Luven Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Luven / Luvis 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 Luven (German: Luvis) is in the Ilanz sub-district of the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. Before 2000, it was part of the Glenner district. It is located on the eastern slope of the Piz Mundaun.

Luven (prior to the merge) has an area of 6.6 km² (2.5 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 52.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 41.9% - forested
 * 4.5% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 1.7% - non-productive

History
In 765, Luven was first mentioned by the name of Lobene. Until 1943, Luven was known by its German name as Luvis. Luven (German: Luvis) is in the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton.

Luven merged into the Ilanz/Glion municipality on 1 January 2014. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Castrisch
 * Duvin
 * Ilanz
 * Ladir
 * Pigniu
 * Pitasch
 * Riein
 * Rueun
 * Ruschein
 * Schnaus
 * Sevgein
 * Siat

The population history of Luven is: 1850 - 297 inhabitants 1900 - 259 inhabitants 1950 - 208 inhabitants 2000 - 183 inhabitants 2011 - 199 inhabitants

In 1488, the church of Saints Stephen and Florin separated from Ilanz. The separation was finalized with the adoption of the Reformation in 1526. The municipal coat of arms represents the conversion of the village to the Protestant Reformation.

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
Luven is an ancient parish; it became Reformed in 1526. Earlier church records were likely destroyed in the 1760 fire that burned virtually the entire town. Church records begin in 1756. Earlier records may be found in Ilanz/Glion. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1756-1849
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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