Stierva Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Stierva / Stürvis 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 Stierva is in the Alvaschein sub-district of the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. It is located above the lower Albula valley and is a haufendorf (unplanned, closely packed village). Stierva (prior to 2015) has an area of 10.5 km² (4.1 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 49.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 42.1% - forested
 * 1.8% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 6.7% - non-productive

History
In 841, Stierva was first mentioned by the name of Seturiuo. Until 1943, it was known as Stürvis. Stierva is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. Stierva merged into the Albula/Alvra municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Alvaschein
 * Alvaneu
 * Brienz/Brinzauls
 * Mon
 * Surava
 * Tiefencastel

The population history of Stierva is: 1850 - 179 inhabitants 1900 - 150 inhabitants 1950 - 150 inhabitants 1960 - 130 inhabitants 1970 - 114 inhabitants 1980 - 113 inhabitants 1990 - 100 inhabitants 2000 - 137 inhabitants 2010 - 140 inhabitants 2013 - 134 inhabitants

In 1521, the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine church was built on the foundations of older buildings.

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 some church records are available on FamilySearch. These records have a restriction for use only at a FamilySearch center near you.

Catholic
The parish of Stierva is ancient. Church records begin in 1641. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1641-1900; family register

The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875 (also, [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXW-D3M1-5 duplicate filming)

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

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