Switzerland Census: Difference between revisions

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==Time Coverage: Canton Censuses==
==Time Coverage: Canton Censuses==
The time periods of the census range from 1634-1750. There will be different years available for different communities.  
Each canton was responsible for enumerating its own people. Prior to 1798, most cantons, particularly in eastern and southern Switzerland, did not conduct censuses. After 1815, most cantons set up some form of census until the federal census was fully established in 1850.


*The first city census was taken in the city of Bern in 1764. They were taken at 15 year intervals from 1811 to 1850, at 10 year intervals since 1850.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Switzerland,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984-1998.</ref>
*1634-1767 Zürich religious census: census registers of the Reformed parishes of the Zürich Synod, covering areas in present-day Zürich, Thurgau, and Sankt Gallen, as well as a few villages in Aargau, Schaffhausen, and Appenzell Ausserrhoden.
*The first federal census was dated from April 1836 to February 1838 and was very incomplete.&nbsp;
*1764 Bern City census: The first city census was taken in the city of Bern in 1764. They were taken at 15 year intervals from 1811 to 1850, at 10 year intervals since 1850.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Switzerland,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984-1998.</ref>
*In 1841 a more general census was taken.
*1798 Census, Men of Bern: Transcription of the register of male citizens ages 20 to 69 of the Canton of Bern who took oaths of allegiance in 1798. [https://www.worldcat.org/title/43403633 Search for a copy near you.]
*In 1850 the census took account only of the population with rights of residence and not those actually present.
*In 1860 the census information was more complete and it was improved in 1870 and 1880.


==Time Coverage: Federal Censuses==
==Time Coverage: Federal Censuses==

Revision as of 22:52, 24 August 2022

Switzerland Wiki Topics
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Switzerland Background
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Moderator

The FamilySearch moderator for Switzerland is Daniel Jones.

Getting Started[edit | edit source]

Time Coverage: Canton Censuses[edit | edit source]

Each canton was responsible for enumerating its own people. Prior to 1798, most cantons, particularly in eastern and southern Switzerland, did not conduct censuses. After 1815, most cantons set up some form of census until the federal census was fully established in 1850.

  • 1634-1767 Zürich religious census: census registers of the Reformed parishes of the Zürich Synod, covering areas in present-day Zürich, Thurgau, and Sankt Gallen, as well as a few villages in Aargau, Schaffhausen, and Appenzell Ausserrhoden.
  • 1764 Bern City census: The first city census was taken in the city of Bern in 1764. They were taken at 15 year intervals from 1811 to 1850, at 10 year intervals since 1850.[1]
  • 1798 Census, Men of Bern: Transcription of the register of male citizens ages 20 to 69 of the Canton of Bern who took oaths of allegiance in 1798. Search for a copy near you.

Time Coverage: Federal Censuses[edit | edit source]

  • 1798: Helvetic census; first census covering all of Switzerland, intended to provide the basis for the reform of the country's territorial boundaries.
  • 1836-1838: Federally mandated census to adjust military quotas per canton as well as monetary contributions for national defense. This census took two years to complete, meaning that there may be double counting and gaps in the collection.
  • March 1850: First Federal census, recording detailed information about every resident
  • December 1860: Second Federal Census
  • December 1870: Third Federal Census
  • December 1880: Fourth Federal Census
  • 1888: Federal census, used as the basis for the revision of the constituency division
  • December 1890: Fifth Federal Census
  • December 1900: Sixth Federal Census
  • December 1910: Seventh Federal Census
  • December 1920: Eighth Federal Census
  • December 1930: Ninth Federal Census
  • December 1940: Tenth Federal Census
  • 1941: Military mobilization of May 1940
  • December 1950: Eleventh Federal Census
  • December 1960: Twelfth Federal Census
  • December 1970: Thirteenth Federal Census
  • December 1980: Fourteenth Federal Census
  • December 1990: Fifteenth Federal Census. First census that was geocoded to the hectare level.
  • December 2000: Sixteenth Federal Census. First census primarily cared out by post and via the Internet
  • 2010 onward: Census is no longer enumerated, but is based on an annual register survey from existing data from cantonal and communal registers of residents.[2]

Information in the Census[edit | edit source]

Information varies by canton and year of census. It can include:

  • names of each family member, including boarders and servants
  • age and sometimes birth or baptism date
  • place of citizenship
  • place of residence
  • occupation
  • religion
  • civil status
  • duration of residence

Online Records[edit | edit source]

Aargau[edit | edit source]

Appenzell Ausserrhoden[edit | edit source]

  • 1634-1711 (partial coverage). The Zürich census covers part of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden. It is organized by parish and year. A more detailed article about the Zürich census can be found here.

To see what records are available for your parish, look for the parish page in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. For an example, see here.

Basel-Landschaft[edit | edit source]

Basel-Stadt[edit | edit source]

Fribourg[edit | edit source]

Genève[edit | edit source]

Graubünden[edit | edit source]

Ticino[edit | edit source]

Valais[edit | edit source]

Zürich[edit | edit source]

The Zürich census is organized by parish and year. A more detailed article about the Zürich census can be found here.

To see what records are available for your parish, look for the parish page in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. For an example, see here.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Switzerland,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984-1998.
  2. Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, "Volkszählungen" (https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007984/2013-07-30/ : accessed 24 August 2022)