Alvaneu Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Alvaneu / Alvagni 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 Alvaneu (Romansh: Alvagni) is in the Belfort sub-district of the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on a terrace above the Albula river. Alvaneu included the villages of Alvaneu (Alvaneu-Dorf) and Alvaneu-Bad which are located on the valley floor. Also included are the settlements of Aclas d'Alvagni, Creusch and Ramoz. Alvaneu (prior to 2015) had an area of 35.7 km² (13.8 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 27.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 32.8% - forested
 * 2.0% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 38.2% - non-productive

History
In 1244, Alvaneu was first mentioned by the name of Aluenude. In 1530 as Allweneü. Alvaneu (Romansh: Alvagni) is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. Alvaneu merged into the Albula/Alvra municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Alvaschein
 * Brienz/Brinzauls
 * Mon
 * Stierva
 * Surava
 * Tiefencastel

The population history of Alvaneu is: 1838 - 362 inhabitants 1850 - 354 inhabitants 1880 - 314 inhabitants 1900 - 382 inhabitants 1930 - 441 inhabitants 1950 - 475 inhabitants 1960 - 396 inhabitants 1970 - 421 inhabitants 1980 - 379 inhabitants 1990 - 380 inhabitants 2000 - 407 inhabitants 2013 - 403 inhabitants

In 1290, the church of Saint Maurice was mentioned. It was destroyed in 1460 and then reconsecrated in 1495.

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 Alvaneu is ancient. Records begin in 1624. Schmitten was part of Alvaneu until it established a separate parish in 1718. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms 1624-1837
 * Marriages, burials 1653-1837
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1838-1876
 * Status animarum 1763-1859

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

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