Davos, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Davos / Tavau, 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 Davos (Romansh: Tavau / Italian: Tavate / German: Gemeinde Davos) is in the Davos sub-district of the Prättigau/Davos district and the Graubünden canton. It is located at the top of the Landwasser River at an elevation of 1,560 metres (5,120 ft). The municipality covers the entire valley of the Landwasser. Davos includes fractions of Davos-Dorf, Davos-Platz, Davos-Frauenkirch, Davos-Glarus and Davos-Monstein and hamlets of Laret, Wolfgang, Clavadel, Spina, Dischma and Sertig. The village of Davos is an Alpine resort and one of Switzerland's largest ski resorts.

Davos (as of 2004/09 survey) has an area of 284.0 km² (109.65 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 35.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 22.2% - forested
 * 2.3% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 40.5% - non-productive

History
In 1213, Davos was first mentioned by the name of Tavaus. Davos (Romansh: Tavau / Italian: Tavate / German: Gemeinde Davos) is in the Prättigau/Davos district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Davos became part of the Prättigau/Davos Region.

Davos merged into the Davos municipality on 1 January 2009. After the merge, the Davos municipality was the largest municipality in Switzerland. Today, it is the 4th largest. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Wiesen

The population history of Davos is: 1850 - 1,680 inhabitants 1860 - 1,705 inhabitants 1870 - 2,002 inhabitants 1880 - 2,865 inhabitants 1888 - 3,891 inhabitants 1900 - 8,089 inhabitants 1910 - 9,905 inhabitants 1920 - 9,727 inhabitants 1930 - 11,164 inhabitants 1941 - 9,259 inhabitants 1950 - 10,433 inhabitants 1960 - 9,588 inhabitants 1970 - 10,238 inhabitants 1980 - 10,468 inhabitants 1990 - 10,957 inhabitants 2000 - 11,417 inhabitants 2010 - 11,237 inhabitants 2014 - 11,136 inhabitants 2015 - 12,624 inhabitants 2020 - 10,832 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 34.6% were Roman Catholic
 * 0.09% were Christian Catholic
 * 46.6% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 3.85% were Orthodox Church
 * 2.40% were Other Christian Church

Davos hosts the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

In 1335, the church of Saint John was mentioned. In the mid-14th century, the chapel of Saint-Théodule in Davos was mentioned. In the mid-14th century, the chapel of Saint-Nicolas in Glaris was mentioned. In 1466, the chapel of Notre-Dame in Frauenkirch was mentioned. In 1500, the church was known as a free parish church. In 1654, Glarus-Monstein separated to create its own parish. In 1680, Frauenkirch-Sertig and Dorf-Laret separated to create their own parishes. In 1719, Monstein separated from Glarus to create its own parish. In 1668, a new church was built in Monstein. In 1699, a new church was built in Sertig. In 1793, a new church was built in Laret. At the end of the 20th century, there were 15 churches in the municipality and the majority of inhabitants are reformed.

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: Davos-Dorf
The parish of Davos-Dorf was established in 1680 from the main parish of Davos-Platz. Church records begin in 1680. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:


 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1680-1825
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1825-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

Reformed: Davos-Frauenkirch
The parish of Davos-Frauenkirch was established in 1680, created from Davos-Platz. Other records may possibly be at the parish church. Records after 1837 are likely recorded with Davos-Platz. The following volume is available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1817-1837

Reformed: Davos-Glaris
Initially a chapel within the parish of Davos-Platz, Glaris became an independent parish in 1654. Records begin in 1710. Records after 1837 are likely recorded with Davos-Platz. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:


 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1710-1746
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1746-1763
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1776-1822
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1822-1836

Reformed: Davos-Monstein
Initially, Monstein was part of Davos-Platz until 1654, when it was part of the newly-created parish of Glaris. In 1719, Monstein became an independent parish. Church records begin in 1772. Records after 1837 are likely recorded with Davos-Platz. The following volume is available on FamilySearch:


 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1772-1836

Reformed: Davos-Platz
Davos-Platz is the oldest and main church in the town, and the mother parish of Davos-Glaris and Davos-Monstein. The parish embraced the Reformation in 1526. Church records begin in 1559. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:


 * Baptisms 1559-1596
 * Baptisms 1597-1647
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1633-1817
 * Baptisms 1712-1836
 * Baptisms 1817-1836
 * Confirmations 1818-1836
 * Marriages 1817-1836
 * Burials 1817-1836
 * Baptisms 1837-1875
 * Marriages, burials 1837-1875

Lutheran: Davos
A Lutheran church was created in Davos at the end of the 1860s; the first pastor was established in the parish in 1874. Neither FamilySearch nor the Graubünden State Archives have records for the parish.

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

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