H1475 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Madalena

Born in 1543 and last recorded at Elgg in 1561.

born before 1543 died after 28 Apr 1561

Also written Madalena Hegnouwer

Life story

Madalena was the first wife of Brosshans Hegnauer of Elgg, in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. She is known from a single record, the baptism of their son Baschy (Sebastian) at Elgg on 28 April 1561, where she is named by her married name, Madalena Hegnauer; her own surname is not recorded.1

Her son was baptised in a church that had been Reformed since 1524, when Zürich imposed the Reformation on Elgg against considerable resistance.2 Madalena is not named again, and in August 1564 Brosshans married Barbara Rugger.3

What we know

Proven

  • Birth, 1543
  • Death, 1561
  • Marriage to Brosshans Hegnauer
  • one home, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Death. When and where she died is not yet known.
  • Name. indexed Madalena Hegnouwer, her husband's surname; her maiden name is unknown, so her last name at birth is given as Unknown.
  • Parents. Not yet identified.

Sources

Source 1

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

Source 2

2 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 3

3 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

Life in time

before 1543

Birth

proven Source 1

How we know

Estimated from the baptism of her son in 1561. Her baptism and birthplace are unknown.

No record of her birth or age has been found. A woman who was a mother in 1561 was very probably born before about 1543.

  1. 1543 Birth before 1543 · proven

    Estimated from the baptism of her son in 1561. Her baptism and birthplace are unknown.

    No record of her birth or age has been found. A woman who was a mother in 1561 was very probably born before about 1543.

    Source 1

  2. 1561 Residence 28 Apr 1561 · Elgg, Zürich · proven

    Her son Baschy was baptised at Elgg on 28 Apr 1561 (FamilySearch index of the Elgg church book).

    Source 1

  3. 1561 Death after 28 Apr 1561 · proven

    Her death has not been found. She was probably dead by 13 Aug 1564, when Brosshans married again (an inference; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591).

    She is named as the mother at the baptism of 28 Apr 1561, the only record of her.

    Sources 1, 3, 4

  4. 1561 Son born: Baschy Hegnauer family event
  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

one place
1
  1. 1 Elgg, Zürich Residence 28 Apr 1561

Family

This page Madalena bef. 1543–aft. 1561
Husband Brosshans Hegnauer bef. 1541–aft. 1573
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The evidence 4 facts with their grades, 4 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth before 1543 proven 1
Residence 28 Apr 1561 Elgg, Zürich, Switzerland proven 1
Death after 28 Apr 1561 proven 1 , 3 , 4
Marriage with Brosshans Hegnauer proven 1

Research notes

  • Sources: FamilySearch's index of the Elgg church book: Baschy's baptism, with separate entries for both parents. The image (DGS 8014314) has not been seen.1
  • Name: indexed Madalena Hegnouwer, her husband's surname; her maiden name is unknown, so her last name at birth is given as Unknown.
  • Her death: she probably died between April 1561 and August 1564, before Brosshans married again (an inference; the Elgg burial register survives only from 1591).4
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.

Working notes

  • Family line: Elgg ZH; first wife of Brosshans; indexed 'Madalena Hegnouwer' (husband's surname); index only (FamilySearch), images not seen; records: O04522

Sources

  1. 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. 2

    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).

  3. 3

    "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

  4. 4

    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).