H1474
The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.Brosshans Hegnauer
Born in 1541 and last recorded at Elgg in 1573.
born before 1541 died after 24 Feb 1573
Life story
Brosshans Hegnauer lived at Elgg, in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland, where he had children baptised between 1561 and 1573. He was married twice, first to Madalena and then, in 1564, to Barbara Rugger.1–2
First marriage
Madalena is known only from the baptism of their son Baschy (Sebastian) at Elgg on 28 April 1561, where she is named by her married name, Madalena Hegnauer.1
Second marriage
On 13 August 1564 Brosshans married Barbara Rugger at Elgg.2 Their son Heinrich was baptised on 27 May 1565,3 and a daughter, Elszbet, very probably theirs, on 20 July 1567.4 On 20 April 1570 two of their children were baptised together, Hans and Dorothe, very probably twins.5–6 The youngest known, Ursula, again very probably theirs, was baptised on 24 February 1573.7
Elgg was then a small town with a court lordship of its own. Zürich held the high court there through its bailiwick of Kyburg, and the castle and the lower court belonged to the lords of Hinwil until 1576, when a Zürich man, Hans Heinrich Lochmann, bought them and had the castle rebuilt as a manor house (Schloss).8
Later years
Brosshans is last recorded at Ursula's baptism in February 1573.7 His death has not been found; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591.9
What we know
Proven
- Birth, 1541
- Marriage to Barbara Rugger at Elgg, 1564
- Death, 1573
- Marriage to Madalena
- 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
Sources 1–2
1 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1561
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Baschy [Sebastian] Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 28 April 1561, Elgg, Zürich; parents Brosshans Hegnouwer and Madalena Hegnouwer [the mother under her married surname]. FamilySearch record 66VS-Y81P; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-Y81R; mother's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-Y81Y
2 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1564
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Broszhans Hegenuwer [Brosshans Hegnauer] and Barbara Pugger [Rugger], 13 August 1564, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66V7-T9HM
In the archive: O04906
Source 3
3 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1565
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Heinrich Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 27 May 1565, Elgg, Zürich; parents Broshans [Brosshans] Hegnouwer and Barbara Ruger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-G1PK; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-G1PL
Source 4
4 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1567
"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
Sources 5–6
5 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1570
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Hans Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 20 April 1570, Elgg, Zürich; parents Brosshansen [Brosshans] Hegnouwer and Barbel Pugger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66V3-MBBQ; father's entry FamilySearch record 66V3-MBBC
6 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1570
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Dorothe Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 20 April 1570, Elgg, Zürich; parents Brosshansen [Brosshans] Hegnouwer and Barbel Pugger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-YMG6; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-YMGJ
Source 7
7 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1573
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Ursula Hegner [Hegnauer], 24 February 1573, Elgg, Zürich; parents "Grashans Hegner" [probably Brosshans Hegnauer] and Barbel Kügger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-LGPS
In the archive: O04456
Source 8
8 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 9
9 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).
More sources are in the evidence below.
Life in time
before 1541
Birth
How we know
Estimated from the baptism of his first known child in 1561. His baptism and birthplace are unknown.
No record of his birth or age has been found. A man who was a father in 1561 was very probably born before about 1541.
between 28 Apr 1561 and 24 Feb 1573
Residence , Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland
How we know
His second marriage (1564) and the baptisms of his children in the Elgg church book (FamilySearch index), 1561–1573; the last, in 1573, is his by a probable link.
13 Aug 1564
Marriage, with Barbara Rugger , Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland
How we know
The Elgg marriage register (FamilySearch index) records Broszhans Hegenuwer and Barbara Pugger [Rugger] on 13 Aug 1564. Brosshans and Barbara (Barbel), her surname also indexed Ruger, Kuger and Kügger, are named as the parents at five Elgg baptisms, 1565–1573 (two of them probable).
after 24 Feb 1573
Death
How we know
Last recorded, very probably, at the baptism of his daughter Ursula in February 1573, and certainly alive in April 1570. His death has not been found; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591.
"Grashans Hegner" and Barbel Kügger, very probably Brosshans and Barbara Rugger (Grashans read as Brosshans, Kügger as Rugger), are named as the parents at the baptism of 24 Feb 1573; Brosshans is named as the father at the baptisms of 20 Apr 1570. No later record can be tied to him with certainty.
-
1541 Birth
Estimated from the baptism of his first known child in 1561. His baptism and birthplace are unknown.
No record of his birth or age has been found. A man who was a father in 1561 was very probably born before about 1541.
Source 1
-
1561 Son born: Baschy Hegnauer
-
1564 Marriage, with Barbara Rugger
The Elgg marriage register (FamilySearch index) records Broszhans Hegenuwer and Barbara Pugger [Rugger] on 13 Aug 1564. Brosshans and Barbara (Barbel), her surname also indexed Ruger, Kuger and Kügger, are named as the parents at five Elgg baptisms, 1565–1573 (two of them probable).
Source 2
-
1565 Son born: Heinrich Hegnauer
-
1567 Daughter born: Elszbet Hegnauer
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1570 Son born: Hans Hegnauer
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1570 Daughter born: Dorothe Hegnauer
-
1573 Death
Last recorded, very probably, at the baptism of his daughter Ursula in February 1573, and certainly alive in April 1570. His death has not been found; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591.
"Grashans Hegner" and Barbel Kügger, very probably Brosshans and Barbara Rugger (Grashans read as Brosshans, Kügger as Rugger), are named as the parents at the baptism of 24 Feb 1573; Brosshans is named as the father at the baptisms of 20 Apr 1570. No later record can be tied to him with certainty.
-
1573 Daughter born: Ursula Hegnauer
- proven
- family event
Hover or drag along the line, or select a point and use the arrow keys.
Places in this life
one place- 1 Elgg, Zürich Residence between 28 Apr 1561 and 24 Feb 1573 · Marriage 13 Aug 1564
Family
Records
Search the archive →Marriages
Other records
- date unknown confirmed Church record “Brosshansen Hegnouwer”, father 2 index entries: FamilySearch O04218 · FamilySearch O04533
Also cited as evidence: 10 records filed under relatives
- 28 Apr 1561 confirmed Baptism “Baschy Hegnouwer”, filed under Baschy Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 27 May 1565 confirmed Baptism “Heinrich Hegnouwer”, filed under Heinrich Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 1566 confirmed Baptism “Brosshans Hegnouwer”, filed under Brosshans Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 20 Jul 1567 confirmed Baptism “Elszbet Hegnouwer”, filed under Elszbet Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 20 Apr 1570 confirmed Baptism “Hans Hegnouwer”, filed under Hans Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 20 Apr 1570 confirmed Baptism “Dorothe Hegnouwer”, filed under Dorothe Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 24 Feb 1573 confirmed Baptism “Ursula Hegner”, filed under Ursula Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 16 May 1585 probable Marriage “Barth Hegnowler”, filed under Baschi Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 30 Apr 1598 confirmed Marriage “Heinrich Hegnauwer”, filed under Heinrich Hegnauer FamilySearch
- date unknown confirmed Church record “Madalena Hegnouwer”, filed under Madalena FamilySearch
The evidence 5 facts with their grades, 13 sources, and the research notes
Facts
| Fact | Date | Place | Grade | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | before 1541 | proven | 1 | |
| Residence | between 28 Apr 1561 and 24 Feb 1573 | Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland | proven | 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 |
| Marriage with Barbara Rugger | 13 Aug 1564 | Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland | proven | 2 |
| Death | after 24 Feb 1573 | proven | 5 , 7 , 9 | |
| Marriage with Madalena | proven | 1 |
Research notes
- Sources: FamilySearch's index of the Elgg church book: the marriage of 1564 and six baptisms, all but the last with a separate entry for the father. The images (DGS 8014314) have not been seen.
- Given name: indexed Brosshans (1561), Broszhans (1564), Broshans (1565) and Brosshansen (1570, a declined form), once as plain Hansen (1567) and once as "Grashans" (1573), taken to be Brosshans misread. The study reads the name as Bross, a short form of Ambrosius, joined to Hans; a child was baptised Brosshans at Elgg in 1566, so the name was given at baptism there.10 The images should confirm the readings.
- Surname: Hegnouwer from 1561 to 1570, Hegenuwer at the wedding of 1564 and Hegner in 1573. The profile uses the modern spelling, Hegnauer.
- Hegner: At Elgg the index spells the family Hegner in entries of 1569–1636. This is the Hegnauer family, not the Hegner family that became citizens of Winterthur in 1430:11 the same couples are indexed under both spellings, this one among them.
- One man, two wives: Brosshans is taken to be one man: the name is rare, and he is the only adult of the name in the Elgg index. Madalena is not named after 1561, and she probably died before he married Barbara in August 1564 (an inference; no burial register survives from before 1591).
- Children: Baschy (1561), Heinrich (1565) and Hans and Dorothe (1570) are proven: each baptism names both parents. Elszbet (1567) is probable: the entry names "Hansen Hegnouwer" and "Barbel Kuger", Kuger being one of the readings of Rugger, and no other Hans Hegnauer of Elgg had a wife Barbel. Ursula (1573) is probable: the entry names "Grashans Hegner" and "Barbel Kügger".
- The Brosshans of 1566: a child named Brosshans Hegnauer was baptised at Elgg in 1566, with no parents in the index.10 The dates would allow him to be a son of Brosshans and Barbara, born between Heinrich (May 1565) and Elszbet (July 1567), but he is not linked.
- The sons' later lives (possible only): Baschy may be the Baschi Hegnauer who married Barbel Peter at Elgg on 16 May 1585 (children 1588–1603),12 and Heinrich may be the Heinrich Hegnauer who married Cathrina Stadelmann there on 30 Apr 1598 (children 1599–1608).13 Each is the only man of his name baptised at Elgg in the index at a fitting date, but no marriage entry of the period names the groom's father. Neither is linked.
- This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.
Working notes
- Family line: Elgg ZH; Brosshans/Broszhans/Broshans (Ambrosius Hans); (1) × Madalena (child 1561), (2) × Barbara Rugger, m. 1564 (children 1565-1573; indexed once 'Grashans Hegner'); index only (FamilySearch), images not seen; records: O04218 O04348 O04437 O04521 O04533 O04906
Sources
- 1
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Baschy [Sebastian] Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 28 April 1561, Elgg, Zürich; parents Brosshans Hegnouwer and Madalena Hegnouwer [the mother under her married surname]. FamilySearch record 66VS-Y81P; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-Y81R; mother's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-Y81Y
- 2
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Broszhans Hegenuwer [Brosshans Hegnauer] and Barbara Pugger [Rugger], 13 August 1564, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66V7-T9HM
In the archive: O04906
- 3
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Heinrich Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 27 May 1565, Elgg, Zürich; parents Broshans [Brosshans] Hegnouwer and Barbara Ruger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-G1PK; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-G1PL
- 4
"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
- 5
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Hans Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 20 April 1570, Elgg, Zürich; parents Brosshansen [Brosshans] Hegnouwer and Barbel Pugger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66V3-MBBQ; father's entry FamilySearch record 66V3-MBBC
- 6
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Dorothe Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 20 April 1570, Elgg, Zürich; parents Brosshansen [Brosshans] Hegnouwer and Barbel Pugger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-YMG6; father's entry FamilySearch record 66VS-YMGJ
- 7
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Ursula Hegner [Hegnauer], 24 February 1573, Elgg, Zürich; parents "Grashans Hegner" [probably Brosshans Hegnauer] and Barbel Kügger [Rugger]. FamilySearch record 66VS-LGPS
In the archive: O04456
- 8
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).
- 9
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).
- 10
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Brosshans Hegnouwer [Hegnauer], 1566, Elgg, Zürich; no parents in the index. FamilySearch record 66VS-2F4H
In the archive: O04369
- 11
Alfred Bütikofer, "Hegner," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 2004 (print-edition article, updated 5 November 2009), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/023858/2009-11-05 (accessed 27 September 2026).
- 12
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of "Barth Hegnowler" [probably Baschi Hegnauer] and Barbel Peter, 16 May 1585, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-QS5S
In the archive: O05031
- 13
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Heinrich Hegnauwer [Hegnauer] and Cathrina Stadelmann, 30 April 1598, Elgg, Zürich. FamilySearch record 66VW-9N5Y
In the archive: O04552