Alvaschein Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Alvaschein / Alvaschagn 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 Alvaschein (Romansh: Alvaschagn) is in the Alvaschein sub-district of the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. It is located along the route to the Albula and Julier passes. It is northeast of the Albula river and the Stausee Solis reservoir on a terrace. Alvaschein (prior to 2015) has an area of 4.1 km² (1.6 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 31.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 58.1% - forested
 * 7.4% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 3.2% - non-productive

History
In 1154, Alvaschein was first mentioned by the name of Alvisinis. In 1551 as Dalvaschain. Alvaschein (Romansh: Alvaschagn) is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. Alvaschein merged into the Albula/Alvra municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Alvaneu
 * Brienz/Brinzauls
 * Mon
 * Stierva
 * Surava
 * Tiefencastel

The population history of Alvaschein is: 1850 - 156 inhabitants 1900 - 276 inhabitants 1950 - 208 inhabitants 2000 - 154 inhabitants 2013 - 142 inhabitants

Until 1154, Alvaschein depended spiritually on Mistail. Then it was attached to the Tiefencastel parish. In 1653, the parish church of Saint-Joseph was built.

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.

Catholic
Records begin in 1738. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1738-1837
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1838-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Alvaschein:
 * 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 Alvaschein 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)