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Switzerland Church Records: Difference between revisions
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removed link to list of causes of death in German and English. The linked page was taken down because of the EU privacy regulations; the organization didn't want to spend the time to review their thousands of pages.
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''For information about records for non-Christian religions in Switzerland, go to the [[Switzerland Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.'' | ''For information about records for non-Christian religions in Switzerland, go to the [[Switzerland Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.'' | ||
==Online Records== | ==Online Records== | ||
*'''1491-1940''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30090/switzerland-baptisms-1491-1940 Switzerland, Baptisms, 1491-1940] at MyHeritage - index ($) | *'''1491-1940''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30090/switzerland-baptisms-1491-1940 Switzerland, Baptisms, 1491-1940] at MyHeritage - index ($) | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Church records (parish registers, church books) are an important source for genealogical research in Switzerland before civil registration began. They recorded details of baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The vast majority of the population was mentioned. In addition, church records can contain financial account books (they record charges for toll bells, fees for masses for the dead, and so on), lists of confirmation, penance register, communion lists, lists of members and family books. | Church records (parish registers, church books) are an important source for genealogical research in Switzerland before civil registration began. They recorded details of baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The vast majority of the population was mentioned. In addition, church records can contain financial account books (they record charges for toll bells, fees for masses for the dead, and so on), lists of confirmation, penance register, communion lists, lists of members and family books. | ||
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[[Image:Switzerland_religions.png|right|600px]] | [[Image:Switzerland_religions.png|right|600px]] | ||
====Major Denominations==== | ====Major Denominations==== | ||
*<span style="color:#87B940>'''Reformed''' (''Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche / église réformée'')</span>: The earliest Reformed churches began recording baptisms around 1520. Because it took decades for the Reformation to spread across Switzerland in the 1500s, commencement dates may vary. By 1650 most Reformed parishes began keeping records. See the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Reformed_Church Wikipedia article] for more information. | |||
*<span style="color:#F16458>'''Roman Catholic''' (''Römisch-katholische Kirche / église catholique / chiesa cattolica'')</span>: Catholic parish records were mandated by the Council of Trent in 1563, though commencement dates may vary. See the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Switzerland Wikipedia article] for more information. | *<span style="color:#87B940">'''Reformed''' (''Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche / église réformée'')</span>: The earliest Reformed churches began recording baptisms around 1520. Because it took decades for the Reformation to spread across Switzerland in the 1500s, commencement dates may vary. By 1650 most Reformed parishes began keeping records. See the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Reformed_Church Wikipedia article] for more information. | ||
*<span style="color:#F16458">'''Roman Catholic''' (''Römisch-katholische Kirche / église catholique / chiesa cattolica'')</span>: Catholic parish records were mandated by the Council of Trent in 1563, though commencement dates may vary. See the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Switzerland Wikipedia article] for more information. | |||
====Other Denominations==== | ====Other Denominations==== | ||
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==Information in Church Records== | ==Information in Church Records== | ||
===Baptisms (''Taufen / baptêmes'') === | ===Baptisms (''Taufen / baptêmes'')=== | ||
Children were usually baptized a few days after birth. Because a birth meant that a new citizen was born (even if the family were not local citizens), baptism books were usually very specific in identifying places of citizenship for children. In some areas, separate sections or even separate books were kept to separate these entries from local citizens. Depending on your parish, you may find the following types of baptism books: | Children were usually baptized a few days after birth. Because a birth meant that a new citizen was born (even if the family were not local citizens), baptism books were usually very specific in identifying places of citizenship for children. In some areas, separate sections or even separate books were kept to separate these entries from local citizens. Depending on your parish, you may find the following types of baptism books: | ||
*Baptism register (''Taufbuch / baptêmes''): Baptisms of residents. This is a generic baptism book that may include the other types of baptisms. | *Baptism register (''Taufbuch / baptêmes''): Baptisms of residents. This is a generic baptism book that may include the other types of baptisms. | ||
*Baptism register, citizen residents (''Taufbuch Bürger / baptêmes des citoyens''): Baptism book that only includes residents of the parish who '''are''' citizens of the parish. | *Baptism register, citizen residents (''Taufbuch Bürger / baptêmes des citoyens''): Baptism book that only includes residents of the parish who '''are''' citizens of the parish. | ||
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*the deceased's age | *the deceased's age | ||
*place of residence | *place of residence | ||
*cause of death | *cause of death | ||
*spouse's name | *spouse's name | ||
*the names of survivors | *the names of survivors | ||
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[[Image:Switzerland_church_records_online.png|right|500px]] | [[Image:Switzerland_church_records_online.png|right|500px]] | ||
This map shows which records for Switzerland are available outside of the Swiss archives: | This map shows which records for Switzerland are available outside of the Swiss archives: | ||
*<span style="color:#87B940>'''dark green'''</span>: records are available online, either at FamilySearch or at the canton archive website | |||
*<span style="color:#BFD730>'''light green'''</span>: some records are available online at FamilySearch | *<span style="color:#87B940">'''dark green'''</span>: records are available online, either at FamilySearch or at the canton archive website | ||
*<span style="color:#9C947A>'''brown'''</span>: records are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah | *<span style="color:#BFD730">'''light green'''</span>: some records are available online at FamilySearch | ||
*<span style="color:#9C947A">'''brown'''</span>: records are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah | |||
*'''white''': records are only available on-site in Switzerland | *'''white''': records are only available on-site in Switzerland | ||
====Church Records by Canton==== | ====Church Records by Canton==== | ||
*[[Aargau_Canton,_Switzerland_Genealogy#Church_Records|Aargau ('''AG''')]] | *[[Aargau_Canton,_Switzerland_Genealogy#Church_Records|Aargau ('''AG''')]] | ||
*[[Appenzell_Ausserrhoden_Canton,_Switzerland_Genealogy#Church_Records|Appenzell Ausserrhoden ('''AR''')]] | *[[Appenzell_Ausserrhoden_Canton,_Switzerland_Genealogy#Church_Records|Appenzell Ausserrhoden ('''AR''')]] | ||