Vella Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Vella / Villa 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.

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 family history center near you.

Catholic
The parish church of Vella was first mentioned in 843, the original church in the entire Lugnez/Lumnezia Valley. Several parishes became independent between 1345 and present, including Lumbrein (1345-1442), Duvin (1526), Surcasti (1528); Vrin (1597), Surcuolm (1643), Cumbel (1653), Vignogn (1697), Degen (1891), Morissen (1907), and Peiden (1910). Church records begin in 1633. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1633-1699
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1700-1768
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1768-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875
 * Confirmations 1820-1875

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

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