Falera Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Falera / Fellers 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 Falera is in the Surselva Region and in the Graubünden canton. Falera is a part of the Alpenarena (Alpen area) along with the towns of Flims and Laax and is the most secluded of the three. Before 2017, the municipality was situated in the Ilanz sub-district of the Surselva district, after 2017 it became part of the Surselva Region. At an elevation of 1,218 m (3,996 ft), it is located on a terrace above the left bank of the Vorderrhein river. Until 1969, Falera was known as Fellers. Falera (as of the 2004/09 survey) had an area of 22.36 km2 (8.63 sq mi). The land use was divided up as follows:
 * 60.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 20.0% - forested
 * 2.6% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 17.3% - unproductive land

History
In 765, Falera was first mentioned by the name of Falariae. The Falera municipality is in the Graubünden canton.

The population history of Falera is: 1850 - 415 inhabitants 1860 - 390 inhabitants 1870 - 370 inhabitants 1880 - 337 inhabitants 1888 - 329 inhabitants 1900 - 322 inhabitants 1910 - 336 inhabitants 1920 - 300 inhabitants 1930 - 298 inhabitants 1941 - 372 inhabitants 1950 - 370 inhabitants 1960 - 365 inhabitants 1970 - 309 inhabitants 1980 - 383 inhabitants 1990 - 404 inhabitants 2000 - 504 inhabitants 2010 - 579 inhabitants 2017 - 623 inhabitants 2020 - 625 inhabitants

While the first actual mention of a church in Falera was in 840-841, however, the current church was not built until 1491. The church was constructed on the foot of the Mutta and was named after St. Remigius. In the year 1903, another church was built directly in the village and was named the Herz-Jesu-Kirche or "Heart of Jesus Church". Both churches are still standing today and the main attractions of Falera.

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
The parish of Falera is ancient. The area briefly became Protestant during the Reformation but quickly returned to the Catholic faith. Church records begin in 1722. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1722-1837; confirmations 1723-1839
 * Status animarum 1800-1899

The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1876

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

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