Graubünden (Grisons) Canton, Switzerland Genealogy

Guide to Graubünden canton ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Getting Started
If you are new to Swiss research, you should watch this introductory course. Then study the articles on church records and civil registration, as almost all of your research will be in those two record groups.
 * Introduction to Swiss Research
 * Switzerland Civil Registration
 * Switzerland Church Records

History
Graubünden is a German speaking canton. The Romansch language is also used by a small part of the population and some church records of this canton will also be in the Romansch language. There are many dialects used in this canton. Graubünden joined the Swiss confederation in 1803. Graubünden (Wikipedia)

Census Records Online
These records have a restriction for use only at a Family History Center near you.
 * Census records for Kt. Graubünden, Switzerland, 1835-1850

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in Graubünden Canton in 1876. To understand the records available, read the Wiki article, Switzerland Civil Registration.
 * Addresses for Civil Registration (ZivilStandesamt) Offices (.pdf)
 * You will be able to write your request in German with the help of the German Letter Writing Guide.

Online Church Records
For information on the coverage, content, and locating of church records, read Switzerland Church Records. Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast collections can be view free of charge at a Family History Center near you.
 * . FamilySearch Historical Records. Images, no indexes. Incomplete.
 * . FamilySearch Historical Records. Images, no index. Incomplete.
 * Switzerland, Church Book Extracts, 1550-1875. Ancestry.com. images, incomplete.
 * . FamilySearch Historical Records. Index. Incomplete.
 * Switzerland, Baptisms, 1491-1940. MyHeritage.com, ($). Index. Incomplete.
 * Switzerland, Baptisms, 1491-1940. Ancestry.com, ($). Index. Incomplete.
 * . FamilySearch Historical Records. Index. Incomplete.
 * Switzerland, Marriages, 1532-1910. My Heritage.com, ($). Index. Incomplete.
 * Switzerland, Marriages, 1532-1910. Ancestry.com, ($). Incomplete. Index.
 * . FamilySearch Historical Records Index. Incomplete.
 * Switzerland Burials, 1613-1875. MyHeritage. ($). Index. Incomplete.
 * Switzerland Burials, 1613-1875. Ancestry.com. Incomplete. Index. ($).

FamilySearch Microfilmed/Digitized Records
Several parish records have been microfilmed and are currently being digitized. Eventually, all of them will be digitized, so check back frequently. These records may have a restriction for use only at a Family History Center near you.

Instructions:
 * 1) Click on Switzerland, Graubünden FamilySearch Catalog.
 * 2) Open the list "Places within Switzerland, Graubünden". Select your town.
 * 3) A list of record categories will open up. Click on "Church records".
 * 4) A list of available records will appear. Click on the record title you are interested in searching.
 * 5) Scroll down to the list of microfilm numbers. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

Writing for Church Records
A list of church books available at the Graubünden Archives is available here.


 * You will be able to write your request in German with the help of the German Letter Writing Guide.

Reading the Records

 * German Genealogical Word List
 * [[Media:Swiss_Genealogical_Word_List_approved.pdf|Swiss Dialect Genealogical Word List]]
 * Reading German Handwritten Records
 * Lesson 1: Kurrent Letters
 * Lesson 2: Making Words in Kurrent
 * Lesson 3: Reading Kurrent Documents
 * Old German Script
 * Part 1
 * Part 2
 * Part 3 (German Church and Civil Records)

Search Strategy
This search strategy will help you determine what to write for. Limit tour requests to just one of these steps at a time. Once you have established that the parish is cooperative and perhaps more willing to do more extensive research (for a fee), you might be able to ask them for more at a time.
 * Search for the relative or ancestor you selected.
 * When you find his birth record, search for the births of his brothers and sisters.
 * Next, search for the marriage of his parents. The marriage record will have information that will often help you find the birth records of the parents.
 * You can estimate the ages of the parents and determine a birth year to search for their birth records.
 * Search the death registers for all known family members.
 * Repeat this process for both the father and the mother, starting with their birth records, then their siblings' births, then their parents' marriages, and so on.
 * If earlier generations (parents, grandparents, etc.) do not appear in the records, search neighboring parishes.

Parishes in Graubünden
Almens-Rotenbrunnen - founded 1645, maybe from Thusis Andeer-Clugin - Clugin taken in 1894 from Donat-Patzen-Fardün-Casti and merged with Andeer Ardez - 1538 became Reformed Arosa, originally with Peist, 1649 had own priest Avers: ancient, 1519 Bergün: Bergün becomes Reformed 1562. Bevers (Bever) - ancient, 1552 becomes Reformed Bivio (Stalla, Beiva) - old, 1584 becomes Reformed. No priest 1605-1642, 1605-1638 by Oberengadin, 1638-1642 by Chur Bondo - old, first priest before 1555 Brusio - old, first priest 1555 Canicül (Inner-Ferrera) - independent in 1837 from Ferrera. Part of Avers in 1867. Casaccia - old, becomes Reformed in 1551 Castasegna - old, first priest 1555 Castiel-Calfreisen-Lüen - first priest 1571 Celerina (Schlarigna) - becomes Reformed 1577 Chur - St. Martin - old, first priest 1523, communal 1858 Chur - St. Regula - old, first priest 1530, communal 1858, independent 1874 Chur - Freiprediger - first priest 1617, communal 1858 Chur - French parish - first priest 1687 Chur-Araschga - 1896 established from Churwealden, Chur, and Malix Churwalden - first priest 1616 Cierfs (Cierf) - first priest 1654 Davos-Dorf-Laret - independent parish in 1680 Davos-Frauenkirch - provided by Davos-Platz through end of 1600s; first priest 1680 Davos-Glaris - cared by Davos-Platz until middle-1600s. First priest 1654. Davos-Monstein - filial parish of Davos-Glaris until 1719. Davos-Platz - very old, first priest for Reformed 1526 Davos-Platz - Lutheran, founded end of 1860s, first priest 1874. Davis-Platz - St. Paulus, founded 1891 Donat-Patzen-Fardün-Casti - until 1647 belonged to Zillis, but had a priest since 1626. Duvin - old, first priest 1589. Merged in 1892 with Pitasch and Riein. Fanas - old, first priest 1574. Feldis (Veulden) - was overseen by Tamins and Domleschg until 1638 when first priest. Felsberg - belonged to Chur early, also to Tamins 1570-1622, first priest 1662. Ferrera (Ausser-Ferrera) - filial of Andeer until 1700. Canicül broke off in 1837. Part of Andeer after 1867. Fetan (Ftan) - old, Reformed in 1543. Fideris - belonged to Jenaz until 1641. Filisur - became Reformed 1590. Fläsch - old, Reformed in 1524. Flerden - 1653 with Urmein becomes a parish from Portein-Sarn. Full split in 1658. Flims (Flem) - old, first Reformed priest 1564 Flond - belonged to Ilanz until 1726. First priest 1729. Fuldera - belonged to St. Maria until 1714. Furna - belonged to Jenaz until 1672.

Latsch first priest 1615, united with Bergün in 1913. Stuls (Stogl) -with Latsch until 1689, independent until 1924, merged with Bergün. Urmein - separate from Flerden in 1722.