Molinis Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Molinis / Molinas 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 Molinis (Romansh: Molinas) is in the Schanfigg sub-district of the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the floor of the Schanfigg valley. The municipality of Molinis consists of the haufendorf village (unplanned and closely packed village around a central square)

Molinis (prior to 2013) has an area of 13.2 km² (5.1 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 26.7% - agricultural purposes
 * 60.8% - forested
 * 1.4% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 11.0% - non-productive

History
In 1335, Molinis was first mentioned by the name of Mulina. Molinis (Romansh: Molinas) is in the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton.

Molinis merged into the Arosa municipality on 1 January 2013. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Arosa
 * Calfreisen
 * Castiel
 * Langwies
 * Lüen
 * Peist
 * St. Peter-Pagig

The population history of Molinis is: 1850 - 135 inhabitants 1900 - 106 inhabitants 1950 - 137 inhabitants 1980 - 83 inhabitants 2000 - 136 inhabitants 2010 - 132 inhabitants

In 1509, the Saint-Barthélemy church was mentioned. In 1530, the Reformation was adopted.

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
Molinis was established as a Reformed parish in 1530. Church records begin in 1821. Earlier records can be found in Sankt Peter. The following volume is available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1821-1875

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

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