Surava Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Surava 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 Surava is in the Belfort sub-district of the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the right bank of the Albula river. Surava (prior to 2015) has an area of 7.0 km² (2.7 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 10.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 78.3% - forested
 * 4.3% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 6.8% - non-productive

History
In 1580, Surava was first mentioned by the name of Surraguas. In 1883, the municipality of Brienz-Surava split into Brienz/Brinzauls and Surava. Surava is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. Surava merged into the Albula/Alvra municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Alvaschein
 * Alvaneu
 * Brienz/Brinzauls
 * Mon
 * Stierva
 * Tiefencastel

The population history of Surava is: 1725 - 89 inhabitants 1850 - 159 inhabitants 1900 - 148 inhabitants 1950 - 203 inhabitants 1960 - 136 inhabitants 1970 - 93 inhabitants 1980 - 62 inhabitants 1990 - 73 inhabitants 2000 - 150 inhabitants 2013 - 196 inhabitants

Spiritually, Surava was depended on Brienz. In 1611, the Saint-Georges church was first mentioned. Since 1725, Surava is a catholic 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
Originally belonging to the parish of Brienz/Brinzauls, Surava became an independent parish in 1725. Church records begin in 1680. See Brienz/Brinzauls for earlier records. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, confirmations 1680-1835
 * Marriages, burials 1725-1838
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875

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

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