Bonadurer Switzerland.
The Bonadurers who remained in or returned to Switzerland — from Versam and Zillis to Kaltbrunn, Zizers, and Zurich.
The place of citizenship for the Bonadurer family remains Versam, Graubünden. Although Versam merged with Safien, Tenna, and Valendas to form the political municipality of Safiental, the place of citizenship, Versam, remains unaffected — it continues to exist as an independent citizens’ commune.
While many Bonadurers emigrated all over the world in the 19th and early 20th centuries — to America, Russia, Brazil, and Poland — part of the family remained in Switzerland, returned, or resettled in other Swiss cantons.
Roland Bonadurer · Kaltbrunn SG
Roland Bonadurer, creator of this chronicle, was born in Versam GR. After 33 years in Hettiswil, he has lived in Kaltbrunn SG since November 2012 — closer to home. He is the great-grandson of Peter Bonadurer (born 1868 in Zillis), the sixth child of Martin Bonadurer of Versam and Margreth Fravi.
Versam / Safiental · The Place of Citizenship
Versam is located in Safiental, Canton of Graubünden. The parish registers of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Versam date from 1705 to 1875 and are the most important source for Bonadurer family research. The Bandur farm (Wiesenheim) is still part of the extended family network today.
Well-known Swiss Lines
| Roland Bonadurer · Kaltbrunn SG |
| Werner Bonadurer · Zizers GR |
| Reto Bonadurer · Zurich |
| Johann Bonadurer · Zillis GR † |
| Alexander Bonadurer · Versam / Zurich |
Place of Citizenship
Versam (Citizens’ Commune) Political Municipality: Safiental
Well-known Swiss Bonadurers
Profiles from Family Research
Werner Bonadurer · Zizers GRZizers GR ↓
Werner Bonadurer (born 1954) lives in Switzerland today. He lived abroad for many years — in Asia, England, and the USA (Phoenix, Arizona). Wife: Irene (born 1967, née Steger). Sons: Gian-Reto (born 1994) and Andri (born 1998).
Parents · Zizers GR
Father: Werner Bonadurer (born 1932). Mother: Maria, née Marti (born 1934). Sisters: Renata (born 1955) and Doris (born 1958).
Grandfather · Anton Nicolaus Bonadurer · 1903–1972
Grandmother: Dora, née Goetz (1906–1980).
Great-grandfather · Anton Bonadurer · born 1864
Died around the turn of the century. Married to Christina Bernhard (born 1871).
Ancestor · Nicolaus Bonadurer · born approx. 1830
According to tradition, married to Dorathea Baertsch. — This line leads via Zizers back to Versam GR.
Reto Bonadurer · ZurichZurich ↓
Reto Bonadurer lives in Zurich and maintains the connection to the American line. He is the son of Johann Bonadurer and grandson of Peter Bonadurer — both from the main Swiss line that remained in Versam / Zillis.
Reto visited Dan Bonadurer in Montana (USA) and his siblings in St. Paul and La Crosse — he traveled with his friend Gerold from Switzerland. The American cousins greatly appreciated the contact.
Reto located Dan Bonadurer as early as 1986 — before the internet — in the Zurich telephone directory. This connection was the decisive gateway to Swiss family history for the American Bonadurers.
Johann Bonadurer · Zillis GR †Zillis GR ↓
Johann Bonadurer lived in Zillis, Graubünden (Address: Mühle, CH-7432 Zillis). He was in correspondence with John Martin Bonadurer III from Minneapolis/Chicago and endeavored to establish connections with the American line.
At the time of the last known contact, Johann was around 82 years old. He has since passed away. Roland Bonadurer informed John Bonadurer from Minneapolis of his death.
Johann was the son of Peter Bonadurer and thus part of the main line that remained in Switzerland — the same line from which Reto Bonadurer (Zurich) also descends.
Returnees from Russia · Versam / Basel / ZurichVersam / Basel / Zurich ↓
Several Bonadurers who lived in Russia in the early 20th century returned to Switzerland or maintained contact with Versam.
Peter Bonadurer (Johannson) · Versam / Berlin
Peter Bonadurer owned a typography and bookbinding business in Kiev. He came to Berlin via Poland in 1919 and returned briefly to Versam in 1920. Married to Elvira Johannson (RU). Children: Olga (1912), Tatjana (1921).
Alexander Viktor Bonadurer (Woronecki) · Versam / Basel
Physician, most recently assistant physician at a Swiss health insurance company. Originally from Versam GR, active in Switzerland via Kiev and Basel. Wife Katharina, born in Poland. Daughter Maria.
Marie Bonadurer · Versam / Kiev
Born 1920 in Versam GR. Daughter of Alexander Bonadurer (Zurich). Lived in Kiev, later a medical student. Single.
Anna Bonadurer · Kiev / Berlin / Basel
Divorced from a Mr. Reber from Basel. Lived for a time in Kiev and Berlin.
Place of Citizenship Versam · Safiental
Versam — today part of the political municipality of Safiental — remains an independent citizens’ commune. For all Bonadurers whose ancestors come from Versam, Versam is still the official place of citizenship. This also applies to those lines that moved to Zillis, Chur, or other cantons in the 19th century.
The oldest parish register entries of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Versam (1705–1875, filmed by The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980, State Archives Chur) are the cornerstone of all Bonadurer family research. Without them, the connections to the American, Russian, and Brazilian branches could not be proven.
The Bandur farm (Wiesenheim / Wieshus) is located in the municipality of Versam and is still part of the extended family network today. Anyone who has current information about the present residents is requested to contact Roland.
Parish Registers
| State Archives of Graubünden |
| Citizens’ Commune of Versam |
| Archives & Resources |