Safien Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Safien / Stussavgia 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 Safien (Romansh: Stussavgia) is in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The former municipality includes the village of Safien-Platz (elevation: 1,350 m (4,430 ft)) and scattered hamlets and single farmhouses throughout the valley.

Safien (as of 2006) has an area of 100.6 km² (38.8 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 45.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 18.2% - forested
 * 0.8% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 35.4% - non-productive

History
In 1219, Safien was first mentioned by the name of Stosavia.

Safien merged into the new Safiental municipality on 1 January 2013. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Tenna
 * Valendas
 * Versam

The population history of Safien is: 1803 - 770 inhabitants 1850 - 685 inhabitants 1900 - 455 inhabitants 1950 - 453 inhabitants 2000 - 308 inhabitants 2010 - 305 inhabitants 2011 - 294 inhabitants

The church of Thalkirch (patrozine, among others, Mary, the Three Kings, Theodul) is attested for the first time in 1441. The church of Platz (patrocinium of John the Baptist) is mentioned for the first time in 1448. The Reformation was adopted in 1526. The church in Neukirch dates from 1698, which like Thalkirch had its own pastor in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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.

Safien-Neukirch Reformed
The parish church in Neukirch was built in 1698. Church records begin in 1692. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1692-1807
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1807-1841
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

Safien-Platz Reformed
The parish in Platz was first mentioned in 1448; the parish became Reformed in 1526. Church records begin in 1692. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1692-1808
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1808-1841
 * Baptisms 1837-1875
 * Marriages, burials 1837-1875

Safien-Thalkirch Reformed
The Thalkirch parish was first mentioned in 1441; the parish became Reformed in 1526. Church records begin in 1684. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1684-1791
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1791-1851
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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