Schnaus Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Schnaus 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 Schnaus is in the Ilanz sub-district of the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the road to Oberland and overhanging the Vorderrhein. It consists of the village of Schnaus and the exclave of Alp da Schnaus.

Schnaus (prior to 2014) has an area of 3.0 km² (1.2 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 58.4% - agricultural purposes
 * 30.9% - forested
 * 2.3% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 8.4% - non-productive

History
In 840, Schnaus was first mentioned by the name of Scanaues. Schnaus is in the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton.

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

The population history of Schnaus is: 1850 - 126 inhabitants 1900 - 123 inhabitants 1950 - 134 inhabitants 1990 - 79 inhabitants 2000 - 99 inhabitants 2011 - 123 inhabitants

In 1480, the Saints Sebastian, Mary Magdalene and George Church was mentioned. It was a subsidiary of the Saint-Rémy Church in Falera. In 1526 and during the Reformation, Schnaus separated from Falera to form its own parish. From 1692 to 1865, Schnaus attached to Waltensburg/Vuorz.

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
Originally part of Ilanz/Glion, Schnaus became an independent parish in 1692. Earlier records may be found in Ilanz/Glion. In 1865, it merged with the parish of Waltensburg/Vuorz. Church records begin in 1837. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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