Tschiertschen Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Tschiertschen 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 Tschiertschen is in the Churwalden sub-district of the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton. It is located in the Schanfigger valley on the left side slope. It includes the haufendorf village (an unplanned and closely packed village built around a central square) of Tschiertschen -- at an elevation of 1,351 m (4,432 ft).

Tschiertschen (as of 2006) has an area of 21.4 km² (8.3 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 52.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 22.6% - forested
 * 1.4% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 23.4% - non-productive

History
In the 8th Century, Tschiertschen was first mentioned by the name of Cercene. Tschiertschen is in the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton.

Tschiertschen merged into the Tschiertschen-Praden municipality on 1 January 2009. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Praden

The population history of Tschiertschen is: 1803 - 130 inhabitants 1850 - 124 inhabitants 1870 - 160 inhabitants 1900 - 139 inhabitants 1950 - 174 inhabitants 2000 - 225 inhabitants 2008 - 208 inhabitants

Tschiertschen belonged to the Saint-Georges Church in Castiel. In 1405, the chapel of Saints-Jacques-et-Christophe was mentioned. In 1550, Tschiertschen adopted the Reformation and became a 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.

Reformed
The parish of Tschiertschen became Reformed in 1550. Records for Praden are found in Tschiertschen until 1824. Church records begin in 1646. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1646-1825
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1820-1867
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1876

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

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