Castiel Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Castiel 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 Castiel is in the Schanfigg sub-district of the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the northern face of the Schanfigg. The Castiel municipality includes the village of Castiel and two sections of Oberdorf and Unterdorf.

Castiel (prior to 2013) has an area of 5.4 km² (2.1 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 43.1% - agricultural purposes
 * 49.2% - forested
 * 1.8% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 5.9% - non-productive

History
In 1132, Castiel was first mentioned by the name of Castellum. Castiel is in the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton.

Castiel merged into the Arosa municipality on 1 January 2013. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Arosa
 * Calfreisen
 * Langwies
 * Lüen
 * Molinis
 * Peist
 * St. Peter-Pagig

The population history of Castiel is: 1808 - 54 inhabitants 1850 - 72 inhabitants 1880 - 126 inhabitants 1900 - 90 inhabitants 1950 - 92 inhabitants 1960 - 82 inhabitants 1970 - 94 inhabitants 1980 - 83 inhabitants 1990 - 109 inhabitants 2000 - 119 inhabitants 2008 - 124 inhabitants 2010 - 128 inhabitants

In mid 12th century, the Saint George church was mentioned. In 1530, Castiel adopted the Reformation.

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 family history center near you.

Reformed
Castiel became Reformed ca. 1530. The first priest was established in 1570. The parish of Castiel includes the municipality of Calfreisen and Lüen. Church records begin in 1685.


 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1685-1823 (part 1)
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1685-1823 (part 2)
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1822-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Castiel:
 * 1835
 * 1838
 * 1848: Table I
 * 1848: Tables II-V
 * 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 Castiel 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)