Canton Aargau, Switzerland Genealogy

Guide to Canton Aargau ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Getting Started
If you are new to Swiss research, you should watch this introductory course. Then study the articles on church records and civil registration, as almost all of your research will be in those two record groups.
 * Introduction to Swiss Research
 * Switzerland Civil Registration
 * Switzerland Church Records

History and Geography
The area of Aargau and the surrounding areas were controlled by the Helvetians, a member of the Celts, as far back as 200 BC, eventually being occupied by the Romans and then by the 6th century, the Franks. The Romans built a major settlement called Vindonissa, near the present location of Brugg. Bern as the Unteraargau, expanded north in 1514 into the Jura and so came into possession of several strategically important mountain passes into the Austrian Fricktal.This land was added to the Unteraargau and was directly ruled from Bern. At the time of Reformation, the majority of the Ämter converted to a new faith. In 1529, a wave of iconoclasm swept through the area and wiped away much of the old religion. After the defeat of Zürich in the second Battle of Kappel in 1531, the victorious five Catholic cantons marched their troops into the Freie Ämter and reconverted them to Catholicism. During the Helvetic Republic 1798–1803, the county of Baden, the Freie Ämter and the area known as the Kelleramt were combined into the canton of Baden. After the French invasion, on 19 March 1798, the governments of Zürich and Bern agreed to the creation of the short lived canton of Baden in the Helvetic Republic. With the Act of Mediation in 1803, the canton of Baden was dissolved and the contemporary canton of Aargau was formed in 1803. French forces occupied the Aargau from 10 March to 18 April 1798; thereafter the Bernese portion became the canton of Aargau and the remainder formed the canton of Baden.

Aargau (Wikipedia)

Regions
The Aargau consists of four former regions (sub-districts in brackets): The first three regions were predominantly Roman Catholic while the Unteraargau region was mostly Protestant. --Swiss Genealogy on the Internet
 * Freiamt (Muri, Bremgarten)
 * Fricktal (Laufenburg, Rheinfelden), once part of Vorderösterreich
 * Grafschaft Baden (Baden, Zurzach)
 * Unteraargau (Aarau, Brugg, Kulm, Lenzburg, Zofingen), formerly part of Bern

Municipalities in Aargau
The following is a list of the 210 municipalities of Canton Aargau as they exist today.



Reformed Parishes in Aargau
The following is a list of the Reformed parishes of Canton Aargau as they existed by 1870.

Catholic Parishes in Aargau
The following is a list of the Catholic parishes of Canton Aargau as they existed by 1870.

Compiled Genealogies

 * Aargau, Personal Pages on Family Surnames

Census Records Online
These records have a restriction for use only at a Family History Center near you.
 * 1837 Aargau Bevölkerungstabellen, 1837, images, no index.
 * 1850 Aargau Bevölkerungstabellen, 1850, images, no index

Emigration Records
These records have a restriction for use only at a Family History Center near you.
 * 1803-1840 Bevölkerungs und Auswanderungsakten, 1803-1840: Correspondence pertaining to the emigration of citizens of Kt. Aargau, Switzerland. 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. Includes population census statistics.

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in Canton Aargau in 1876. To understand the records available, read the Wiki article, Switzerland Civil Registration.
 * Addresses for Civil Registration (ZivilStandesamt) Offices (.pdf)

Civil Records (1746-1876)

 * 1746-1846 Zivilurkunden, 1746-1846: These records include notations on naturalization, emigration, citizenship, public assistance, disaster relief, court appeals, estate and orphan assistance. They are available in 40 microfilms, many of which are digitized and available online, Again, they have a restriction for use only at a Family History Center near you.

Church Records
For most of Aargau, records are not available online. Original church records are located in the local parish office. Church records before 1875 were microfilmed by and are only available onsite at the Aargau archive. Due to limited space, be sure to make an appointment before viewing the records at the archive.

FamilySearch has the following parishes available online:
 * Gontenschwil, both Reformed and Catholic parishes.
 * Laufenburg, 1596-1980
 * Würenlos, 1620-1875, includes Kempfhof, Oetlikon.
 * Zofingen, 1571-1867, includes Oftringen, Mühlethal, Vordemwald, Strengelbach, and Rümlisberg.

There are no indexes of church records.

For information on the coverage and content of church records, read Switzerland Church Records.

Writing for Church Records

 * Most research in Canton Aargau will have to be conducted by correspondence.
 * Find the address for your ancestors' parish in one of these lists. Look for the term "Kontakt" for mailing and e-mail addresses.:
 * Addresses for Reformed parishes
 * Addresses for Catholic parishes
 * You will be able to write your request in German with the help of the German Letter Writing Guide.
 * For major towns or cities: Swiss Genealogy on the Internet makes this claim (accessed April, 2018): "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."


 * Addresses for Civil Registration (ZivilStandesamt) Offices (.pdf)

Reading the Records

 * German Genealogical Word List
 * [[Media:Swiss_Genealogical_Word_List_approved.pdf|Swiss Dialect Genealogical Word List]]
 * German Paleography Seminar - Lessons on German Handwriting
 * Old German Script
 * Part 1
 * Part 2
 * Part 3 (German Church and Civil Records)

Search Strategy
This search strategy will help you determine what to write for. Limit tour requests to just one of these steps at a time. Once you have established that the parish is cooperative and perhaps more willing to do more extensive research (for a fee), you might be able to ask them for more at a time.
 * Search for the relative or ancestor you selected.
 * When you find his birth record, search for the births of his brothers and sisters.
 * Next, search for the marriage of his parents. The marriage record will have information that will often help you find the birth records of the parents.
 * You can estimate the ages of the parents and determine a birth year to search for their birth records.
 * Search the death registers for all known family members.
 * Repeat this process for both the father and the mother, starting with their birth records, then their siblings' births, then their parents' marriages, and so on.
 * If earlier generations (parents, grandparents, etc.) do not appear in the records, search neighboring parishes.

Census data
in progress 1837: Bezirk Aarau Aarau: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZP-Y		5 Muhen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZV-N		87 Suhr: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZL-P			112 Oberentfelden: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZN-2	141 Gränichen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZX-V 		167 Hirschthal: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZD-F 		225 Biberstein: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99Z8-P		237 Buchs: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZC-N		251 Erlinsbach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99Z8-8		271 Densbüren: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99Z3-M 		287 Küttigen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZW-K 		309 Rohr: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99Z9-5 (now part of Buchs?) - 343 Unterentfelden: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99Z9-L 	351

1837: Bezirk Baden Baden: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZM-K		368 Bellikon & Hausen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9982-7 	390 Bergdietikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998K-2 	394 Birmenstorf: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998K-Q 		401 Büblikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998K-D 		411 Dättwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998J-G 		417 Oberehrendingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998K-F 	421 Unterehrendingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998V-R 	427 Ennetbaden: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998K-Y		433 Fislisbach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998K-R 		439 Freienwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998N-2 		451 Gebenstorf: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998J-C 		457 Kempfhof: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998J-9 		471 Killwangen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998N-Z 		473 Künten & Sulz: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9986-M 	477 Mägenwil & Ekwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998Z-P 	483 Mellingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9986-C 		492 Neuenhof: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998X-8 		500 Oetlikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998J-3		505 Rohrdorf: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998D-Z 		507 Obersiggenthal: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998D-Z 	527 Untersiggenthal: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998C-5 	541 Spreitenbach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998Z-F 	555 Stetten: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998C-Q		565 Wettingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9988-3 		572 Wohlenschwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9984-H 	588 Würenlingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9987-S		595 Würenlos: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998Q-1 		612 1837: Bezirk Bremgarten Bremgarten: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998S-1		631 Nesselnbach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9983-5		645 Anglikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9983-N 		651 Arni & Islisberg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-9983-W 	658 Berikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998M-2		666 Büttikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZB-Y 		673 Dottikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998M-Q 		679 Eggenwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-998S-N 		691 Hägglingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZB-J		696 Hermetschwil & Staffeln: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99Z1-X 	727 Hilfikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZB-7		735 Jonen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-99ZT-6		739 Lieli: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNTH 			5 Oberlunkhofen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN1G	9 Unterlunkhofen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJ9N	15 Niederwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNT8		21 Oberwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN1S 		34 Rudolfstetten & Friedlisberg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNTV 	41 Sarmenstorf: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNTQ 		48 Zufikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNLK		63 Widen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN5V			70 Wohlen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNG8		75 Tägerig: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN2G		102 Uezwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNLB			121 Villmergen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNVH 		126 Fischbach & Göslikon: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNVP	141

1837: Bezirk Brugg Brugg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNJ5			152 Altenburg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNXY		167 Auenstein: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNFW		169 Birr: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNN5			183 Birrenlauf: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNXS		193 Birrhard: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNDN		197 Bözberg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNJ2		203 Bözen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNX2			216 Braunegg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN62		226 Effingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNF9		230 Elfingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNFX		238 Gallenkirch: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNXQ		242 Habsburg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN6J		245 Hausen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN81		247 Hottwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN8H		255 Lauffohr: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN8J		261 Linn: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN69			265 Lupfig: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNZ3			269 Mandach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNZH		277 Mönthal: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN8P		285 Mülligen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNZN		293 Oberflachs: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNZV		297 Rein: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN4L			305 Remigen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNZG		308 Rüfenach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNZC		316 Riniken: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNH7		318 Scherz: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNHN			320 Schinznach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNC7		326 Stilli: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN4X			343 Thalheim: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN3F		351 Umiken: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNQK		371 Veltheim: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNH3		375 Villigen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNW7		387 Villnachern: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNSC		399 Windisch: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNSQ		406

1837: Bezirk Kulm Reinach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SF11		428 Beinwil am See: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN98		457 Birrwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNMS		472 Burg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SF1W			485 Dürrenäsch: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNMQ		491 Gontenschweil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SFT5		503 Holziken: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJXD		530 Leimbach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJX9		535 Leutwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJD3			538 Menziken: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJD4		546 Oberkulm: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJ8Z		565 Schlossrued: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJZ3		584 Schmiedrued: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJCK		598 Schöftland: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJZ8		615 Teufenthal: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJCH		627 Unterkulm: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJH2		636 Zetzwil: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJWK			652

1837: Bezirk Laufenburg Laufenburg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJWK		670 Eiken: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJ7F			680 Etzgen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJ7S			697 Frick: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJ41			702 Gansingen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJSN		719 Gipf & Oberfrick: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJQW	736 Herznach: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SN1K		755 Hornussen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SJ3M		767 Ittenthal: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNRY		782 Kaisten: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNBP		787 Mettau: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNRF		803 Münchwilen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GY-SNPJ		809 Niederzeihen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GY-99LG-2	5