens. The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Pratval:
 * 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 Pratval 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)