Domat/Ems Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Domat/Ems 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 Domat/Ems is in the Imboden Region and in the Graubünden canton. Before 2017, the municipality was situated in the Rhäzüns sub-district, of the Imboden district, after 2017 it was part of the Imboden Region. It is located on the right bank of the Rhine river. Domat/Ems was known as Ems until 1943. Domat/Ems (as of 2006) had an area of 24.2 km2 (9.3 sq mi). The land use was divided up as follows:
 * 27.7% - agricultural purposes
 * 53.8% - forested
 * 12.2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 6.4% - unproductive land

History
In 765, Domat/Ems was first mentioned by the name of colonia de Amede. The Domat/Ems municipality is in the Graubünden canton.

The population history of Domat/Ems is: 1850 - 1,247 inhabitants 1900 - 1,504 inhabitants 1941 - 1,955 inhabitants 1960 - 3,469 inhabitants 1970 - 5,701 inhabitants 1990 - 6,442 inhabitants 2000 - 6,372 inhabitants 2020 - 8,161 inhabitants

Per the 2000 census:
 * 63.7% were Roman Catholic
 * 20.2% were Swiss Reformed Church
 * 2.62% were Orthodox Church
 * 0.85% were another Christian church
 * 4.79% were Islamic

During the Reformation, Domat/Ems remained with the old faith. In 1739, the new parish church of Nossa Dunna d'Avuost/Assumption of the Virgin Mary was dedicated in the village center. The village burned down almost completely in 1776, with other fires in 1800, 1870, and 1903.

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
The parish of Domat/Ems is ancient. Church records begin in 1692. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:


 * Baptisms 1692-1837; marriages 1730-1837; confirmations 1802-1835
 * Baptisms 1838-1876; burials 1776-1837; confirmations 1870-1877
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875
 * Parish history 1876

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Domat/Ems:
 * 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 Domat/Ems 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)