Cazis Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Cazis / Katzis / Cazas 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 Cazis (Romansh: Tgazas) is in the Viamala Region and the Graubünden canton. It is situated on the western side of the Hinterrhein valley. It includes the linear village of Cazis and the hamlets of Ober- and Unterrealta, Luvreu, Ratitsch, Summaprada, Schauenberg, and Valleina.

Cazis (as of 2006) has an area of 7.3 km² (2.8 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 41% - agricultural purposes
 * 41.1% - forested
 * 13.6% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 4.3% - non-productive

History
In 926, Cazis was first mentioned by the name of Cacias. Before 2017, Cazis (Romansh: Tgazas) was in the Thusis sub-district, of the Heinzenberg district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Cazis became part of the Viamala Region.

Cazis merged into the Cazis municipality on 1 January 2010. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Portein
 * Präz
 * Sarn
 * Tartar

The population history of Cazis is: 1803 - 420 inhabitants 1850 - 755 inhabitants 1900 - 738 inhabitants 1950 - 1,441 inhabitants 1970 - 1,687 inhabitants 2000 - 1,575 inhabitants 2020 - 2,287 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 53.3% were Roman Catholic
 * 31.0% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 3.49% were Orthodox Church
 * 0.76% were from another Christian Church
 * 1.59% were Islamic

An early medieval church building of St. Martin received the parish rights in 1156 (first mentioned) to the monastery church of St. Peter.

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 FamilySearch center near you.

Catholic
The parish of Cazis is ancient, first mentioned in 1156. Church records begin in 1634. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:


 * Baptisms, marriages 1634-1699; burials 1634-1704; Status animarum 1639
 * Baptisms 1700-1768; marriages 1678-1768; burials 1704-1768; Status animarum 1718/1722
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1768-1828; confirmations 1769-1818
 * Confirmations 1818-1828; parochial records 1812-1828
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1829-1837; confirmations 1835
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1829-1838

The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms 1838-1875
 * Marriages 1838-1875
 * Burials 1838-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Cazis:
 * 1835
 * 1838
 * 1848 (tables I-II)
 * 1848 (tables III-V)
 * 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 Cazis 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)