hegnauer.family
H1456 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Blasius Hegnauer

Born in 1535 and last recorded at Elgg in 1566.

born before 1535 died after 3 Nov 1566

Elgg
Also written Blasius Hegnouwer, Bläsy Hegnouwer, Plässy Hegnouwer, Blesy Hegnauwer

Blasius Hegnauer, also called Bläsy, is one of the earliest Hegnauers on record at Elgg, in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland, where he married Otylia Nussberger on 27 January 1555.1 Their daughter Genovefa very probably became the wife of Adam Peter of Elgg, and in 1585 her first son was baptised Blasius, her father's name.2–3

Marriage and family

Blasius and Otylia had three children baptised at Elgg: a son, Blasy, on 24 October 1557, a daughter, Genovefa, on 6 April 1561, and a second son, Bläsy, on 3 November 1566.2, 4–5 Both boys were given their father's name.

Their parish was a large one. Besides the little town of Elgg it took in the villages of Hofstetten and Schottikon, parts of Bertschikon and Hagenbuch, and four villages across the border in the Thurgau: Ettenhausen, Guntershausen, Iltishausen and Tänikon.6

Later years

Blasius is last recorded at the baptism of his younger son in November 1566.5 His death has not been found; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591.7 Otylia was buried at Elgg on 17 July 1602, forty-seven years after their wedding, and the register names her as his wife.8 Genovefa, the mother of at least three children, died at Elgg in November 1616.9

What we know

Proven

  • Birth, 1535
  • Marriage to Otylia Nussberger at Elgg, 1555
  • Death, 1566
  • one home, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Death. When and where he died is not yet known.
  • Parents. Not yet identified.

Sources

Source 1

1 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1555

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Blasius Hegnouwer [Hegnauer] and Otylia Nussberger, 27 January 1555, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-HXQZ

In the archive: O04565

Sources 2–3

2 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1561

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of "Benefe" [Genefe, i.e. Genovefa] Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 6 April 1561, Elgg, Zürich; parents Plässy [Bläsy] Hegnouwer and Otylia Nussberger. FamilySearch record 66VS-VWCV; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-VWCP

In the archive: O04513 , O04512

3 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1585

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Blasius Peter, 9 March 1585, Elgg, Zürich; parents Adam Peter and "Genevo Hegner" [Genovefa Hegnauer]. FamilySearch record 66VS-BDZB

In the archive: O04421

Sources 4–5

4 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1557

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Blasy Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 24 October 1557, Elgg, Zürich; parents Bläsy Hegnouwer and Otilia Neussberger [Nussberger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-1X18; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-1X1X

In the archive: O04353 , O04354

5 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1566

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Bläsy Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 3 November 1566, Elgg, Zürich; parents Bläsy Hegnouwer and Otilia Nussberger. FamilySearch record 66V3-92WP; father's entry FamilySearch record 66V3-92WR

In the archive: O04197 , O04198

Source 6

6 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 7

7 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 8

8 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1602

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, burial of Othilia Nussberger, wife of Blesy Hegnauwer [Blasius Hegnauer], 17 July 1602 (the index gives the date as the date of death), Elgg, Zürich (DGS 8014314, image 213): her entry FamilySearch record 66V7-WMJH; husband's entry FamilySearch record 66V7-WMJC

In the archive: O04287

Source 9

9 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1616

"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, burial of Genovia Hegnower [Genovefa Hegnauer], wife of Adam Peter, Elgg, Zürich; death 3 November 1616. FamilySearch record 66V7-D1WK

In the archive: O04257

Life in time

before 1535

Birth

proven Source 1

How we know

Estimated from his marriage in 1555. His baptism and birthplace are unknown.

No record of his birth or age has been found. A man who married in 1555 was very probably born before about 1535.

  1. 1535 Birth before 1535 · proven

    Estimated from his marriage in 1555. His baptism and birthplace are unknown.

    No record of his birth or age has been found. A man who married in 1555 was very probably born before about 1535.

    Source 1

  2. 1555 Residence between 27 Jan 1555 and 3 Nov 1566 · Elgg, Zürich · proven

    His marriage and the baptisms of his three children in the Elgg church book (FamilySearch index), 1555–1566.

    Sources 1, 2, 4, 5

  3. 1555 Marriage, with Otylia Nussberger 27 Jan 1555 · Elgg, Zürich · proven

    The Elgg marriage register (FamilySearch index) records Blasius Hegnouwer and Otylia Nussberger on 27 Jan 1555. The couple are named as the parents at the Elgg baptisms of 1557, 1561 and 1566.

    Source 1

  4. 1557 Son born: Blasy Hegnauer family event

    Their page →

  5. 1561 Daughter born: Genovefa Hegnauer family event

    Their page →

  6. 1566 Death after 3 Nov 1566 · proven

    He is last recorded at the baptism of his younger son in November 1566. 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 Nov 1566, the last record of him alive. The Elgg burial of his wife Othilia Nussberger on 17 Jul 1602 names him as her husband, but the index does not show whether he was then living or dead; the image has not been seen.

    Sources 5, 7, 8

  7. 1566 Son born: Bläsy Hegnauer family event

    Their page →

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

one place
1
  1. 1 Elgg, Zürich Residence between 27 Jan 1555 and 3 Nov 1566 · Marriage 27 Jan 1555

Family

This page Blasius Hegnauer bef. 1535–aft. 1566
Wife · m. 27 Jan 1555 Otylia Nussberger bef. 1537–bef. 1602
Son Blasy Hegnauer b. 1557 Daughter Genovefa Hegnauer 1561–1616 Son Bläsy Hegnauer b. 1566
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Records

Search the archive →
Marriages 1 record · 1555
  • 27 Jan 1555 confirmed Marriage “Blasius Hegnouwer”, groom Elgg, Zürich FamilySearch · O04565
Deaths and burials 1 record · 1602
  • 17 Jul 1602 probable Burial “Blesy Hegnauwer”, spouse Elgg, Zürich FamilySearch · O04287
Other records 2 records · undated
Also cited as evidence: 5 records filed under relatives
The evidence 4 facts with their grades, 9 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth before 1535 proven 1
Residence between 27 Jan 1555 and 3 Nov 1566 Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland proven 1 , 2 , 4 , 5
Marriage with Otylia Nussberger 27 Jan 1555 Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland proven 1
Death after 3 Nov 1566 proven 5 , 7 , 8

Research notes

  • Sources: FamilySearch's index of the Elgg church book: the marriage (1555), three baptisms (each with a separate entry for the father) and his wife's burial of 1602 (below). The images (DGS 8014314) have not been seen.
  • Name: indexed Blasius at the wedding, Bläsy in 1557 and 1566, Plässy in 1561 and Blesy in his wife's burial entry (1602), all forms of the same name; the surname is Hegnouwer, and Hegnauwer in 1602. The profile uses the modern spelling, Hegnauer.
  • Children: all three are proven: each baptism names both parents. A second son named Bläsy in 1566 suggests, but does not prove, that the elder boy had died by then; no burial register survives from before 1591.
  • His wife's burial (1602): one index entry names "Blesy Hegnauwer" as the spouse of Othilia Nussberger, with no event of his own; the study's first extract showed no date, and it was taken for a second index of the 1555 marriage. The record page, read on 27 Sep 2026, settles it: the record type is Burial, the deceased is Othilia Nussberger, "Blesy Hegnauwer's wife", and the date, 17 Jul 1602, is hers (the index gives it as the date of death).8 The entry is image 213 of the first Elgg volume (DGS 8014314), whose burials begin in 1591, and the spelling Hegnauwer, usual at Elgg from the 1590s, fits the date. In this collection every "spouse" entry without an event of its own has proved to be the husband or wife named in a burial (all 55 such entries checked in the study's review of 27 Sep 2026; the Igis burial of Margreth Hartmann, wife of Jacob Hegnauer, in 1724 is another). The names of both husband and wife match the couple married in 1555; no later record of their son Bläsy (b. 1566) has been found.
  • His death: he is last recorded alive in 1566. The index of the 1602 burial does not show whether Blasius was then living or dead; the image, which might call Otylia a widow, has not been seen. The Elgg burial register, 1591–1602, could be searched for his own burial.7
  • Genovefa (probable): her identification with the wife of Adam Peter is argued on her profile.
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.

Working notes

  • Family line: Elgg ZH; Bläsy/Plässy/Blesy; m. Otylia Nussberger 1555; children 1557-1566; index only (FamilySearch), images not seen; records: O04198 O04287 O04354 O04512 O04565

Sources

  1. 1

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Blasius Hegnouwer [Hegnauer] and Otylia Nussberger, 27 January 1555, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-HXQZ

    In the archive: O04565

  2. 2

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of "Benefe" [Genefe, i.e. Genovefa] Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 6 April 1561, Elgg, Zürich; parents Plässy [Bläsy] Hegnouwer and Otylia Nussberger. FamilySearch record 66VS-VWCV; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-VWCP

    In the archive: O04513 , O04512

  3. 3

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Blasius Peter, 9 March 1585, Elgg, Zürich; parents Adam Peter and "Genevo Hegner" [Genovefa Hegnauer]. FamilySearch record 66VS-BDZB

    In the archive: O04421

  4. 4

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Blasy Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 24 October 1557, Elgg, Zürich; parents Bläsy Hegnouwer and Otilia Neussberger [Nussberger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-1X18; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-1X1X

    In the archive: O04353 , O04354

  5. 5

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Bläsy Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 3 November 1566, Elgg, Zürich; parents Bläsy Hegnouwer and Otilia Nussberger. FamilySearch record 66V3-92WP; father's entry FamilySearch record 66V3-92WR

    In the archive: O04197 , O04198

  6. 6

    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).

  7. 7

    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).

  8. 8

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, burial of Othilia Nussberger, wife of Blesy Hegnauwer [Blasius Hegnauer], 17 July 1602 (the index gives the date as the date of death), Elgg, Zürich (DGS 8014314, image 213): her entry FamilySearch record 66V7-WMJH; husband's entry FamilySearch record 66V7-WMJC

    In the archive: O04287

  9. 9

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, burial of Genovia Hegnower [Genovefa Hegnauer], wife of Adam Peter, Elgg, Zürich; death 3 November 1616. FamilySearch record 66V7-D1WK

    In the archive: O04257