Sils im Domleschg Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Sils im Domleschg / Seglias 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 Sils im Domleschg (Romansh: Seglias) is in the Viamala Region and the Graubünden canton. Sils im Domleschg is a linear village between the Albula and Hinterrhein rivers. It includes the village of Sils im Domleschg and the hamlets of Freihof, Campi, and Albula

Sils im Domleschg (as of 2004/09) has an area of 9.28 km² (3.58 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 14.6% - agricultural purposes
 * 70.4% - forested
 * 8.2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 6.9% - non-productive

History
In 1149, Sils im Domleschg was first mentioned by the name of de Sillas. Before 2017, Sils im Domleschg (Romansh: Seglias) is in the Domleschg sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Sils im Domleschg became part of the Viamala Region.

The population history of Sils im Domleschg is: 1803 - 277 inhabitants 1850 - 295 inhabitants 1900 - 621 inhabitants 1910 - 541 inhabitants 1950 - 590 inhabitants 1960 - 737 inhabitants 1970 - 762 inhabitants 1980 - 826 inhabitants 1990 - 794 inhabitants 2000 - 880 inhabitants 2020 - 971 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 33.0% were Roman Catholic
 * 55.4% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 2.03% were Orthodox Church
 * 0.61% were another Christian church
 * 0.99% were Muslim

The church of St. Johann auf Hohenrätienwas was valley church for Domleschg on the left bank of the Rhine up until the 15th century, which didn't include Sils. The Reformation was adopted in 1525-1530. The former parish church of St. Cassian became a burial chapel after the village church was built in 1619.

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.

Reformed
THe Parish of Sils im Domleschg became Reformed between 1525-1530. Church records begin in 1630. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1630-1778
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1778-1844
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Sils im Domleschg:
 * 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 Sils im Domleschg 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)