Zernez Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Zernez / Zernetz 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 municipality of Zernez is in the Engiadina Bassa/Val Müstair Region in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is situated along the Ofen Pass road into the Engadine. It includes the village of Zernez and the section of Brail.

Zernez (as of 2004/09) has an area of 203.91 km² (78.73 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 7.8% - agricultural purposes
 * 35.6% - forested
 * 0.7% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 55.9% - non-productive

History
In 1131, Zernez was first mentioned by the name of Gumpo de Ernece. It was mentioned as Zarnetz in 1161-64. Before 2017, Zernez is in the Sur Tasna sub-district of the Inn district, and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Zernez became part of the Engiadina Bassa/Val Müstair Region.

Zernez merged into the Zernez municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Lavin
 * Susch

The population history of Zernez is: 1850 - 603 inhabitants 1860 - 603 inhabitants 1870 - 565 inhabitants 1880 - 528 inhabitants 1888 - 555 inhabitants 1900 - 596 inhabitants 1910 - 1,075 inhabitants 1920 - 760 inhabitants 1930 - 728 inhabitants 1941 - 738 inhabitants 1950 - 739 inhabitants 1960 - 712 inhabitants 1970 - 906 inhabitants 1980 - 920 inhabitants 1990 - 869 inhabitants 2020 - 1,506 inhabitants

Zernez joined the Reformation in 1553. In 1609, Rudolf von Planta donated the early Baroque parish church.

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.

Catholic
The Catholic church was located in the village of Brail. A priest was first installed in 1658. Church records begin in 1741. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1741-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1836-1877

Reformed
A Reformed parish was established in 1553; the church was built in 1609. Church records begin in 1758. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1758-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1836-1877

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

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