Sils im Engadin/Segl Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Sils im Engadin/Segl 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 municipality of Sils im Engadin/Segl (German: Sils im Engadin; Romansh: Segl) is in the Maloja Region, Upper Engadine and the Graubünden canton. The municipality's official label uses both the German and the Romansh versions of its name. Situated in the valley of Upper Engadine, Sils im Engadin/Segl nestles between Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana at the foot of Piz Corvatsch and Piz da la Margna and below the Val Fex, a valley in the south. It includes the fractions Sils-Maria, Sils-Baselgia, Fex, and Grevasalvas.

Sils im Engadin/Segl (as of 2004/09) has an area of 63.58 km² (24.55 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 25.9% - agricultural purposes
 * 11.1% - forested
 * 1.2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 61.7% - non-productive

History
In 800–850, Sils im Engadin/Segl was first mentioned by the name of Silles. It was also mentioned in 1131 as Sillis. Sils im Engadin/Segl was known as Sils im Engadin until 1943.

The population history of Sils im Engadin/Segl is: 1850 - 219 inhabitants 1860 - 215 inhabitants 1870 - 235 inhabitants 1880 - 210 inhabitants 1888 - 194 inhabitants 1900 - 178 inhabitants 1910 - 249 inhabitants 1920 - 295 inhabitants 1930 - 359 inhabitants 1941 - 270 inhabitants 1950 - 262 inhabitants 1960 - 298 inhabitants 1970 - 403 inhabitants 1980 - 434 inhabitants 1990 - 498 inhabitants 2000 - 751 inhabitants 2010 - 754 inhabitants 2014 - 768 inhabitants 2020 - 715 inhabitants

The Church of St. Lorenz in Sils-Baselgia is mentioned in 1536. In Sils-Maria, a new church was constucted in 1597 (renovated in 1764), not far from that of Saint-Michel, mentioned in 1496. In 1552, Sils im Engadin/Segl adopted the Reformation. The catholic Christ the King Church was dedicated in 1931.

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
In 1552, the parish of Sils im Engadin/Segl became Reformed. Church records begin in 1679. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1679-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1889

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Sils im Engadin/Segl:
 * 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 Sils im Engadin/Segl 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)