Parsonz Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Parsonz / Präsanz 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
In 1979, Riom and Parsonz merged into the municipality of Riom-Parsonz. The former municipality of Riom-Parsonz is in the Surses sub-district of the Albula district and the Graubünden canton. It is located along the road to the Julier pass and on a western terrace of the Oberhalbstein mountains.

Riom-Parsonz (as of 2006) has an area of 56.0 km² (22.0 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 51.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 18.0% - forested
 * 1.1% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 30.0% - non-productive

History
In 1156, Parsonz was first mentioned by the name of Presan. In German, it was known as Präsanz. In 1979, Riom and Parsonz merged into the municipality of Riom-Parsonz. Riom-Parsonz (German: Präsanz) is in the Albula district and the Graubünden canton.

Riom-Parsonz merged into the Surses municipality on 1 January 2016. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Bivio
 * Cunter
 * Marmorera
 * Mulegns
 * Salouf
 * Savognin
 * Sur
 * Tinizong-Rona

The population history of Riom-Parsonz is: 1850 - 417 inhabitants (123 in Parsonz) 1900 - 334 inhabitants (113 in Parsonz) 1950 - 350 inhabitants 1960 - 276 inhabitants 1970 - 288 inhabitants (81 in Parsonz) 1980 - 263 inhabitants 1990 - 297 inhabitants 2000 - 329 inhabitants 2014 - 304 inhabitants

In 1475, the chapel of Saint-Nicolas was consecrated. Spiritually, Parsonz belonged to Salouf. Between 1641 and 1726, it belonged to Riom. In 1663, the baroque church was inaugurated.

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.

Catholic
Parsonz initially belonged to the parish of Salouf until 1641. From 1641 to 1726 it belonged to Riom. In 1726 Parsonz became an independent parish. Church records begin in 1726. For earlier records, see Riom. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1726-1837; confirmations 1728-1835
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials, confirmations 1837-1875
 * Status animarum 1852

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

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