View source for Gais Parish, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy

{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Switzerland Genealogy|Switzerland]]
| link2=[[Appenzell Ausserrhoden Canton, Switzerland Genealogy|Appenzell Ausserrhoden]]
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Gais Parish, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy|Gais Parish]]
}} 
 
Guide to '''Gais Parish, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland ancestry, family history, and genealogy:''' birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. 

[[Image:Karte_Gemeinde_Gais_2010.png|right|700px]]

=== Geography  ===

Gais is located in Mittelland district. Gais has an area of 21.2 square kilometers (8.2 square miles). The area is used thusly: 

49.1% agriculture<br>44.3% forests<br>6.2% settlement<br>.4% non-productive 

Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reliefkarte_Appenzell_Ausserrhoden.png here] for a geographical map of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, including Gais.

=== History  ===

The village of ''de Gais'' was first mentioned in 1272 as part of the Abbey of St. Gall. By the 1300s, Gais was operating as an independent community. By the 1400s the town was allied with Appenzell, and one of the most important battles of the Appenzell Wars, the battle of Stoss Pass, took place in Gais. In 1667, the population was 1,870; by 1850, the population had risen to 2,470 and by 1900 was at 2,854. 

=== Place Names  ===

==== Locations within Gais  ====

{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" width="98%" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Anker<br>Au<br>Ballmoos<br>Bernbrugg<br>Betzenegg<br>Buchen<br>Buchstauden<br>Eggli<br>Erlengschwend<br>Forren 

| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Gaiserau<br>Gerstern<br>Grüt<br>Heberig<br>Hofgut<br>Käsgaden<br>Kellersegg<br>Kloster<br>Lanzen<br>Moos 

| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Möser<br>Mühlpass<br>Mühlweg<br>Obergais<br>Pfand<br>Riedle<br>Rietli<br>Rotenwies<br>Rothbach<br>Schachen bei Gais 

| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Schwäbrig<br>Schwantlern<br>Sommersberg<br>Steinleuten<br>Stoss<br>Strahlholz<br>Zellwegg<br>Zweibrücken<br>Zwislen 

|}

==== Surrounding Parishes  ====

Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karte_Gemeinden_des_Kantons_Appenzell_Ausserrhoden_farbig_2011.png here] for a map showing Gais in relation to the rest of Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden. 

[[Altstätten Parish, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland Genealogy|Altstätten]] (Sankt Gallen)<br>[[Appenzell, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy|Appenzell]] (Appenzell Innerrhoden)<br>[[Bühler Parish, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy|Bühler]]<br>[[Eichberg Parish, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland Genealogy|Eichberg]] (Sankt Gallen)<br>[[Rüte, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy|Rüte]] (Appenzell Innerrhoden)<br>[[Schlatt-Haslen, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy|Schlatt-Haslen]] (Appenzell Innerrhoden)<br>[[Trogen Parish, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy|Trogen]]

=== Collections  ===

==== Church Records  ====

The parish records for Gais are now available '''online''' from the Appenzell Ausserrhoden State Archives. They are organized by volume. Click [http://saas.it.yousee.net/gallery/albumlist.asp?skin=blank&bookshelf=3a0q1b8a&col=1&row=8&imgw=80&imgh=107&totw=776&t_len=12&s_sch=undefined&bgColor=FFFFFF&css=%2Fcss%2Fb2c_kr.css&cover=undefined&s_id=y&s_icon=n&s_date=y&s_count=n&s_navi=y&f_totw=750&f_toth=718&cx=375&cy=359&rx=300&ry=150&maxAlpha=1&minAlpha=1&maxScale=1.5&minScale=0.7&duration=1&eForce=40&fskin=&sortby=Title&sort=asc&page=1 here] to access these records.<br> 

The [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/68982 parish] of Gais has existed since the fourteenth century. Records held at the Family History Library include baptisms (Taufen) 1594-1875, and marriages (Heiraten) and deaths (Tote) 1620-1875. 

Family books (Familienbuch) from the 19th century, found in four volumes, are available at the [http://www.ar.ch/departemente/kantonskanzlei/staatsarchiv/ Cantonal Archive] in Herisau, Switzerland. 

==== Genealogies  ====

(see [[Switzerland Genealogy|here]] for article describing Swiss compiled genealogies) 

The following genealogies have been researched for Gais families: 

[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSX4-59N4-D Eisenhut family], by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,470)<br>
Frehner family, by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/65299 FHL Film 128,007]; see also FHL Film 193,471)<br>
Holderegger family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,474)<br>
Kern family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,476)<br>
[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/236174-schiess-und-kursteiner-familien-aus-gais-in-der-schweiz?offset=1 Kürsteiner family], by John Schiess<br>
Müller family, by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/274173 FHL Films 128,042 and 128,043])<br>
[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVG-Q5WF Näf/Nef family], by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/73589 FHL Film 128,035]; see also FHL Film 193,480)<br>
Preisig family, by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/72412 FHL Film 128,084])<br>
[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSPR-PLXV Schiess family], by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/276135 FHL Film 128,044])<br>
[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/236174-schiess-und-kursteiner-familien-aus-gais-in-der-schweiz?offset=1 Schiess family], by John Schiess<br>
Schmid family, by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/276151 FHL Film 599,106]; see also FHL Film 193,483)<br>
Walser family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 193,486)<br>
Zellweger family, by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/65302 FHL Film 128,008])<br>
Zuberbühler family, by Julius Billeter ([https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/72538 FHL Film 128,036])

==== Civil Registration<br>  ====

Civil registration began in 1876. Gais belongs to the [http://www.zamlar.buehlerar.ch/ Mittelland] civil registration district. Records are only available in Switzerland. For further information, contact the civil registry office at:<br> 

Zivilstandsamt Mittelland A.Rh.<br>Postfach 144<br>CH - 9055 Bühler AR<br> 

Tel:&nbsp;+41 71 791 70 91<br> 

email:[mailto:za@buehler.ar.ch za@buehler.ar.ch]<br>

=== Surnames  ===

The following surnames held citizenship in Gais prior to 1875: 

{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" width="98%" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Auer<br>Bischofberger (extinct)<br>Biser<br>Bodenmann (extinct)<br>Bruderer<br>Eisenhut<br>Engler (extinct)<br>Enz (1873 from<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Herisau Parish, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland Genealogy|Herisau]])<br>Fitzi<br>Frehner<br>Gingg<br>Gmünder<br>Gross (extinct)<br>Grunholzer 

| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Haas<br>Heierli<br>Heim<br>Hofstetter<br>Holderegger<br>Höhener<br>Jakob<br>Kern<br>Kessler (extinct)<br>Knechtli<br>Koller<br>Krüsi<br>Küng<br>Kürsteiner 

| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Laich/Leich (1815)<br>Langenegger<br>Lanker<br>Lendenmann/Lindenmann<br>Mädler (extinct)<br>Menet<br>Mösli<br>Nagel<br>Oberteufer (extinct)<br>Preisig<br>Rechsteiner<br>Rösch (extinct)<br>Scheuss<br>Schiess 

| width="25%" valign="top" | 
Schläpfer<br>Schmid<br>Sonderegger<br>Walser<br>Weiler (extinct)<br>Weishaupt<br>Wetter<br>Wick<br>Widmer<br>Willi<br>Wirth (extinct)<br>Zellweger<br>Zuberbühler<br>Zürcher 

|}

=== Related Sources  ===

The town's website (in German) can be found [http://www.gais.ch/de/ here]. 

=== Societies and Libraries  ===

[http://www.ar.ch/departemente/kantonskanzlei/staatsarchiv/ Cantonal Archive of Appenzell Ausserrhoden] (in German)

=== References  ===

[http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/famn/index.php Register of Swiss Surnames] 

[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/309948 Registry of Appenzell Ausserrhoden] 

[[Category:Appenzell Ausserrhoden Parishes]]