Paspels Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Paspels / Pasqual 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 Paspels (Romansh: Pasqual) is in the Domleschg sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located above the Hinterrhein on a terrace and consists of a haufendorf (unplanned, closely packed village) that is linear in shape. It included the Canova and Dusch hamlets. Paspels (prior to 2015) has an area of 4.6 km² (1.8 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 33.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 56.7% - forested
 * 6.1% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 3.9% - non-productive

History
In 1237, Paspels was first mentioned by the name of in villa Pascuals. In 1246 as de Pascuals Paspels (Romansh: Pasqual) is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. Paspels merged into the Domleschg municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Almens
 * Pratval
 * Rodels
 * Tomils

The population history of Paspels is: 1808 - 245 inhabitants 1850 - 323 inhabitants 1900 - 302 inhabitants 1950 - 350 inhabitants 1960 - 286 inhabitants 1970 - 289 inhabitants 1980 - 318 inhabitants 1990 - 358 inhabitants 2000 - 409 inhabitants 2013 - 475 inhabitants

In 1237, the church of Saint-Laurent was mentioned. It was the mother church of the right side of the valley. In 1508, the Sainte Maria-Magdalena was built. In 1662, the Saint John the Baptist was mentioned as the village church. In 1508, the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine chapel belonged to the abbey of Churwalden. The end of 16th century, the hamlet of Dusch joined the Reformation.

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
A church was first established in 1662. Church records begin in 1851. For earlier records, see Tumegl/Tomils. The following volume is available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1851-1876

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

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