Hundwil Parish, Appenzell, Switzerland Genealogy

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Geography
Hundwil was the capital of the former Hinterland district. It has an area of 24.1 square kilometers (9.3 square miles). This area is used thusly:

58.5% agriculture 31.2% forest 3.2% settlement 7.1% non-productive

History
Hundwil has been an independent parish since the thirteenth century. In 1667, Hundwil had a population of 1,845. By 1734, this had increased to 3,360. In 1749, the parish of Stein was split off from Hundwil; by 1794, the population was recorded at 1,910. In 1850, the population had decreased further to 1,500, rising to 1,523 by 1900.

Locations within Hundwil
Aeschen Auen Befang Buchberg Hagtobel Hundwil Hundwilerhöhe Läbel Nasse Pfanz Rachentobel Schmiedshaus Schwägalp Sonder Stechlenegg Stuhn Tobel

Surrounding Parishes
Click for a map showing Hundwil in relation to the rest of Canton Appenzell.

Gonten (Appenzell-Innerrhoden) Herisau Krummenau (Sankt Gallen) Nesslau (Sankt Gallen) Schlatt-HaslenAppenzell-Innerrhoden) Schwende (Appenzell-Innerrhoden) Stein Urnäsch Waldstatt Wildhaus (Sankt Gallen)

Church Records
The parish of Hundwil was established in the thirteenth century, with the earliest records beginning in 1581. Records held by the Family History Library include baptisms (Taufen) 1581-1861, confirmations (Konfirmanden 1770-1783 and 1787-1846, marriages (Heiraten) 1590-1861, and deaths (Tote) 1635-1637 and 1660-1761. Later records are housed at the Cantonal Archive in Herisau, Switzerland.

The following family books (Familienbuch) are available at the Cantonal Archive in Herisau: Volume 1 (1581-1833) - family register established ca. 1700 Volumes 2-3 (1790) - family register of non-citizen residents Volumes 4-6 (1833-1875) - family register of citizens Volumes 7-8 (19th century) - family register of non-citizen residents Volume 9 (1866) - family register of citizens

Genealogies
(see here for article describing Swiss compiled genealogies)

The following genealogies have been researched for Hundwil families:

Bont family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,469)Engler family, by Alfred Reichen (FHL Film 186,627) Frehner family, by Juilus Billeter (FHL Film 128,007) Müller, by Julius Billeter (FHL Book Q929.2494 M912bb)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) Schmid family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 1,181,674; 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 Carl F. Marbacher (FHL Film 1,224,618) Signer family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,484) Stieger family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,485) Zellweger family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,008) Zuberbühler family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,036)

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in 1876. Hundwil 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 Hundwil prior to 1875:

Anderauer Berweger Biser (extinct) Bont Bruggmeister (extinct) Engler Etter Fässler Fisch Fitzi (extinct) Frehner Frischknecht Gähler (extinct) Gartenhauser (extinct) Gmünder (extinct) Goldener (extinct) Hauser Holderegger (extinct) Hug (extinct) Jakob Kern Kessler (extinct) Klarer (extinct) Knöpfel Koller Küng Lauchenauer Meier/Meyer Müller Näf (extinct) Nägeli Oberteufer Oertle Preisig Räth Rechsteiner Reifler Rohner Rotach (extinct) Schmid Signer Steingruber Stieger Suhner (extinct) Thäler Tribelhorn Waldburger Weiss Widmer Wirth Würzer (extinct) Zähner Zuberbühler

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

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