Tiefencastel Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Tiefencastel / Casti 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 Tiefencastel (Romansh: Casti) is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. It is located at the foot of the Julier and Albula passes. It was the capital of the Albula district. Tiefencastel (prior to 2015) has an area of 14.9 km² (5.8 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 20.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 49.6% - forested
 * 3.1% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 27.0% - non-productive

History
In 831, Tiefencastel was first mentioned by the name of Castello Impitinis. Starting in the 14th century, it became known as Tüffenkasten. Tiefencastel (Romansh: Casti) is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. Tiefencastel merged into the Albula/Alvra municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Alvaschein
 * Alvaneu
 * Brienz/Brinzauls
 * Mon
 * Stierva
 * Surava

The population history of Tiefencastel is: 1850 - 135 inhabitants 1880 - 209 inhabitants 1900 - 257 inhabitants 1950 - 327 inhabitants 1960 - 306 inhabitants 1970 - 310 inhabitants 1980 - 277 inhabitants 1990 - 239 inhabitants 2000 - 241 inhabitants 2010 - 269 inhabitants 2013 - 254 inhabitants

In 1343, the Saint-Etienne church was first mentioned. In 1650 it was rebuilt and expanded.

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 family history center near you.

Catholic
The parish church of Tiefencastel was finished in 1343. Church records begin in 1631. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms 1631-1837; marriages 1648-1837; burials 1650-1837; confirmations 1643-1818
 * Baptisms 1838-1907; marriages 1838-1902; burials 1838-1900; confirmations 1839-1897

The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875

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

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