Splügen Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Splügen 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 Splügen (Romansh: Spleia / Italian: Spluga) is in the Rheinwald sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on a ridge between the Splügen pass and San Bernardino pass. The municipality of Splügen consists of the village of Splügen (a haufendorf - unplanned and closely packed village built around a central square) and Medels im Rheinwald.

Splügen (as of 2006) has an area of 60.5 km² (23.4 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 38.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 17.8% - forested
 * 1.0% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 42.9% - non-productive

History
In 840, Splügen was first mentioned by the name of cella in Speluca. Splügen (Romansh: Spleia / Italian: Spluga) is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Splügen became part of the Viamala Region.

Splügen merged with the neighboring municipality of Medels im Rheinwald on 1 January 2006. Splügen merged into the Rheinwald municipality on 1 January 2019. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Hinterrhein
 * Nufenen

The population history of Splügen is: 1690 - 360 inhabitants 1850 - 494 inhabitants 1900 - 373 inhabitants 1930 - 336 inhabitants 1950 - 387 inhabitants 2000 - 365 inhabitants 2010 - 405 inhabitants 2018 - 377 inhabitants 2020 - 377 inhabitants

In the Middle Ages, Splügen was spiritually linked to the large parish of Saint-Martin in Schams. In 1530, the Reformation was accepted and a parish was established. In 1689, the current church was built.

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
Splügen was established an independent parish once it became Reformed in 1530. Once part of Splügen, Medels im Rheinwald became an independent parish in 1726. Church records begin in 1630. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1630-1662
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1664-1740
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1745-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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