Zizers Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Zizers / Zezras 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 Zizers (Romansh: Zir or Zezras) is in the Landquart Region and the Graubünden canton. It is situated on the most important road through the Rhine river valley.

Zizers (as of 2004/09) has an area of 11.01 km² (4.25 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 39.1% - agricultural purposes
 * 38.0% - forested
 * 14.5% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 8.4% - non-productive

History
In 824, Zizers was first mentioned by the name of Zizuris. Before 2017, Zizers (Romansh: Zir or Zezras) was the capital of the sub-district of Fünf Dörfer in the Landquart district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Zizers became part of the Landquart Region. Until 1854 Mastrils was part of Zizers. In 1913 the territory of Oberzollbruck (population in 1910, 30), Russhof (population 91) and Untere Mühle (population 8) became part of Igis.

The population history of Zizers is: 1850 - 925 inhabitants 1860 - 1,053 inhabitants 1870 - 1,068 inhabitants 1880 - 1,082 inhabitants 1888 - 1,140 inhabitants 1900 - 1,107 inhabitants 1910 - 1,173 inhabitants 1920 - 1,081 inhabitants 1930 - 1,206 inhabitants 1941 - 1,304 inhabitants 1950 - 1,281 inhabitants 1960 - 1,290 inhabitants 1970 - 1,913 inhabitants 1980 - 2,425 inhabitants 1990 - 2,889 inhabitants 2000 - 2,983 inhabitants 2010 - 3,194 inhabitants 2015 - 3,361 inhabitants 2020 - 3,520 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 43.1% were Roman Catholic
 * 43.7% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 0.40% were Orthodox Church
 * 2.21% were from another Christian church
 * 3.75% were Islamic

In the old parish of Zizers, Protestants are mentioned for the first time in 1612, constituted in 1614 approximately half of the population; Zizers remained equal. The Church of St. Peter and Paul was used by the Catholics from 1644 and served by the Capuchins after 1686. The Reformed received the St. Andrew's Chapel (first attested in 1340).

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 Catholic parish of Zizers is ancient. Mastrils belonged to the parish until 1727. Church records begin in 1632. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms 1753-1837; marriages, burials 1759-1837; confirmations 1766-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1876

The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, burials 1632-1759; marriages 1641-1760; Status animarum (undated)
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials, confirmations 1838-1875

Reformed
By 1614, half of the residents of Zizers were Reformed. Church records begin in 1646. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1646-1806 (gap, marriages and burials 1767-1806)
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1806-1863
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1834-1876

The following volume is only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1753-1838

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

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