Lohn Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Lohn / Lon 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 Lohn (Romansh: Lon) is in the Schams sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the upper Schamserberg at an elevation of 1,582 meters (5,190 ft). The municipality of Lohn is a haufendorf (an unplanned and closely packed village that is built around a central square).

Lohn (as of 2006) has an area of 8.1 km² (3.1 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 56.5% - agricultural purposes
 * 35.0% - forested
 * 1.5% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 7.0% - non-productive

History
In mid-12th century, Lohn was first mentioned by the name of Laune and Lune. In 1219, it was mentioned as de Laone. Lohn (Romansh: Lon) is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Lohn became part of the Viamala Region.

Lohn merged into the Muntogna da Schons municipality on 1 January 2021. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Casti-Wergenstein
 * Donat
 * Mathon

The population history of Lohn is: 1780 - 126 inhabitants 1850 - 97 inhabitants 1900 - 75 inhabitants 1950 - 62 inhabitants 1980 - 36 inhabitants 1990 - 58 inhabitants 2000 - 50 inhabitants 2010 - 48 inhabitants 2018 - 46 inhabitants 2019 - 52 inhabitants 2020 - 53 inhabitants

Spiritually, Lohn separated from the Saint-Martin parish of Zillis gradually. In 1460, the Sainte-Marie chapel was created. In 1538, 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
Lohn was established as an independent church in 1538 when it became Reformed. Mathon separated from Lohn and became a separate parish in 1685. Church records begin in 1705. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1705-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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