Versam Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Versam / Versomi 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 Versam (Romansh: Versomi) is in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.. It is situated above the Vorderrhein canyon at the entrance to the Safien Valley. It includes the linear village of Versam and the hamlets of Versam-Station, Arezen, Calörtsch, and Sculms.

Versam (as of 2006) has an area of 16.8 km² (6.5 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 16.8% - agricultural purposes
 * 70.6% - forested
 * 2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 10.6% - non-productive

History
In 1050, Versam was first mentioned by the name of a valle Versamia.

Versam merged into the new Safiental municipality on 1 January 2013. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Safien
 * Tenna
 * Valendas

The population history of Versam is: 1803 - 357 inhabitants 1850 - 396 inhabitants 1900 - 316 inhabitants 1950 - 354 inhabitants 2000 - 255 inhabitants 2011 - 226 inhabitants

From the early 17th century, Versam slowly broke away from Valendas. The adoption of the Reformation dates from 1523. The building of the church dates from 1634.

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
Versam became Reformed in 1523; the parish church was built around 1634. Church records begin in 1705. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1705-1742
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1748-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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