Schwellbrunn Parish, Appenzell, Switzerland Genealogy

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Geography
Schwellbrunn is located on a hill above Degersheim and Herisau. It has an area of 17.4 square kilometers (6.7 square miles). The area is used thusly:

61.5% agriculture 33.3% forest 5.1% settlement 0.1% non-productive

Click for a geographical map of Appenzell, including Schwellbrunn.

History
Schwellbrunn was first mentioned in 1268 as Schwellbrunnen. In 1649, it becane an independent parish, separating from Herisau. The population was 1,012 in 1667. By 1794, the population had reached its zenith at 2,436, falling to 2,254 by 1850 and 1,888 by 1900.

Surrounding Parishes
Click for a map showing Schwellbrunn in relationship to the rest of Canton Appenzell.

Degersheim (Sankt Gallen) Herisau Mogelsberg (Sankt Gallen) Sankt Peterzell (Sankt Gallen) Schönengrund Urnäsch Waldstatt

Church Records
The parish records for Schwellbrunn are now available online from the Appenzell State Archives. They are organized by volume. Click here to access these records.

The parish of Schwellbrunn was established as an independent church parish in 1649 from the parish of Herisau. Records prior to 1649 are extracts from the Herisau registers. Records held at the Family History Library include baptisms (Taufen) 1583-1650 and 1662-1878, confirmations (Konfirmanden) 1777-1830, marriages (Heiraten) 1583-1878, and deaths (Tote) 1648-1771 and 1778-1879.

The following family books (Familienbuch) were established for Schwellbrunn, and are held at the Cantonal Archive in Herisau:

Volume 1 (1667) - household visitation book (found in the archive under Altes Archiv 51.1) Volume 2 (1675) - household roll Volume 3 (1766) - household roll Volume 4 (1700-1800) - family register of citizens Volume 5 (19th century) - family register of citizens

Genealogies
(see here for article describing Swiss compiled genealogies)

The following genealogies have been researched for Schwellbrunn families:

Alder family, by Gottlieb Büchler (FHL Film 962,790)Alder family, by Gottlieb Büchler (FHL Film 973,013) Baumgartner family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,467) Bondt family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,469) Bühler family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 127,964; see also FHL Film 193,470) Diem family, by Gottlieb Büchler (FHL Film 962,790; see also FHL Film 193,470) Frischknecht family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 127,966; see also FHL Film 193,471) Frischknecht family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 824,231; see also FHL Film 193,471) Himmelberger family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 127,974; see also FHL Film 193,474) Hug family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,475) Keller family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 127,971) Mock family, by Gottlieb Büchler (FHL Film 973,013) Müller family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,042 and 128,043) Näf/Nef family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,035; see also FHL Film 193,480) Preisig family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,084) Rutz family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,482) Schmid family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 599,106; see also FHL Film 193,483) Schoch family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 127,986; see also FHL Film 193,483) Schoch family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,009; see also FHL Film 193,483) Signer family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,484) Stricker family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,485) Sturzenegger family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 282,487) Zellweger family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,008) Zuberbühler family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,036; see also FHL Film 193,488)

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in 1876. Schwellbrunn belongs to the Hinterland civil registration district. Records are only available in Switzerland. For further information, contact the civil registry office at: Zivilstandsamt Hinterland App. A. Rh. Poststrasse 6 CH - 9102 Herisau Tel: +41 71 354 54 35 Email: [mailto:zivilstandsamt@herisau.ar.ch zivilstandsamt@herisau.ar.ch]

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Schwellbrunn prior to 1875:

Related Sources
The town's website (in German) can be found here.

Societies and Libraries
Cantonal Archive of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden (in German)