Tersnaus Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Tersnaus / Zerschnaus 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 Tersnaus is in the Lumnezia sub-district of the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. It is located at the entrance of the Vals valley.

History
In 1362, Tersnaus was first mentioned by the name of Terzenaus. Tersnaus is in the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton.

Tersnaus merged into the Suraua municipality on 1 January 2002. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Camuns
 * Surcasti
 * Uors-Peiden

The population history of Tersnaus is: 1850 - 228 inhabitants 1900 - 60 inhabitants 1950 - 129 inhabitants 1980 - 66 inhabitants 2000 - 70 inhabitants

In 1345, the parish church of Saints Apollinaire and Marie-Madeleine was first mentioned. Until 1528, Tersnaus belonged to the Saint- Vincent church in Vella. In 1669, Tersnaus 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.

Catholic
The parish of Tersnaus became independent in 1669 from the parish of Surcasti. Tersnaus includes the municipality of Sankt Martin. Church records begin in 1804. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms 1804-1877
 * Marriages 1839-1880; burials 1838-1876; confirmations 1844-1875

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

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