Waltensburg/Vuorz Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Waltensburg/Vuorz 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 Waltensburg/Vuorz is in the Ruis sub-district of the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on a terrace above the Vorderrhein at an elevation of 250 m (820 ft). Waltensburg/Vuorz (as of 2006) has an area of 32.3 km² (12.5 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 36.5% - agricultural purposes
 * 22.0% - forested
 * 1.5% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 39.9% - non-productive

History
In 765, Waltensburg/Vuorz was first mentioned by the name of Vorce. In 1209, it was first mentioned by its German name Waltramsburg. Until 1943, Waltensburg/Vuorz was known as Waltensburg. Waltensburg/Vuorz is in the Surselva district and the Graubünden canton. Waltensburg/Vuorz merged into the Breil/Brigels municipality on 1 January 2018. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Breil/Brigels
 * Waltensburg/Vuorz

The population history of Waltensburg/Vuorz is: 1850 - 443 inhabitants 1900 - 362 inhabitants 1930 - 394 inhabitants 1950 - 406 inhabitants 1980 - 322 inhabitants 1990 - 349 inhabitants 2000 - 383 inhabitants 2010 - 364 inhabitants 2017 - 325 inhabitants 2020 - 325 inhabitants

In 1241, the parish church of St. Leodegar was first mentioned. Until 1526, the Waltensbur parish included Andiast. It was the only parish in Surselva to accept 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 some church records are available on FamilySearch. These records have a restriction for use only at a family history center near you.

Reformed
First established in 1241, the Waltensburg/Vuorz was the only parish in the upper Oberland valley to become Reformed, in 1526. Church records begin in 1638. The following volume is only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms 1638-1726; marriages 1690-1726; burials 1646-1726

The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1726-1839
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1811-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1836-1875; confirmations 1837-1892

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Waltensburg/Vuorz:
 * 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 Waltensburg/Vuorz 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)