Canton Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Guide to Canton Graubünden ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Getting Started
If you are new to Swiss research, you should watch this introductory course. Then study the articles on church records and civil registration, as almost all of your research will be in those two record groups.
 * Introduction to Swiss Research
 * Switzerland Civil Registration
 * Switzerland Church Records

History


Graubünden is the only trilingual canton of Switzerland; German, Romansh, and Italian are all official languages. The German name Graubünden translates as the "Grey Leagues", referring to the canton's origin in three local alliances, the Three Leagues. The canton is called Grischun in Romansh, Grigioni in Italian, and Grisons in French; the area is known as Rhaetia in Latin. The Romansh language is also used by a small part of the population and some church records of this canton will also be in the Romansh language. There are many dialects used in this canton.

The area of Graubünden was comprised of several different leagues. The first of these, the Gotteshausbund (League of God's House) was formed in 1367 to resist the power of the Bishopric of Chur and the Habsburgs. In 1471, the league allied with the Grauer Bund (Grey League) and the Zehngerichtenbund (League of the Ten Jurisdictions) to form the Freistaat der Drei Bünde (Three Leagues) which was the foundation of what would become the Canton of Graubünden. After 1499, the league separated itself from the Holy Roman Empire, and between 1524-1526 the alliance was strengthened through the Ilanz Articles. Among other things, these articles required the priests live in the parishes they served, and provided the parishes the right to choose their own priests. By the 17th century, the Three Leagues was the only territory in Europe where all decisions were made communally by referendum. This government structure remained in force until the 1798 French invasion, when the Three Leagues was absorbed into the Helvetic Republic. In 1803, the French reorganized the area as the Canton of Graubünden as part of the newly-restored Swiss Confederacy.

For more information, see the Wikipedia article about Canton Graubünden and the Three Leagues.

Parishes in Canton Graubünden
Because there are three official languages in Graubünden (German, Italian, and Romansh), most localities have different names depending on the language. The following parish/municipality list is organized alphabetically by the most used language in the locality. German names have no mark; Italian names are indicated by an asterisk*; Romansh names are indicated in italics.



Census Records
Graubünden conducted four censuses between 1835 and 1850.

Census Records Online
These records have a restriction for use only at a family history center near you.

Records can be accessed online. Links to the records for each census are listed under the parish and municipality FamilySearch Wiki pages. These pages can be accessed by using the parish/municipality list above.


 * Inventory of census records in the Graubünden State Archive

1835 Census
The 1835 census includes given name, surname, age, religion, and occupation. Depending on which table, it may also include residence, place of citizenship, and how long they have been residing in the municipality.

The 1835 census was divided into four sections:
 * Table A I: citizens of both the municipality and canton who either are residing in their home municipality, are temporarily in another municipality in the canton, are established in another municipality in the canton after 1 January 1830, or reside outside the canton.
 * Table A II: citizens and permanent residents of the municipality who are not citizens of the canton, whether they live in or outside the municipality.
 * Table A III: citizens of other municipalities within Graubünden who have established themselves in the municipality before 1830 and who have continually resided in the municipality.
 * Table B: non-citizens who are in the community, regardless of whether they are from Graubünden, elsewhere in Switzerland, or another country.

The 1835 statistics can be found here and here.

1838 Census
In response to a decree dated 31 July 1837, this federally-mandated census was taken in January 1838. The census includes given name, surname, sex, and place of citizenship - whether of a place within Graubünden, of elsewhere in Switzerland, or of a foreign country.

1848 Census
The 1848 census includes given name, surname, sex, birthdate, and religion. Depending on the section, it may also include place of residence, place of citizenship, and how long they have been residing in the municipality.

The 1848 census was made up of 5 different sections:
 * Table 1: citizens and permanent residents of the municipality residing in the municipality
 * Table 2: citizens and permanent residents of the municipality permanently away from the municipality and established elsewhere (including foreign countries)
 * Table 3: citizens and permanent residents of the municipality temporarily residing elsewhere, such as servants, students, etc.
 * Table 4: non-citizens residing and established in the municipality
 * Table 5: non-citizens temporarily residing in the municipality, such as servants, students, etc.

1850 Census
This census was enumerated in March 1850. The census includes house number, given name, surname, sex, year of birth, citizenship and residence status (within either Graubünden, other Swiss cantons, or foreign countries), religion, marital status, and occupation.

The 1850 census was recorded in two separate sections.

The first section is further divided into separate forms:
 * Form A includes all residents of the municipality.
 * Form B includes all citizens living outside of Switzerland, including year of departure and foreign place of residence.

The second section consists of one form:
 * Form C includes all non-citizen permanent residents of the municipality.

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in Graubünden Canton in 1876. To understand the records available, read the Wiki article, Switzerland Civil Registration.
 * You will be able to write your request in German with the help of the German Letter Writing Guide.

Church Records
FamilySearch has microfilmed and digitized records for some parishes in Canton Graubünden. These records can be accessed from the FamilySearch Catalog (click on Places within Switzerland, Graubünden to select the parish). There may be restrictions on viewing these records.

All Graubünden church records have been microfilmed and are available onsite at the Graubünden archive. The archive has published an inventory of church parish records showing which records are available. Due to limited space, be sure to make an appointment before viewing the records at the archive.

You will be able to write your request in German with the help of the German Letter Writing Guide.

For information on the coverage and content of church records, read Switzerland Church Records.

FamilySearch Microfilmed/Digitized Records
All microfilmed parish records have been digitized. These records may have a restriction for use only at a Family History Center near you.

Instructions:
 * 1) Click on Switzerland, Graubünden FamilySearch Catalog.
 * 2) Open the list "Places within Switzerland, Graubünden". Select your town.
 * 3) A list of record categories will open up. Click on "Church records".
 * 4) A list of available records will appear. Click on the record title you are interested in searching.
 * 5) Scroll down to the list of microfilm numbers. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

Reading the Records

 * German Genealogical Word List
 * [[Media:Swiss_Genealogical_Word_List_approved.pdf|Swiss Dialect Genealogical Word List]]
 * German Paleography Seminar - Lessons on German Handwriting
 * Old German Script
 * Part 1
 * Part 2
 * Part 3 (German Church and Civil Records)

Search Strategy
This search strategy will help you determine what to write for. Limit tour requests to just one of these steps at a time. Once you have established that the parish is cooperative and perhaps more willing to do more extensive research (for a fee), you might be able to ask them for more at a time.
 * Search for the relative or ancestor you selected.
 * When you find his birth record, search for the births of his brothers and sisters.
 * Next, search for the marriage of his parents. The marriage record will have information that will often help you find the birth records of the parents.
 * You can estimate the ages of the parents and determine a birth year to search for their birth records.
 * Search the death registers for all known family members.
 * Repeat this process for both the father and the mother, starting with their birth records, then their siblings' births, then their parents' marriages, and so on.
 * If earlier generations (parents, grandparents, etc.) do not appear in the records, search neighboring parishes.

Parishes in Graubünden
This is a work in progress.


 * Sankt Antönien - first priest 1516; reformed 1687. Includes Castels (Meierhof), Ascharina, and Rüti.
 * Sankt Moritz (San Murezzan) - Reformed in 1577, overseen by Celerina 1577-1583, independent 1583; reformed 1662.
 * Sankt Peter-Papig-Molinis - Reformed 1530; reformed 1686, includes Molinis and Pagig.
 * Santa Domenica - catholic 1681.
 * Santa Maria i.C. - catholic 1598.
 * Santa Maria im Münstertal - first priest 1528; catholic 1623; reformed 1766.
 * Sarn-Portein-Tartar - first priest in 1557; reformed 1634; includes Portein and Tartar.
 * Savognin - catholic 1623.
 * Tartar - parish from 1603-1661? unsure what happened to this.
 * Scanfs-(S-chanf)-Cinuskel-Sulsanna - first priest 1569; reformed 1633.
 * Cinuskel - Filial of Scanfs, permission for a teacher and priest in 1658; 1834 returned completely to Scanfs.
 * Scharans-Fürstenau - first priest 1521; reformed 1573; includes Fürstenau.
 * Scheid - Reformed 1583. Merged with Feldis in 1845; reformed 1684.
 * Schiers - Reformed 1563; reformed 1650.
 * Schlans - catholic 1629.
 * Schleins-Strada-Martinsbruck (Tschlin-Strada-Punt Martina) - first priest before 1545. Church built in Martinsbruck approximately 1700. Strada creates a Gemeinde in 1838.
 * Schluein - catholic 1719; includes Ilanz.
 * Schmitten - catholic 1690;
 * Schnaus - belonged to Ilanz until 1692. Merged to Waltensburg in 1865; reformed 1837.
 * Schuders - first priest 1573; reformed 1700.
 * Schuls-Scarl (Scuol-S-charl) - first priest 1524; reformed 1685.
 * Scarl (S-charl) - Filial of Schuls, got the right for a priest in 1658. Returned to Schuls in 1754.
 * Seewis i. Pr.-Schmitten - Reformed parish established in 1590. Schmitten (part of Seewis) - reformed 1696. Seewis reformed 1644.
 * Schmitten - small church built in 1696, belonged to Seewis.
 * Selma - catholic 1623; includes Cauco.
 * Sent - frist priest 1545; reformed 1774.
 * Serneus - Filial of Klosters until 1723, even though it had its own priest since 1579; reformed 1689.
 * Sevgein - catholic 1649; includes Ilanz until 1860.
 * Siat - catholic 1647.
 * Sils im Domleschg - first priest 1521; reformed 1630.
 * Sils im Engadin (Segl) - first priest 1555. Merged to Silvaplana in 1885; reformed 1679.
 * Silvaplana-Campfèr (Salaplauna-Champfer) - first priest 1560; reformed 1637, includes Champfèr.
 * Soazza - catholic 1631.
 * Soglio - first priest 1552. Reformed in 1555; reformed 1650..
 * Splügen - first priest before 1552; reformed 1630; includes Medels i. Rh.
 * Stampa-Borgonovo-Maloja - first priest 1549; reformed 1660.
 * Stierva - catholic 1641.
 * Stuls (Stogl/Stugl) -with Latsch until 1689, independent until 1924, merged with Bergün; reformed 1707.
 * Sufers - belonged to Splügen until 1729. Merged along with Medels to Splügen; reformed 1630.
 * Sumvitg - catholic 1639.
 * Sur - catholic 1683.
 * Surava - catholic 1680.
 * Surcasti - catholic 1724; includes Uors.
 * Surcuolm - catholic 1747.
 * Surrein (Sumvitg) - catholic 1744.
 * Susauna (Sulsanna/Cinuos-chel) - priests in 1723 (still was part of Scanfs before that?; 1834 returned completely to Scanfs; reformed 1723, includes Cinuos-chel.
 * Susch (Süs) - first priest 1550; reformed 1697.
 * Tamins - first priest 1546; reformed 1652.
 * Tarasp - catholic 1625.
 * Tenna - first priest 1573, merged with Versam in 1915; reformed 1666.
 * Tersnaus - catholic 1804; includes Sankt Martin.
 * Thusis-Rongellen - first priest 1525. Church and rectory burned in 1727; reformed 1601.
 * Tiefencastel - catholic 1631.
 * Tinizong - catholic 1812.
 * Trans - separated from Almens in 1725. First priest 1723. Between 1878-1930 merged to Feldis-Scheid, 1930 merged to Almens. not listed
 * Trimmis-Says - First Reformed preaching in 1613, 1614 new parish; reformed 1806; includes Says; catholic 1705, includes Says.
 * Trins (Trin) - first priest 1535; reformed 1666.
 * Trun - catholic 1656.
 * Tschappina - first priest 1578. Merged along with Urmein to Flerden; reformed 1582.
 * Tschiertschen-Praden - first priest 1572; reformed 1646, along with Praden includes possibly Passugg and Araschgen.
 * Tschierv - reformed 1754.
 * Tschlin - reformed 1774.
 * Tujetsch (Sedrun - catholic 1664.
 * Tumegl (Tomils) - catholic 1631; includes Paspels until 1837?
 * Untervaz - Reformed parish in 1611 overseen by Chur. Most of the parish was united with Zizers until 1670. First priest 1620; reformed 1611, catholic 1686.
 * Urmein - Until 1653, Urmein a Filial of Portein. Separated from Flerden in 1722. Merged to Flerden in 1877; reformed 1725.
 * Valcava (Valchava) - First priest in 1688. From 1807 onward is the parish part of Fuldera or St. Maria. (1807-1813 - St. Maria, 1813-1818 - Fuldera, 1818-1865 - St. Maria, 1865-1870 - maybe part of Schiers. Since 1870 part of St. Maria; reformed 1837.
 * Valendas - The Filial Versam belonged to Valendas until 1673. First priest in Valendas 1523; reformed 1677.
 * Vals - catholic 1631.
 * Valzeina - Belonged to Igis, Zizers, Seewis, Fanas, and Grüsch until 1649. First priest 1649; reformed 1679.
 * Vaz/Obervaz - catholic 1642; reformed 1838.
 * Vella - catholic 1633. Includes Degen before 1838, Morissen until 1805, Vignogn, and Peiden.
 * Verdabbio - catholic 1838; earlier registers cannot be found. -- places within: Piani di Verdabbio
 * Versam - Belonged to Valendas until 1673, though had a church since 1634; reformed 1705.
 * Vicosoprano - first priest in 1526; reformed 1658.
 * Vignogn - catholic 1696.
 * Vrin - catholic 1775.
 * Waltensburg (Vuorz) - first priest in 1526; reformed 1638.
 * Wiesen - belonged to Davos or Filisur until the beginning of the 1600s. 1608 first priest; reformed 1655.
 * Zernez-Brail - first priest 1537; Catholic mass held until 1553; reformed 1758.
 * Brail - allowed a cemetery in 1640 but not established as of 1661. 1658 allowed to have a priest but still part of Zernez.
 * Zillis - reformed 1660.
 * Zizers - 1572, Reformed allowed to use the church; 1614 a church built. Until 1840, Mastrils is a Filial; reformed 1646, catholic 1632.
 * Zuoz - First priest in 1554; reformed 1723.