Silvaplana Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Silvaplana / Silvaplauna 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 municipality of Silvaplana (Romansh: Silvaplauna) is in the Maloja Region and the Graubünden canton. Silvaplana is situated on Lake Silvaplana in the Upper Engadine. The stream Ova dal Vallun, which connects Lake Silvaplana and Lake Champfèr, runs through the village. It includes the village of Silvaplana and the hamlets of Surlej and Albana, as well as part of the village of Champfèr.

Silvaplana (as of 2006) has an area of 44.7 km² (17.3 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 19.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 14.1% - forested
 * 2.2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 64.1% - non-productive

History
Before 2017, Silvaplana (Romansh: Silvaplauna) was in the Oberengadin sub-district of the Maloja and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Silvaplana became part of the Maloja Region.

The population history of Silvaplana is: 1804 - 348 inhabitants 1850 - 205 inhabitants 1900 - 319 inhabitants 1950 - 333 inhabitants 1970 - 714 inhabitants 2000 - 913 inhabitants 2020 - 1,121 inhabitants

The church, first mentioned in 1356, was transformed in late Gothic style in 1491. In 1556, the Reformation was adopted. The Catholic church, committed to the Virgin, dates back to 1962.

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
First mentioned in 1356, the parish of Silvaplana became Reformed in 1556. Church records begin in 1637. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1637-1750
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1750-1855
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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