Switzerland Wiki Topics
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Switzerland Background
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Moderator

The FamilySearch moderator for Switzerland is Daniel Jones.

Getting Started

Time Coverage

The time periods of the census range from 1634-1750. There will be different years available for different communities. 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] The first federal census was dated from April 1836 to February 1838 and was very incomplete.  In 1841 a more general census was taken; 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.  These records are in the state archives.  Information included would be names of family members, sevants, ages and occupation.

Online Records

Aargau

Fribourg

Zürich

Population or census registers of the Reformed Parishes in the Synod of Zürich, Switzerland. Names, ages, and sometimes baptism dates are shown for members of households. Includes some registers for Anabaptists, Catholics, and others. Includes towns now in the Cantons of Zürich, Thurgau, and Sankt Gallen, with a few in the Cantons of Aargau, Schaffhausen, and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.

References

  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.