Vicosoprano Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Vicosoprano / Visavraun 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 Vicosoprano (Romansh: Visavraun / German: Vespran) is in the Bergell sub-district of the Maloja district and the Graubünden canton. It is located at an elevation of 1087 meters (3566 ft). The Vicosoprano municipality includes the village of Vicosoprano (elev. 1,067 m (3,501 ft)) and the Roticcio and Pongello hamlets.

Vicosoprano (as of 2006) has an area of 54.0 km² (21.0 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 8.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 25.6% - forested
 * 1.0% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 64.7% - non-productive

History
In 1096, Vicosoprano was first mentioned by the name of Vicus Supranus. Vicosoprano (Romansh: Visavraun / German: Vespran) is in the Maloja district and the Graubünden canton.

In 1971, the settlement of Casaccia joined Vicosoprano. Vicosoprano merged into the Bregaglia municipality on 1 January 2010. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Bondo
 * Castasegna
 * Soglio
 * Stampa

The population history of Vicosoprano is: 1850 - 383 inhabitants 1900 - 417 inhabitants 1950 - 415 inhabitants 1960 - 568 inhabitants 1970 - 387 inhabitants 2000 - 429 inhabitants 2008 - 445 inhabitants

In the 4th century, the Saint-Cassien church was mentioned. Until 960, the people of Vicosoprano belonged to the Church of Como. In 1355, the Saint-Cassien church was mentioned. In 1761, the new Protestant temple of the Holy Trinity was built. In 1901, the Catholic 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.

Digital images of church records are available on FamilySearch. These records have a restriction for use only at a FamilySearch center near you.

Reformed
Vicosoprano became Reformed by 1553. Church records begin in 1658. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms 1658-1875, marriages, burials 1682-1875
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1882

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Vicosoprano:
 * 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 Vicosoprano prior to 1875:

Related sources
The town's website (in Italian) can be found here.

Libraries and archives
State Archives of Graubünden

Societies
Rätische Vereinigung für Familienforschung (RVFF)

Società Genealogica della Svizzera italiana (SGSI)