Medels im Rheinwald Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Medels im Rheinwald / Medel (Valrain) 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 Medels im Rheinwald (Romansh: Medel) is in the Rheinwald sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the San Bernardino road. It included fractions of Dorf, Döörfli, Nühuus and formerly Aebi.

History
In 1336, Medels im Rheinwald was first mentioned by the name of Medels. Medels im Rheinwald (Romansh: Medel) is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton.

Medels im Rheinwald merged with the neighboring municipality of Splügen on 1 January 2006.

The population history of Medels im Rheinwald is: 1781 - 139 inhabitants 1850 - 89 inhabitants 1900 - 69 inhabitants 1950 - 47 inhabitants 2000 - 46 inhabitants 2005 - 45 inhabitants

Spiritually, the village initially belonged to the chapter of Saints-Jean-et-Victor in the Mesocco and then came under Hinterrhein. In 1530, Medels im Rheinwald joined Splügen at the Reformation. In 1726, it became a parish. In 1886, it reunited with Splügen.

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
After the Reformation, Medels im Rheinwald was part of the parish of Splügen until 1726, when it formed its own parish. Church records begin in 1726. See Splügen for earlier records. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1726-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Medels im Rheinwald:
 * 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 Medels im Rheinwald 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)