Breil/Brigels Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Breil/Brigels 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 Breil/Brigels (Romansh: Breil) is in the Disentis sub-district of the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on a north terrace of the Vorderrhein valley. Breil/Brigels included the hamlets of Dardin-Capeder (Dardin) and Danis-Tavanasa (Danis, Tavanasa). Breil/Brigels (as of 2006) has an area of 50.8 km² (19.6 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 35.2% - agricultural purposes
 * 23.5% - forested
 * 2.4% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 38.9% - non-productive

History
In 765, Breil/Brigels was first mentioned by the name of in Bregelo. Breil/Brigels (Romansh: Breil) is in the Disentis district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Breil/Brigels became part of the Surselva Region. Breil/Brigels merged into the Breil/Brigels municipality on 1 January 2018. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Andiast
 * Waltensburg/Vuorz

The population history of Breil/Brigels is: 1850 - 1,086 inhabitants 1888 - 848 inhabitants 1900 - 859 inhabitants 1910 - 1,033 inhabitants 1950 - 1,169 inhabitants 1960 - 1,272 inhabitants 2000 - 1,187 inhabitants 2010 - 1,298 inhabitants 2018 - 1,757 inhabitants 2020 - 11,253 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 88.0% were Roman Catholic
 * 4.8% were Swiss Reformed Church

In 1185, the chapel of S. Sievi and the village church of S. Maria came under control of the Disentis Abbey. In 1491, the village of church of S. Maria became a parish church. In 1496, the Abbey church was destroyed by fire. During the Middle Ages, the Notre-Dame church was established.

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.

Catholic
Breil/Brigels is an ancient parish. Dardin and Schlans became independent in the 1600s; Danis-Tavanasa became independent in 1650. Church records begin in 1625. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1627-1715
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1716-1805
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages 1805-1837; burials 1805-1821
 * Baptisms 1838-1875; marriages, burials 1845-1875
 * Status animarum 1846

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

The censuses for Breil/Brigels includes the localities of Danis-Tavanasa and Dardin.

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Breil/Brigels:
 * 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 Breil/Brigels 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)