Brusio Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Brusio / Brüs / Brüsch 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 Brusio is in the Bernina Region and in the Graubünden (or Grisons) canton. The municipality is situated in the Brusio sub-district of the Bernina district. Brusio is located in the Val Poschiavo on the road from the Bernina Pass into Italy. Besides the village of Brusio itself, it includes the hamlets of Campocologno, Zalende, Campascio, Piazzo, and parts of Miralago as well as the small villages of Viano and Cavaione high in the mountains. Brusio (as of 2006) had an area of 46.3 km2 (17.9 sq mi). The land use was divided up as follows:
 * 16.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 54.1% - forested
 * 2.3% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 27% - unproductive land

History
In 1106, Brusio was first mentioned by the name of Bruse. In 1212, it was first mentioned as Brusio. The Brusio municipality is in the Graubünden canton.

The population history of Brusio is: 1803 - 620 inhabitants 1850 - 1,000 inhabitants 1900 - 1,199 inhabitants 1950 - 1,528 inhabitants 1960 - 1,445 inhabitants 1970 - 1,344 inhabitants 1980 - 1,258 inhabitants 1990 - 1,220 inhabitants 2000 - 1,202 inhabitants 2020 - 1,120 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 87.5% were Roman Catholic
 * 7.6% were Swiss Reformed Church

By 1212, it was an autonomous municipality with its own dean or senior pastor who represented the municipality's interests. During the 14th Century, Brusio was included in the practically (although not officially) independent municipality of Poschiavo. In 1610, Brusio tried to split from the municipality of Poschiavo, but it wasn't until 1851 that they were successful.

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
Brusio was established as an independent parish in 1501. Church records begin in 1629. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:


 * Baptisms 1631-1717
 * Baptisms 1727-1806
 * Marriages 1727-1875
 * Burials 1727-1875
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1750-1838
 * Baptisms 1806-1875
 * Baptisms, marriages 1839-1875
 * Confirmations, burials 1839-1875
 * Status animarum 1837
 * Burials 1839-1897

Reformed
A Reformed parish was established in 1590, which built its own church in 1645. In the 1600s, the Reformed were largely expelled. Church records begin in 1592. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:


 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1592-1733
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1735-1832
 * Baptisms 1832-1910
 * Confirmations 1832-1908
 * Marriages 1834-1907
 * Burials 1833-1910

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Brusio:
 * 1835
 * 1838
 * 1848
 * 1850 (first page missing, may be misfiled under form C)
 * 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 Brusio 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)