Place:Schwenningen, Württemberg, Germany

source: Family History Library Catalog

History

Schwenningen remained a village until the 19th century. In 1858 the first watch factory was established, from which time on watch making and precision mechanics have been important industries.

As part of the Baden-Württemberg territorial reform of 1972, Villingen and Schwenningen were merged with a number of surrounding villages to form the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. Nevertheless, the two halves of the city are separated by a plateau and remain distinct.

Research Tips

The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) resulted in the destruction of many towns, including most of Schwenningen. Church records do not exist prior to 1651.

The Evangelische (Protestant) church records of Schwenningen were filmed by the LDS and are films #1658743 through 1658748.

Records of people and events prior to 1651 have been compiled in Häuser Höfe Hofstätten by Manfred Reinartz.

See also Otto Benzing, Quellen_zur_Schwenninger_Geschichte_890-1600, a collection of sources and documents concerning Schwenningen, collected in different archives (Karlsruhe, Stuttgart etc.) and published in this book.

Surnames in Schwenningen

At least until about 1900, the number of surnames in Schwenningen was relatively limited. The lines regularly intermarried. If one person is descended from Schwenningen (especially pre-1900), chances are, one is related to every single other person descended from Schwenningen. Here are the most common surnames from Schwenningen:

External Links of Interest

1. Clock Museum in Schwenningen (English language)
2. Tracking the Emigres of Schwenningen