Rodels, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Rodels / Roten 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 Rodels (Romansh: Roten) is in the Domleschg sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located above the Hinterrhein river on a low terrace and consists of a haufendorf (unplanned, closely packed village) that is linear in shape. It included the Nueins hamlet. Rodels (prior to 2015) has an area of 1.7 km² (0.66 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 52.4% - agricultural purposes
 * 31.5% - forested
 * 11.3% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 4.8% - non-productive

History
In mid 12th century, Rodels was first mentioned by the name of ad Rautine. Rodels (Romansh: Roten) is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. Rodels merged into the Domleschg municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Almens
 * Paspels
 * Pratval
 * Tomils

The population history of Rodels is: 1803 - 106 inhabitants 1850 - 135 inhabitants 1900 - 147 inhabitants 1950 - 178 inhabitants 1970 - 152 inhabitants 1980 - 155 inhabitants 2000 - 281 inhabitants 2013 - 267 inhabitants

In the 12th century, Rodels belonged to the cathedral chapter of Chur. Spiritually, Rodels was part of the Saint-Laurent chapel in Paspels. In 1697, the church of Saints Christopher and Jacques le Majeur was erected as a parish church.

Church Records
Rodels is part of the parish of Almens. See Almens for more information.

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

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