Santa Maria Val Müstair Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Santa Maria Val Müstair / Santa Maria im Münstertal 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 village and former municipality of Santa Maria Val Müstair (Romansh: Soncha Maria) is in the Val Müstair municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is along the Umbrail pass road and includes the cross-shaped village of Sta. Maria Val Müstair, the alpine settlements of Craistas, Büglios, and Pütschai, and the hamlet of Sielva, including the hospital.

Santa Maria Val Müstair (as of 2006) has an area of 41.6 km² (16.1 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 31.9% - agricultural purposes
 * 24.7% - forested
 * 1.2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 42.1% - non-productive

History
In 1167–70, Santa Maria Val Müstair was first mentioned by the name of die Kapelle Sancte Mariae in Silvaplana. Until 1995, Santa Maria Val Müstair was known as Santa Maria im Münstertal.

Santa Maria Val Müstair merged into the Val Müstair municipality on 1 January 2009. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Fuldera
 * Lü
 * Müstair
 * Tschierv
 * Valchava

The population history of Santa Maria Val Müstair is: 1850 - 437 inhabitants 1900 - 385 inhabitants 1950 - 420 inhabitants 2000 - 327 inhabitants 2008 - 339 inhabitants

At the end of the 15th century, Santa Maria Val Müstair became its own parish. Between 1526 and 1530, the Reformation was introduced in Santa Maria Val Müstair. The late Gothic Church from 1492 served both denominations for a long time. After the death of the last Catholic in 1837, the miraculous altar image was moved to Müstair in a solemn procession.

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 Santa Maria Val Müstair was first mentioned at the end of the 15th century. Church records begin in 1623. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1623-1744
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1803-1838
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875

Reformed
Santa Maria Val Müstair saw the Reformation occur between 1526-1530. Church records begin in 1766. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1766-1810
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1777-1850
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Santa Maria Val Müstair:
 * 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 Santa Maria Val Müstair 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)