Canton Aargau (AG)
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General Information
DEUTSCH / ENGLISH / FRANÇAIS
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Introduction
The Aargau is a canton comprising 1405 square kilometers in
north-central Switzerland, bordered on the north by Germany (state of Baden-Württemberg),
on the west by the cantons of Baselland, Solothurn and Bern, on the south by the canton of
Lucerne and on the east by the cantons of Zürich
and Zug. Its capital is at Aarau.
is taken
from this Switzerland map.
The Aargau consists of four former regions (sub-districts in
brackets):
- Freiamt (Muri, Bremgarten)
- Fricktal (Laufenburg, Rheinfelden), once part of Vorderösterreich
- Grafschaft Baden (Baden, Zurzach)
- Unteraargau (Aarau, Brugg, Kulm, Lenzburg, Zofingen),
formerly part of Bern
The first three regions were predominantly Roman Catholic
while the Unteraargau region was mostly Protestant.
See Districts and Parishes under
Genealogical Data.
Map with links to (almost) all communities anf their
history.
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Information
about the Kanton Aargau includes basic statistics: area,
population, capital.
Statistisches Amt des
Kantons Aargau (Statistical Office of Canton Aargau : in
German).
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(Note: see also the general
history of Switzerland)
Living in the present-day canton of Aargau during the last
centuries BC were the Gallic Raurics and Helvetians. After
conquest by Julius Caesar, this land became part of the province
of Upper Germania. Important towns in Roman Aargau were
Vindonissa (today Windisch) whose great amphitheater can still be
seen today, Confluentes (Koblenz), Tenedo (Zurzach) und Aquae
Helveticae (Baden).
In 259 AD the region was penetrated by Germanic tribesmen
called the Alemans who eventually came to settle the middle
territory from Lake Constance to the Aare River. Their
descendants were in turn overcome in 496 by Clovis and the
Franks, who annexed the region. Following the division of the
Frankish Carolingian empire in 843, this region was allotted to
the eastern, German kingdom. In the disorderly times which
followed, it became part of the kingdom of Burgundy and remained
so for much of the Middle Ages. Burgundy was a part of the Holy
Roman Empire, but due to its proximity to France and the Italian
Peninsula, often a rather independent-minded member.
The Aargau (Latin Argovia, also Araris pagus,
Arguna, Argogia or Argoya) first received its name in
763, deriving it from the river Aare which flows through its
heart. The first differentiation between Upper and Lower Aargau (Oberaargau
and Unteraargau respectively) came in 861. With the
expiration of its ruling houses, the Counts von Kiburg and von
Lenzburg, the Aargau, partly in 1173 and fully in 1264, came into
the control of the house of Habsburg. In 1415, the Swiss
Confederation managed to conquer the Lower Aargau, which
thenceforth went partly to Bern in the west and smaller parts to
Lucerne and Zurich in the east. The rest was subordinated to the
eight other cantons.
Fricktal consisted of the bailiwicks of
Rheinfelden (at that time consisting of the lands Fricktal
(proper), Rheintal und Möhlinbach) and Laufenburg and remained
under the Habsburgs until 1801.
The Reformation arrived in the Bern area in 1528.
In 1798 Switzerland was occupied by the forces of Napoleon's
France and became a French protectorate. In the same year, the
constitution of a new, unified Swiss Republic was proclaimed.
This gave rise to cantons of Aargau and Baden. Napoleon in 1803
proclaimed the so-called Mediation Act including a new
constitution by which Switzerland would be unified. The existing
cantons were joined by a few new ones, including the Aargau, to
which the Fricktal now belonged. It was in 1805 that the Aargau
became a sovereign canton of the Swiss Confederation. In 1814 the
young canton succeeded in defying the attempts of Bern to grab
its territory. As in some of the other cantons, the
constitutional revision of 1831 divested the aristocrats of their
former powers in the Aargau.
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There is no Aargau genealogical society. Depending on the area
in Aargau genealogists are likely to join:
You are further invited to discuss your questions with other researchers
interested in canton Aargau on the "Genealogieforum Aargau"
(dialogue in German
or French).
The archive is open to visitors to read; in order to be able to respond or start
a new thread, however, registration (free of charge) is required. When posting,
please, keep in mind that only topics related to Aargau should be placed
here; for topics related to other regions, please, change to the corresponding
canton or to the forum for Switzerland in general (dialogue in German
or French).
- Historische
Gesellschaft des Kantons Aargau
- Historische Vereinigung Wynental
(Beinwil am See, Beromünster LU, Birrwil, Burg, Dürrenäsch,
Gontenschwil,G ränichen, Leimbach, Leutwil, Menziken, Neudorf LU,
Oberkulm, Pfeffikon, Reinach, Rickenbach LU, Schlossrued, Schwarzenbach
LU, Suhr, Teufenthal, Unterkulm, Walde, Zetzwil)
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Staatsarchiv
des Kantons Aargau (in German only)
Entfelderstr. 22
CH - 5001 Aarau
Register of
libraries and archives in Canton Aargau.
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1. Official Home Page of
Canton
2. Home Pages of Tourist Offices and the like:
3. Private Pages on Canton:
Der
Aargau - Fenster zur Welt : (mostly in German) written by
students of "Diplommittelschule Wettingen" during a
history competition "Der Kanton Aargau auf dem Weg zu
seinem 200. Geburtstag" (Canton Aargau on it's way to
the 200th anniversary).
- Concept
: Why was emigration chosen as subject, and how was
is approached.
- Historical
aspects : deals with (amongst other subjects)
every day live during the 19th century and reasons
for emigration; bibliography.
- Biographies
: Starting from clear maps of the Aargau districts
information on selected emigrants is available : the
students had been in touch with them or their
descendants.
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1. Family Pages
2. Sources
- Parish Records:
Before 1746, the responsibility for keeping vital records
in the Aargau was with the parishes. Unlike the situation
in so many other countries (even including some in
Eastern Europe) where the Family History Library has been
able to film complete parish records, in the Aargau
parish records have been filmed by the FHL for only the
ten parishes listed with a "(P)" below. The FHL
has tried to photograph these records for microfilm, but
the request has been denied by the Aargau state archives.
Other parish records of sorts -- records of Memorial
Masses, mostly in the period 1400-1500 -- have been
filmed in eleven cases and are designated
"(MM)" below. The only remaining example of
microfilmed church records in the Aargau are those of
Austrian Army deaths in Klingnau during the period
1813-14.
If you are not fortunate enough to be researching one
of the parishes where records have been filmed, you need
to know that the parish records have been transferred to
the Zivilstandsamt of each major town or city. Writing to
these civil clerk's offices will be of no use, however.
They may claim (falsely) that they are by law not
authorized to release the information and that they are
unable to read the old script in which the church records
are written.
Whatever the case, the reality is that one's only
options are either to hire a researcher or to visit the
Zivilstandsamt oneself. If you want to attempt the
latter, be aware that you first need to acquire a permit
from the Interior Department of the government of the
canton of Aargau. To apply, state your case by writing
(in German) to
Departement des Innern des Kantons Aargau
CH-5001 Aarau
SWITZERLAND
If your request is approved, the department will
communicate the amount of the fee needed to acquire the
permit, usually approximately 50 Swiss Francs.
- Civil Records:
The responsibility for vital records in Canton Aargau was
taken over by civil authorities in 1746. The data for the
period 1746-1876 is available in the
Zivilstandsregister
which resides at the Staatsarchiv des Kantons Aargau (in
Aaarau) and has been microfilmed by the FHL in 39 films
(1714255 Items 11-13, 1705770 Item 3, 1705771, 1705772, 1706295 - 1706300, 1706370 - 1706376,
1706383 - 1706388, 1706655 - 1706660, 1712904 - 1712913, 1713055 Item 1).
These records include notations on naturalization,
emigration, citizenship, public assistance, disaster
relief, court appeals, estate and orphan assistance. Each
volume is preceded by a surname index.
- Other Records:
- Census:
-
Bevölkerungstabellen, 1837
The census of 1837 is available on four
FHL microfilms
(1692519,1705871 - 1705873). It is arranged by house
number for each town, the towns being
listed in alphabetical order by district.
The census records include surnames,
given names, gender, places of
citizenship and origin.
-
Bevölkerungstabellen, 1850
The census of 1850 is available on seven
FHL microfilms
(1705874 - 1705880). Its arrangement and type
of content are identical to that of 1837.
-
Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche, Synode
Zürich 1633-1767
The Population Registers of the Zürich
Synod Reformed Churches for 1633-1767 are
available on 42 FHL microfilms, filmed
from the Zürich Staatsarchiv in 1971
(1185139 - 1185180).
It includes towns in Zürich, Thurgau and
St. Gallen plus a few towns in Aargau,
Schaffhausen and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.
There is also an alphabetical list of villages
on microfilm
1181849 Item 72
or microfiche
6001309
[note: this is classified as census data
by the FHL]
- Emigration:
-
Bevölkerungs und Auswanderungsakten, 1803-1840
Correspondence pertaining to the emigration of
citizens of kanton Aargau. Each set of documents
is preceded by an alphabetical index, arranged by
surname or subject, supplying a summary of each
document. Includes some passenger lists and
population census statistics. These records are found on
3 microfilms
(1705900, 1705769, 1705770).
[note: this data is listed as "Emigration and immigration" and also "Population" by the FHL]
By Location:
[Use SwissGen's link to the LDS microfilmed villages to find the villages listed below]
(P) = FHL Parish microfilms exist
(MM) = FHL Memorial Mass records (1400-1500) exist
- Aarau
Aarau, Biberstein, Buchs, Densbüren, Erlinsbach,
Gränichen, Hirschthal, Küttigen, Muhen, Oberentfelden,
Rohr, Suhr, Unterentfelden
- Baden
Baden (MM), Bellikon, Bergdietikon, Birmenstorf,
Ennetbaden, Fislisbach, Freienwil, Gebenstorf,
Killwangen, Künten, Mägenwil, Mellingen, Neuenhof,
Nieder-Rohrdorf, Ober-Ehrendingen, Ober-Rohrdorf,
Obersiggenthal, Remetschwil, Spreitenbach, Stetten,
Turgi, Unter-Ehrendingen, Untersiggenthal, Wettingen
(MM), Wohlenschwil (incl. Büblikon), Würenlingen,
Würenlos (incl. Kempfhof, Oetlikon) (P)
- Bremgarten
Arni, Berikon, Bremgarten, Büttikon, Dottikon, Eggenwil,
Fischbach-Göslikon, Hägglingen, Hermetschwil (MM),
Hilfikon, Islisberg, Jonen, Niederwil (P),
Ober-Lunkhofen, Oberwil-Lieli, Rudolfstetten,
Sarmenstorf, Tägerig, Uezwil, Unter-Lunkhofen,
Villmergen, Widen, Wohlen (incl. Anglikon), Zufikon
- Brugg
Auenstein, Birr, Birrhard, Bözen, Brugg (incl. Lauffohr)
(MM), Effingen, Elfingen, Gallenkirch, Habsburg, Hausen,
Hottwil, Linn, Lupfig, Mandach, Mönthal, Mülligen,
Oberbözberg, Oberflachs, Remigen, Riniken, Rüfenach,
Scherz, Schinznach-Dorf, Stilli, Thalheim, Umiken,
Unterbözberg, Veltheim, Villigen, Villnachem, Wil,
Windisch
- Kulm
Beinwil a S., Birrwil, Burg, Dürrenäsch, Gontenschwil
(P) (MM), Holziken, Leimbach, Leutwil, Menziken, Oberkulm, Reinach, Schlossrued (P), Schmiedrued,
Schöftland, Teufenthal, Unterkulm, Zetzwil
- Laufenburg
Eiken, Etzgen, Frick (MM), Gansingen, Gipf-Oberfrick,
Herznach (MM), Hornussen, Ittenthal, Kaisten, Laufenburg
(P), Mettau, Münchwilen, Oberhof, Oberhofen, Oeschgen,
Schwaderloch, Sisseln, Sulz, Ueken, Wil bei Etzgen,
Wittnau, Wölfinswil, Zeihen
- Lenzburg
Ammerswil, Boniswil, Brunegg, Dintikon, Egliswil,
Fahrwangen, Hallwil, Hendschiken, Holderbank,
Hunzenschwil, Lenzburg, Meisterschwanden,
Möriken-Wildegg, Niederlenz, Othmarsingen, Rupperswil,
Schafisheim, Seengen, Seon, Staufen
- Muri
Abtwil, Aristau, Auw, Beinwil-Freiamt, Benzenschwil,
Besenbüren, Bettwil, Boswil, Bünzen (incl.
Waldhäusern), Buttwil, Dietwil, Geltwil, Kallern, Merenschwand, Mühlau, Muri (MM),
Oberrüti (MM), Rottenschwil, Sins (incl. Meienberg),
Waltenschwil
- Rheinfelden
Hellikon, Kaiseraugst, Magden, Möhlin, Mumpf,
Obermumpf, Olsberg, Rheinfelden (MM), Schupfart, Stein,
Wallbach, Wegenstetten, Zeiningen, Zuzgen
- Zofingen
Aarburg, Attelwil, Bottenwil, Brittnau, Kirchleerau,
Kölliken, Mooslerau, Mühlethal (P), Murgenthal (incl.
Balzenwil, Riken), Oftringen (P), Reitnau, Rothrist,
Safenwil, Staffelbach (incl. Wittwil), Strengelbach (P),
Uerkheim, Vordemwald (P), Wiliberg, Zofingen (P)
- Zurzach
Baldingen, Böbikon, Böttstein, Döttingen Endingen,
Fisibach, Full-Reuenthal, Kaiserstuhl, Klingnau, Koblenz,
Leibstadt, Lengnau, Leuggern, Mellikon, Rekingen,
Rietheim, Rümikon, Schneisingen, Siglistorf,
Tegerfelden, Unterendingen, Wislikofen, Zurzach (MM)
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- Bibliographies:
- Oehler, Robert Georg (1897-1983), Verzeichnis
der Pfarrbücher des Kantons Aargau,
Wallimann 1972, Beromünster, 16 pages.
Veröffentlichungen der Schweizerischen
Gesellschaft für Familienforschung, Reihe 2, H.
7 [Parish Register Inventory of Canton Aargau]
- Bibliography
Christian Heilmann
- Regesta
Imperii
- Historical:
- Pfister, Willy, Die Gefangenen und
Hingerichteten im bernischen Aargau / Die Justiz
des 16. bis 18. Jahrhunderts, Aarau 1993.
[Prisoners and Defendants in the Bern part of the
Aargau / Justice in the 16th - 18th Centuries]
- Seiler, Christophe and Andreas Steigmeier, Geschichte
des Aargaus / Illustrierter Überblick von der
Urzeit bis zur Gegenwart, Aarau 1991, AT
Verlag. [History of the Aargau / Illustrated
Overview of the Earliest Times to the Present]
- Genealogical:
- Richner Raoul: Verzeichnis der Kirchenbücher im Aargau
(in 2 Bänden). SGFF-Arbeitshilfen
Nr.11 (2006)
- Boner, Georg
- "Hauptzüge der Geschichte des
aargauischen Staatsarchivs" in Argovia,
91, 1979. [Highlights in the History of
the Aaargau State Archive]
- Die Urkunden des Stiftsarchivs
Zofingen, Aargauer Urkunden, Bd.
10, Aarau 1945 [Records at the Zofingen
Archive]
- Die Urkunden von Stadt und Amt
Aarburg, Aargauer Urkunden, Bd.
15, Aarau 1965 [Records at the Aarburg
City and Office]
- Egloff, Anton, Anniversariorum Liber I.
Parochiae Frick (Fricker Jahrzeitbuch),
Gipf-Oberfrick 1987 [Anniversary Book I of the
Parish of Frick (Frick Annual) covers 239 years
from the second quarter of the 14th century to
the beginning of the 16th century; available from
the Gipf-Oberfrick community office (Gemeindekanzlei)]
- Kläui, Paul
- Die Urkunden des Klosterarchivs
Hermetschwil, Aargauer Urkunden,
Bd. 11, Aarau 1946 [Records at the
Monastic Archive of Hermetschwil]
- Die Urkunden des Klosters
Gnadenthal, Aargauer Urkunden, Bd.
12, Aarau 1950 [Records at the Monastery
of Gnadenthal]
- Merz, Walther
- Repertorium des Aargauischen
Staatsarchivs Inventare
Aargauischer Archive. Erster Teil
(Mittelalter bis 1803), 2 Bde., Aarau
1935 [Repertory of the Aargau State
Archive]
-
Inventare der Stadtarchiven Aargau
Aarau : Sauerländer, 1915 [Inventories of city archives in Canton Aargau, Switzerland. Also on microfilm
(1045454 Item 7)]
-
Die Burgen des Sisgaus
Aarau : H. R. Sauerländer, 1909-1914, 4 Bde.
[History of the castle ruins of Kts. Aargau,
Baselland, and Basel, Switzerland, and their
former inhabitants, including genealogical
information. This region was known in medieval
times as Sisgau. Arrangement is alphabetical
by fortress site. Includes indexes. On microfilm
(1183723 Items 2-5)]
- Die Urkunden des Schlossarchivs
Wildegg, Aargauer Urkunden, Bd. 2,
Aarau 1931 [Records at the Castle Archive
of Wildegg]
-
Wappenbuch der Stadt Baden und Bürgerbuch, Aarau 1920. [Crests
of the City of Baden and Bürgerbuch along with some pedigrees. On microfilm
(1181807 Item 5)]
- Matt-Willmatt, Hubert & Werner Fasolin:
"Auswanderung aus dem Fricktal und dem
Hotzenwald ins Banat," in: Regio-Familienforscher,
Jahrg. 3, Nr. 2 (1990), S. 24-46, 114
Auswanderernamen. [Emigration from Fricktal and
the Hotzenwald to the Banat]
- Schellenberg Albert,
Family Urech of
Niederhallwil, Aargau, Switzerland (1498-1949), 1950.
[The book is available on microfilm
(128081)
and may be ordered at your local FHC. See index of surnames in the book]
- Welti, Friedrich Emil
- Die Urkunden des Stadtarchivs
Rheinfelden, Aargauer Urkunden,
Bd. 3, Aarau 1933 [Records at the
Municipal Archive of Rheinfelden]
- Die Urkunden der Johanniterkommende
Rheinfelden und die Rheinfelder Urkunden
des Deutschordenshauses Altshausen,
Aargauer Urkunden, Bd. 4, Aarau 1933
[Records of the Johanniter Generation of
Rheinfelden and the Rheinfelden Records
of the German Religious Houses of
Altshausen]
- Die Urkunden des Stifts St. Martin
in Rheinfelden, Aargauer Urkunden,
Bd. 5, Aarau 1935 [Records at the Office
of St. Martin Rheinfelden]
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This page is maintained by Elisabeth Huber-Brun. /
Last updated 28 February 2007(wws).
Tomas Edlund (state of FHL records), Helmut Flacker (history)
and Rick Heli have contributed to this page.
Please forward any comments and/or additions to this webpage
to the WebMasterCH.