Sevgein Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Sevgein / Seewis im Oberland 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 Sevgein (German: Seewis im Oberland) is in the Ilanz sub-district of the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on a terrace in the southern Vorderrhein valley. It consists of the village of Sevgein and the settlement of Isla near Ilanz.

Sevgein (prior to 2014) has an area of 4.6 km² (1.8 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 39.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 51.5% - forested
 * 5.2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 3.7% - non-productive

History
In 840, Sevgein was first mentioned by the name of Soviene. Until 1943 Sevgein was known by its German name as Seewis im Oberland. Sevgein (German: Seewis im Oberland) is in the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton.

Sevgein merged into the Ilanz/Glion municipality on 1 January 2014. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Castrisch
 * Duvin
 * Ilanz
 * Ladir
 * Luven
 * Pigniu
 * Pitasch
 * Riein
 * Rueun
 * Ruschein
 * Schnaus
 * Siat

The population history of Sevgein is: 1850 - 173 inhabitants 1900 - 179 inhabitants 1950 - 210 inhabitants 1970 - 151 inhabitants 1990 - 194 inhabitants 2000 - 207 inhabitants 2011 - 198 inhabitants

During the Reformation, Sevgein remained attached to Catholicism. In 1575, Sevgein separated from the parish of Castrisch which had become Protestant. In 1647, Sevgein became a parish. In 1694, the Saint-Thomas baroque church 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
Sevgein became a parish in 1647. Church records begin in 1649. Sevgein includes the Catholics of Ilaz/Glion unil 1860. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms 1649-1838
 * Burials 1665-1843
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials, confirmations 1838-1881
 * Status animarum 1614-1869

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

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