Peist Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Peist 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 Peist is in the Schanfigg sub-district of the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the northern slope of the mid-Schangigg. The municipality of Peist consists of the linear village of Peist.

Peist (prior to 2013) has an area of 17.9 km² (6.9 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 57.0% - agricultural purposes
 * 35.7% - forested
 * 1.6% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 5.7% - non-productive

History
In 1084, Peist was first mentioned by the name of de Paiste. Peist is in the Plessur district and the Graubünden canton.

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

The population history of Peist is: 1780 - 312 inhabitants 1850 - 236 inhabitants 1900 - 160 inhabitants 1950 - 180 inhabitants 2000 - 229 inhabitants 2010 - 209 inhabitants

In 1149, the Saint-Lucius de Coire abbey was mentioned. In 1478, the church of Saints-Calixte-et-Florin was mentioned. In 1530, Peist adopted the Reformation.

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
Peist belonged to the parish of Sankt Peter until it became Reformed in 1530. Church records begin in 1720. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1720-1833
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1833-1875
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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