Präz Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Präz / Prez 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 former municipality of Präz (Romansh: Preaz) was in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It includes the haufendorf (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) village of Präz and the hamlets of Dalin and Raschlinas as well as scattered farm houses.

Präz (as of 2006) has an area of 11.3 km² (4.4 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 45.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 47.9% - forested
 * 2.8% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 4% - non-productive

History
In 1290-98, Präz was first mentioned by the name of Pare(t)z.

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

The population history of Präz is: 1803 - 286 inhabitants 1850 - 303 inhabitants 1900 - 201 inhabitants 1950 - 231 inhabitants 1980 - 148 inhabitants 2000 - 178 inhabitants 2007 - 161 inhabitants

Spiritually, Präz belonged to Hohenrätien (the chaplaincy is mentioned in 1495). After 1505, it belonged to Portein. Then was erected into a parish (church dedicated to Notre-Dame and Saint-Georges, mentioned in 1519). The chapel Sainte-Anne in Dalin that was later destroyed is cited in 1522. The Reformation was adopted after 1525.

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.

Reformed
Präz became an independent parish in 1519; in 1525, it became Reformed. Church records begin in 1609. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1609-1646
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1639-1769
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1769-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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