Urmein Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Urmein / Urmagn 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 Urmein (Romansh: Urmagn) is in the Viamala Region and the Graubünden canton. It includes the haufendorf (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) village of Urmein in the inner Heinzenberg mountains at an elevation of 1,264 m (4,147 ft).

Urmein (as of 2006) has an area of 4.4 km² (1.7 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 46.9% - agricultural purposes
 * 39.5% - forested
 * 5.7% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 7.8% - non-productive

History
In 1156, Urmein was first mentioned by the name of Hof de Ormen. Before 2017, Urmein (Romansh: Urmagn) was in the Thusis sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Urmein became part of the Viamala Region.

The population history of Urmein is: 1803 - 158 inhabitants 1850 - 133 inhabitants 1900 - 89 inhabitants 1950 - 90 inhabitants 2000 - 81 inhabitants 2020 - 150 inhabitants

The Reformation was adopted in 1530-40. In 1670, Urmein broke away with Flerden from Portein; the church was built in 1720-22. Urmein has been its own parish since 1725.

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
The parish of Urmein was established in 1670, when it became independent from Sarn. Church records begin in 1725. Earlier records may perhaps be found in Sarn. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1725-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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