Lantsch/Lenz Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Lantsch/Lenz 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
Lantsch/Lenz is a municipality in the Albula Region in the canton of Graubünden. Until 2017, the municipality was situated in the Belfort sub-district of the Albula district, after 2017 it was part of the Albula Region. Located at an elevation of 1,294 m (4,245 ft) on a terrace above the right side of the Albula river, it includes the linear village of Lantsch/Lenz. Lantsch/Lenz was known as Lenz until 1943. Lantsch/Lenz (as of 2006) had an area of 21.8 km2 (8.4 sq mi). The land use was divided up as follows:
 * 27% - agricultural purposes
 * 34.4% - forested
 * 3.8% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 34.8% - unproductive land

History
In 850, Lantsch/Lenz was first mentioned by the name of Lanzes. The Lantsch/Lenz municipality is in the Graubünden canton.

The population history of Lantsch/Lenz is: 1710 - 215 inhabitants 1850 - 353 inhabitants 1900 - 363 inhabitants 1950 - 355 inhabitants 1960 - 366 inhabitants 1970 - 373 inhabitants 1980 - 382 inhabitants 1990 - 453 inhabitants 2000 - 485 inhabitants 2020 - 560 inhabitants

The chapel of Saint-Cassien, on the road to Lenzerheide, is recorded in 1405. The current Catholic parish of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, constructed in 1656 by the Capuchins, was dedicated in 1663.

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 Lantsch/Lenz has existed since Medieval times. Church records begin in 1628. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages 1628-1704; burials 1642-1704; confirmations 1677-1688
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1705-1777
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1777-1837; confirmations 1788-1835
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials confirmations 1838-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Lantsch/Lenz:
 * 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 Lantsch/Lenz 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)