Pigniu Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Pigniu / Panix 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 Pigniu (German: Panix) is in the Rueun sub-district of the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the old Alpine road into Italy over the Lukmanier Pass. It borders the Glarus canton at the entrance to Panix Pass.

Pigniu (prior to the merger) has an area of 18.0 km² (6.9 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 36.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 14.8% - forested
 * 0.4% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 48.8% - non-productive

History
In 1522, Pigniu was first mentioned by the name of Panix. Until 1984, Pigniu was known as Pigniu/Panix. Pigniu (German: Panix) is in the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton.

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

The population history of Pigniu is: 1850 - 70 inhabitants 1900 - 61 inhabitants 1920 - 87 inhabitants 1950 - 78 inhabitants 2000 - 45 inhabitants 2010 - 28 inhabitants 2011 - 33 inhabitants

In 1465, the Church of St. Valentin was dedicated. Until 1667, Pigniu had its own parish.

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.

Catholic
Pigniu became an independent parish when it separated from Rueun in 1667. The parish was burned in 1799. Church records begin in 1838. Records before 1667 can be found in Rueun. The following volume is available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1895

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

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