Published on 19 January 2026

Genealogical research – tracing your family history

Tracing Swiss ancestors or creating a family tree is a time-consuming and laborious exercise. It requires much patience to compile the necessary data.

Are you attempting to trace your Swiss ancestors or create your Swiss family tree?

You yourself will need to undertake the steps necessary to obtain information that is relevant for you. You should be aware that it will require much time and patience to compile data from Swiss registers and archives. This website provides information to get you started.

Where to start

You can start your enquiries with relatives and by consulting family records, photos, diaries, letters etc. to collect biographical information and data about origin and family relations.

Professional genealogists

You may also engage a professional genealogist to undertake this research for a fee. Addresses of professional genealogists are available, for instance on the website of the Swiss Society for Genealogical Studies.

Research in Switzerland

In Switzerland, civil status data (birth, marriage, divorce and death) is registered not just at the place where the event occurs but also at each Swiss citizen's place of origin.

If you do not know the exact place of origin of your Swiss ancestors, you can also begin your enquiries at the civil registry office of their birth, marriage or death to determine their place(s) of origin.

The religion of your ancestors is also relevant. Prior to 1876, religious communities were responsible for recording civil status events in their registers.

• Place of origin

  In Switzerland, the place of origin is the commune where Swiss citizens obtain their citizenship rights. It is therefore not the same as place of birth or place of residence. It is mentioned on all civil register documents issued to Swiss citizens (for example, birth, marriage and death certificates) or on identity cards (passport or national identity card), unlike in other countries that mention the place of birth.

  Enquiries regarding the existence of Swiss ancestors should be addressed to the competent civil registries at your own place of origin or the place of origin of the Swiss ancestors, if this is known. If requests go back to the 1870s, the relevant cantonal archives can also be consulted.

  In the Old Swiss Confederacy, the place of origin was where one's ancestors lived and where they acquired their rights and obligations as well as their right of citizenship. The place of origin is consequently particularly significant because civil status data was required to be registered there irrespective of the place where the events occurred. This was generally done after 1800 and it became mandatory in 1876. However, only events that were also reported at the place of origin were registered there. Cantonal and national registers of emigrants did not exist prior to 1900. Consequently, it is necessary to know the relevant commune (place of origin).

• Civil registries

  In Switzerland, data on civil status began to be officially registered only after 1876. Civil status registers include information on births, marriages and deaths. In certain circumstances, registrars will provide information in writing or allow access to old registers for a fee.

  Federal Office of Justice (FOJ): list of civil register districts (German, French, Italian)

• Church records (parish registers)

  The registration of civil status data in the records of the reformed churches began in the 16^th century in two thirds of the parishes. Roman Catholic priests started keeping such records about 50 years later.

  Old church records can be found in the archives of the parishes and communes. Some registers are available on microfilm. As with civil registers, the state archives also maintain a directory of such records and can provide information on which church records are available on microfilm.

• Safeguard period

  Genealogical research is subject to data protection regulations under the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP, SR 235.1) and the Civil Status Ordinance (CivStO, SR 211.112.2).

  Access to data is restricted, especially to recent civil status, family or citizenship registers, and requires permission from the competent supervisory authority. Contact the competent authorities for information about requirements to access such registers.

Links

• Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner, FDPIC
• Swiss Federal Archives, SFA: search
• Swiss Federal Archives, SFA: in search of family history
• Association of Swiss Archivists, VSA: the Swiss archives system (German, French, Italian)
• Archives Online
• Swiss Society for Genealogical Studies, SSGS
• Swiss historical dictionary (German, French, Italian)

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