Ausserferrera Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Ausserferrera / Farera 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 Ausserferrera (Romansh: Farera) is in the Schams sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the Averser branch of the Rhein. The Ausserferrera municipality consisted of the haufendorf (an unplanned and closely packed village built around a central square) of Ausserferrera.

Ausserferrera (as of 2006) has an area of 31.5 km² (12.2 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 29.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 20.4% - forested
 * 0.5% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 49.7% - non-productive

History
In mid 12th century, Ausserferrera was first mentioned by the name of Farreira. Ausserferrera (Romansh: Farera) is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. In 1837, Ausserferrera separated from Innerferrera to form a separate municipality.

Ausserferrera merged with Innerferrera to form the Ferrera municipality on 1 January 2008.

The population history of Ausserferrera is: 1808 - 110 inhabitants 1850 - 167 inhabitants 1900 - 107 inhabitants 1910 - 75 inhabitants 1950 - 78 inhabitants 1960 - 219 inhabitants (increase while dam was being constructed) 1970 - 45 inhabitants 2000 - 47 inhabitants 2007 - 46 inhabitants

Around 1200, the church in Cresta was mentioned.

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
Ausserferrera became reformed before 1538. Innerferrera separated from Ausserferrera in 1837. Church records begin in 1831. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1831-1875

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

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