hegnauer.family
H1450 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Hans Hegnauer

Born in 1533 and last recorded at Elgg in 1553.

born before 1533 died after 3 Sep 1553

Elgg
Also written Hans Hegnoüwer

Hans Hegnauer is the first of his name in the church books of Elgg, a small town in the north-east of the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. On 3 September 1553 he and his wife, Margreta Wister, had their daughter Anna baptised there. Hers is the earliest entry of the family in the Elgg books, which survive from 1551.1–2 The Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz records only two Hegnauer citizenships older than 1800, and Elgg is one of them; the other is Seengen, in Aargau.3

Elgg in 1553

Elgg lay on the upper Eulach. It had received town rights in 1371 and was a small, square town, protected by a ditch and palisades, with town gates. Zürich held the high court there as part of its bailiwick of Kyburg, and the castle and the lower court belonged to the lords of Hinwil.4 Zürich had imposed the Reformation on Elgg in 1524, against considerable resistance,4 and in 1526 it ordered that church books be kept.5

Family

Hans's wife is named at Anna's baptism as Margreta Wister. The record of their wedding has not been found, and Anna is the only child of theirs on record.1 In the next few years other men called Hans Hegnauer married at Elgg or brought children to its church for baptism,6–8 and Hans may be one of them, but the records do not say which.

Later life

Nothing more is known of Hans for certain. His death has not been found; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591.2

What we know

Proven

  • Birth, 1533
  • Death, 1553
  • Marriage to Margreta Wister
  • one home, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Death. When and where he died is not yet known.
  • Origin. No record says where he came from. The nearest earlier entries of the name are two baptisms at Fehraltorf, between Elgg and Hegnau, in 1548 and 1550, for children of a Jacob "Hegnoren" or "Hegnorer" (index only; the surname is still to be checked on the images).
  • Parents. Not yet identified.

Sources

Sources 1–2

1 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1553

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Anna Hegnoüwer [Hegnauer], 3 September 1553, Elgg, Zürich; parents Hans Hegnoüwer and Margreta Wister. FamilySearch record 66VS-87W8; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-87WF

In the archive: O04411 , O04412

2 Kirchenbuch, 1551–1933, 2026

Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche Elgg (Zürich), "Kirchenbuch, 1551–1933," FamilySearch Catalog 309107, filmed 1955–1961 from the originals in the Staatsarchiv Zürich: film 996838, items 1–3 (DGS 8014314), marriages 1551–1588 and 1589–1657, baptisms 1551–1592 and 1584–1657 (with separate lists by hamlet, 1560–1594 and 1594–1657), burials 1591–1657; images viewable only at a FamilySearch Center. familysearch.org/search/catalog/309107 (catalogue entry viewed 27 September 2026).

Source 3

3 Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1800

Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz (Répertoire des noms de famille suisses), entry "Hegnauer": old (pre-1800) citizenships Elgg ZH and Seengen AG only; Igis not listed. Consulted online, 27 September 2026.

Source 4

4 Elgg, 2002

Ueli Müller, "Elgg," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 2002 (print-edition article, updated 5 October 2020), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/000144/2020-10-05 (accessed 27 September 2026).

Source 5

5 Zivilstandswesen, 2003

Alfred Perrenoud, "Zivilstandswesen," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 2003 (print-edition article, updated 21 January 2021; translated from the French), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007986/2021-01-21 (accessed 27 September 2026).

Sources 6–8

6 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1555

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Hans Hegnouwer [Hegnauer] and Anna Petter, 15 June 1555, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-QF5N

In the archive: O04568

7 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1556

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Hans Hegnouwer [Hegnauer] and Elsa Furer, 9 February 1556, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-W4WK

In the archive: O04569

8 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1558

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Anna Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 16 October 1558, Elgg, Zürich; parents Hans Hegnouwer and Salome Peter. FamilySearch record 66VS-FLHL; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-FLH5

In the archive: O04433 , O04432

Life in time

before 1533

Birth

proven Source 1

How we know

Estimated from the baptism of his daughter in 1553. His baptism and birthplace are unknown.

No record of his birth or age has been found. A man who was a father in 1553 was very probably born before about 1533.

  1. 1533 Birth before 1533 · proven

    Estimated from the baptism of his daughter in 1553. His baptism and birthplace are unknown.

    No record of his birth or age has been found. A man who was a father in 1553 was very probably born before about 1533.

    Source 1

  2. 1553 Residence 3 Sep 1553 · Elgg, Zürich · proven

    His daughter Anna was baptised at Elgg on 3 Sep 1553 (FamilySearch index of the Elgg church book).

    Source 1

  3. 1553 Death after 3 Sep 1553 · proven

    The only record of him is his daughter's baptism in September 1553. His death has not been found; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591.

    He is named as the father at the baptism of 3 Sep 1553, and no later record can be tied to him with certainty.

    Sources 1, 2

  4. 1553 Daughter born: Anna Hegnauer family event

    Their page →

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

one place
1
  1. 1 Elgg, Zürich Residence 3 Sep 1553

Family

This page Hans Hegnauer bef. 1533–aft. 1553
Wife Margreta Wister bef. 1535–aft. 1553
Daughter Anna Hegnauer b. 1553
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Records

Search the archive →
Other records 1 record · undated
  • date unknown confirmed Church record “Hans Hegnoüwer”, father FamilySearch · O04412
Also cited as evidence: 10 records filed under relatives
The evidence 4 facts with their grades, 11 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth before 1533 proven 1
Residence 3 Sep 1553 Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland proven 1
Death after 3 Sep 1553 proven 1 , 2
Marriage with Margreta Wister proven 1

Research notes

  • Sources: FamilySearch's index of the Elgg Reformed church book ("Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records"): Anna's baptism, with a second entry for Hans as her father. The image (FamilySearch DGS 8014314, viewable only at a FamilySearch Center) has not been seen.1
  • Name: indexed Hans Hegnoüwer, the only Elgg entry of the name written with ü; the other Elgg entries of the 1550s and 1560s read Hegnouwer. The profile uses the modern spelling, Hegnauer.
  • Which Hans? Four Hans Hegnouwer couples are named at Elgg between 1553 and 1567: Hans and Margreta Wister (a daughter baptised in 1553; this profile), Hans and Anna Petter (married 15 Jun 1555), Hans and Elsa Furer (married 9 Feb 1556; children 1561 and 1562) and Hans and Salome Peter (children 1558–1567).1, 6, 7, 8 Brosshans was also entered once as plain Hans, in 1567.9 The husbands of Elsa Furer and Salome Peter both had children baptised between 1561 and 1564, so they were two different men. The husbands of Margreta Wister and Anna Petter may be the same men in earlier marriages, or others; nothing in the index decides it, and the study keeps all four apart. The register images, which may call a groom a widower, are the best hope of joining them.
  • Origin: No record says where he came from. The nearest earlier entries of the name are two baptisms at Fehraltorf, between Elgg and Hegnau, in 1548 and 1550, for children of a Jacob "Hegnoren" or "Hegnorer" (index only; the surname is still to be checked on the images).10, 11 Nothing links them to Elgg.
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.

Working notes

  • Family line: Elgg ZH; father at the 1553 baptism, the earliest Elgg entry of the name (indexed Hegnoüwer); index only (FamilySearch), images not seen; records: O04412

Sources

  1. 1

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Anna Hegnoüwer [Hegnauer], 3 September 1553, Elgg, Zürich; parents Hans Hegnoüwer and Margreta Wister. FamilySearch record 66VS-87W8; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-87WF

    In the archive: O04411 , O04412

  2. 2

    Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche Elgg (Zürich), "Kirchenbuch, 1551–1933," FamilySearch Catalog 309107, filmed 1955–1961 from the originals in the Staatsarchiv Zürich: film 996838, items 1–3 (DGS 8014314), marriages 1551–1588 and 1589–1657, baptisms 1551–1592 and 1584–1657 (with separate lists by hamlet, 1560–1594 and 1594–1657), burials 1591–1657; images viewable only at a FamilySearch Center. familysearch.org/search/catalog/309107 (catalogue entry viewed 27 September 2026).

  3. 3

    Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz (Répertoire des noms de famille suisses), entry "Hegnauer": old (pre-1800) citizenships Elgg ZH and Seengen AG only; Igis not listed. Consulted online, 27 September 2026.

  4. 4

    Ueli Müller, "Elgg," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 2002 (print-edition article, updated 5 October 2020), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/000144/2020-10-05 (accessed 27 September 2026).

  5. 5

    Alfred Perrenoud, "Zivilstandswesen," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 2003 (print-edition article, updated 21 January 2021; translated from the French), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007986/2021-01-21 (accessed 27 September 2026).

  6. 6

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Hans Hegnouwer [Hegnauer] and Anna Petter, 15 June 1555, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-QF5N

    In the archive: O04568

  7. 7

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Hans Hegnouwer [Hegnauer] and Elsa Furer, 9 February 1556, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-W4WK

    In the archive: O04569

  8. 8

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Anna Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 16 October 1558, Elgg, Zürich; parents Hans Hegnouwer and Salome Peter. FamilySearch record 66VS-FLHL; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-FLH5

    In the archive: O04433 , O04432

  9. 9

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Elszbet Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 20 July 1567, Elgg, Zürich; parents "Hansen" Hegnouwer [probably Brosshans Hegnauer] and Barbel Kuger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-1RH5; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-1RHY

    In the archive: O04347 , O04348

  10. 10

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Joannes Hegnoren, 6 August 1548, Fehraltorf, Zürich; father Jacob Hegnoren. FamilySearch record 6F8H-S3SK

    In the archive: O05132

  11. 11

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Margaretha Hegnorer, 2 March 1550, Fehraltorf, Zürich; father Jacob Hegnorer. FamilySearch record 6F84-R1JR; father's entry FamilySearch record 6F84-R1JT

    In the archive: O05063 , O05064