Switzerland, Church Book Extracts - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Records
Schweiz, Kirchebücher Auszüge

Record Description
This is a collection of images of church records extracts for several Swiss cantons, however, it is not comprehensive. The title page of each book lists the surnames with town(s) and canton(s) from where the records were extracted.

Swiss church records are typically written in German or Latin. Regional dialect may affect the spelling of some German words and the use of vocabulary words.

The extracts of these church books cover a majority of the population of Pratteln for the years 1550-1875.

This collection of data, which was extracted from church books in Pratteln, Germany, covers the years 1550-1875

The church records were created to record church sacraments associated with the life events of the parishioners, such as baptisms, marriages and deaths. This collection of extracted data was created to make the research of Pratteln ancestors easier.

Church books are one of the most reliable and accurate family history sources. However, accuracy in the records is dependent upon the accuracy of the informant’s knowledge and the accuracy of the priest’s recording of the information. The extraction of data from these records may also introduce some mistakes; therefore, it is recommended that you verify the information in the originals and other vital records, if available.

For a list of surnames currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Record Content
The facts found in most of the family register extract cards include:


 * Name of the ancestor, either as a parent or child
 * Names of the ancestor’s siblings, parents, grandparents
 * Date of the ancestor’s birth
 * Place of the ancestor’s birth
 * Occupation of the ancestor’s father
 * Birth dates of the ancestor’s siblings and parents
 * Date of the ancestor’s marriage
 * Date of the ancestor’s death
 * Death dates of the ancestor’s siblings and parents
 * Information concerning emigration in the family

How to Use the Record
To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Volume Type" category (either Heft or Index) ⇒Select the "Surname" category ⇒Select the "Heft Number" category which takes you to the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

In order to find data in this collection, it is necessary to know the name of the ancestor, the religion, town of the event, and approximate date of the event.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in German. For help with reading the records see the following wiki articles:


 * Switzerland Language and Languages
 * German Word List

Related Websites
Germany GenWeb Project
 * Switzerland Historic Maps

Related Wiki Articles

 * Switzerland
 * Switzerland Church Records

Citing familySearch Historical Collections
Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the "Show Citation" box: Switzerland, Church Book Extracts, 1550-1875

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.