Switzerland, Schaffhausen, Stein am Rhein, Church Records and other Miscellaneous City Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in the Collection?
The collection consists of church records and other miscellaneous records including marines, emigration, notorial, and tax records from Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It also includes church records for the neighboring village of Burg. Stein am Rhein has its roots as medieval city on the modern border between Germany and Switzerland on the Rhein River. German King Henry II selected the city as a site for an abbey, which helped create its status as a trade and religious center. Today, it has one of the best preserved medieval city centers in Europe.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Church & Miscellaneous City
 * Names of primary individuals
 * Date and place of event
 * Names of other family members
 * Names of witnesses

Sample Images
Click on images for a larger view.

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:


 * Name of your ancestor
 * Type of event
 * Identifying information such as birth date or parent's names

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select Ort (Place)
 * 2) Select Quellengattung (Type of Source)
 * 3) Select Beschreibung (Definition) to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age in the citizen to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records indexes in the country.
 * When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, either Civil Registration records or Church Records may be more useful.
 * While searching, it is helpful to know such information as the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.
 * Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies.
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800.
 * There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Switzerland.
 * Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.