Google Swiss Ancestry

Use these six steps to easily Google Swiss ancestry.

This article is written to easily provide assistance on how to Google Swiss ancestry. Sample Google search queries are suggested for your use to help you research, find and learn about your ancestors.

Six Steps to Google Swiss Ancestry

The following search queries are designed to provide search results that will get you off to a good start by finding the essential information when researching your ancestral roots. For ease of presentation, I am going to organize the article as follows:

See other articles for specific countries.

Google Country Ancestry
United States
Australia Austria Belgium
Canada Denmark England
Finland France Germany
Greece Iceland Ireland
Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg
Netherlands New Zealand Norway
Poland Portugal Scotland
Spain Sweden Switzerland
Wales Any Country

Websites referenced in this article include:

Click here to find the Google Country codes for searching in other countries that are not listed above.

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Finding Country of Origin Resources

Where do you find the country of origin history and genealogy resources on the Internet? It is a seemingly simple question with a complex answer. You will find records in many places, such as large databases to tiny family-related websites and blogs. Records for each generation are going to be different. The records created and available on the web for a specific place in 1940 will be different from those created for 1880, 1840, or earlier. Remember that only a small number of records have been digitized and available online, but digitized records are growing at an ever-increasing rate. I have researched for records for one month without success and found them six months later with the same Google search queries. Why? The records were put online during that six months, or I didn’t find them the first time I searched.

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Providing a List of Websites vs. Queries to Find Websites

Over the years, I have provided genealogists with a list of websites to research their ancestry and search queries to find internet resources they can explore.

Overwhelmingly the best success has come from providing search queries. Why? When search queries were used, the genealogists said their search returns included the websites specific to the period, type of record and place they were searching. It was much easier to go from one site to the next to search for the same type of information.

When I just gave them a list of websites, genealogists felt it was cumbersome because they didn’t know which websites included the information they wanted and/or which websites were related to the type of content they were seeking.

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Understanding Search Query Organization

As you use a variety of search queries, you will see the following elements routinely used:

  • Use of “Switzerland OR Swiss.” With each search string, I have included the name of the country or related location reference that will help Google have a greater chance of returning country of origin resources. For example, if my country of choice were Switzerland, I would use one or more of the following variations in my search query: “Switzerland” or “Swiss” or “Switzerland OR Swiss.”
  • Use of (site:). The “site:” operator will allow you to confine/restrict your search to a specific domain.
  • Use of quotes (” “). The use of quotes around two or more words (e.g., “Switzerland OR Swiss”) tells Google that you search for these words/phrases precisely as they are written and in the same order.
  • Use of OR. I have used OR Boolean operator (e.g., ” database OR index OR records”). Google will search for both options and will return either “database,” “index, “records,” or any combination of the three words.
  • Use of genealogy. I have used the word “genealogy” in almost every query. I have found this word necessary to get to the records or databases that I can use for genealogy or family history research. Feel free to try and use other descriptive words.

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Step 1: General Search Queries

These are general search queries that can be used to uncover the more frequently used websites and databases to get you off to a good start in your research. If I were searching for genealogy libraries or archive websites, my query string would be as follows:

  •  “Switzerland” genealogy “library OR archive”

Instructions. Choose the general search you would like to conduct and replace the “place text here” with the corresponding query element.

  • “Switzerland” “place text here”

Note: Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “Switzerland” or “Swiss” or “Switzerland OR Swiss.”

(Searching general term) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a general genealogy search term, use the associated query element.

  • Education = genealogy “guide OR tutorial OR how-to”
  • Beginning = “beginning”
  • Catalog = “catalog”
  • Classes or Workshops = “classes OR workshops”
  • Dictionary = “dictionary”
  • Family history = “family history”
  • Forums = “forums”
  • Genealogy websites = “genealogy OR ancestors OR roots”
  • Language = “language”
  • Library and archives = genealogy “library OR archive”
  • Message Board = “message board”
  • Records and databases = genealogy “records OR database”
  • Research links = genealogy “links OR sources”
  • Societies = genealogy OR history “society OR group”
  • Wiki’s = genealogy “wiki”

Sample queries. These queries cast a broad net and will find a wide variety of websites.

  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy OR ancestors OR roots
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy OR research OR database
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy OR historical society OR group
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy online OR site
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogical library OR archive
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy sources OR links
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy wiki

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Step 2: Search for Records

This search query is designed to help you find websites and databases that include specific types of records. If I were searching for census records, my search string would be as follows:

  • “Switzerland” genealogy “census” “database OR records”

Instructions. Choose the record type you would like to search for and replace the “place text here” with the corresponding query element.

  • “Switzerland” genealogy “place text here” “database OR records”

Note: Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “Switzerland” or “Swiss” or “Switzerland OR Swiss.”

(Search for record type) = (Use query element). If searching for a specific record, use the associated query element.

  • Adoption / guardianship = “adoption OR guardianship”
  • Bible = “bible”
  • Biography = “biography”
  • Birth / christening = “birth OR christening”
  • Business = “business”
  • Cemetery = “cemetery”
  • Census = “census”
  • Church = “church OR parish”
  • Civil registration = “civil registration”
  • Court = “court”
  • Culture / history = “culture OR history”
  • Death = “death”
  • Directories = “directories”
  • Divorce = “divorce”
  • Immigrant / settlers = “immigrant OR settlers”
  • Immigration / emigration = “immigration OR emigration”
  • Land / property = “land OR property”
  • Maps = “maps”
  • Marriage = “marriage”
  • Military = “military”
  • Naturalization = “naturalization”
  • Newspapers = “newspaper”
  • Obituary = “obituary”
  • Passport = “passport”
  • Pensions = “pensions”
  • Poor houses / orphanages = “poor houses OR orphanages”
  • Obituary = “obituary”
  • Periodicals = “periodicals”
  • Royal / nobility = “royal OR nobility”
  • Probate / will = “probate or will”
  • School = “school”
  • Ship passenger lists = “passenger”
  • Tax = “tax”
  • Vital = “vital”
  • Voting = “voting”

Sample queries. These queries will focus on finding websites with specific types of content related to records. The queries are a little long but will save you hours of research. I would encourage you to modify and experiment with the following queries using what you have learned in earlier chapters of this book.

  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “guide OR tutorial OR articles OR how-to”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy Catholic “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “adoption OR guardianship” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “cemetery” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “civil registration” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “church OR parish” ” database OR index OR records “
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “court” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “culture OR history” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “death” ” database OR index OR records “
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “immigrant OR settlers” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “immigration OR emigration” “records OR database”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “Jewish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “land” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “language” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy Lutheran “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy maps “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “marriage OR divorce” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “military” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “municipal” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “naturalization” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “newspaper” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “obituary OR cemetery” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “passenger lists” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “passport” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “poor houses OR orphanages” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “probate or will” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “royal OR nobility” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “school” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “tax” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “vital” ” database OR index OR records “

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Step 3: Free Database Search Queries

There are extensive websites/databases that include thousands of free records and resources related to almost every research topic. To have Google search only a specific website, you will be using the (site:<URL>) operator. If I were looking for death records on the website FamilySearch.org, my search string would be as follows:

  • site:familysearch.org “Switzerland” genealogy “death” “database OR records”

Instructions. Choose the web property you would like to search for and replace the (site:<URL>) with the corresponding query element to the search string you used in Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.

  • (site:<URL>) (search string from Step 1 and Step 2)

Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “Switzerland” or “Swiss” or “Switzerland OR Swiss.” 2) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any URL you want to search. 4.) Many genealogy/family history organizations will use .org non-profit websites to host their information.

(Searching website) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a free database website, use the associated query element.

  • FamilySearch = site:familysearch.org
  • USGenWeb = site:usgenweb.org
  • RootsWeb = site:rootsweb.ancestry.com
  • .org (Non-profit websites) = site:org

Search queries. The following are examples of adding Step 1 and Step 2 to the above query elements. I prefer to the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.

  • site:familysearch.org “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:familysearch.org “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records” site:familysearch.org “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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Step 4: Subscription Database Search Queries

There are a variety of subscription websites/databases that include many records and resources. You can either use the websites’ search engine or have Google locate the resources of the specific website. You will be using the (site:<URL>) operator. If I were looking for birth records on the website Ancestry.com, my search string would be as follows:

  •  site:ancestry.com “Switzerland” genealogy “birth” “database OR records”

Instructions. Choose the web property you would like to search for and replace the (site:<URL>) along with the corresponding query element to the search string you used in Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.

  •  (site:<URL>) (Text goes here from Step 1 and Step 2)

Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “Switzerland” or “Swiss” or “Switzerland OR Swiss.” 2.) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any URL you want to search.

(Searching website) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a subscription database website, use the associated query element.

  • Ancestry = site:ancestry.com
  • MyHeritage = site:myheritage.com
  • FindMyPast = site:findmypast.com

The following are examples of adding Step1 and Step 2 to the above query elements. I prefer the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.

  • site:ancestry.com “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “census” “records OR database”
  • site:ancestry.com “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:ancestry.com “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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Step 5: “In Country” Website Search Queries

The following query element will focus your search on websites only located in Switzerland. Use the Google country code (ch) in conjunction with the (site:) operator. If I were looking for marriage records located only in websites ending with the Sweden Google country code, my search string would be as follows:

  • site:ch “Switzerland” genealogy “marriage” “database OR records”

Instructions. Replace the (Text goes here from Step 1 and Step 2) with the corresponding query element you used in Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.

  • site:ch (Text goes here from Step 1 and Step 2)

Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. Variations include “Switzerland” or “Swiss” or “Switzerland OR Swiss.” 2.) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any Google country code.

Search Queries. The following are examples of adding Step 1 and Step 2 to the above query elements. I prefer to the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.

  • site:ch “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:ch “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • site:ch “Switzerland OR Swiss” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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Step 6: Locations Within-Country Search Queries

The following query elements focus on locations in Switzerland. Replace the word “Switzerland OR Swiss” from Step 1 and Step 2 queries with a location such as a state, province, and/or county. If you desire, you can also use the city, town, or village (e.g. Bern, Zug, Lagos, Fribourg) or the in-country spelling of the location. The following are the key geographic administrative boundaries in Switzerland.

  • “Aargau”
  • “Appenzell Ausserrhoden”
  • “Appenzell Innerrhoden”
  • “Basel-Landschaft”
  • “Basel-Stadt”
  • “Bern”
  • “Fribourg”
  • “Geneva”
  • “Glarus”
  • “Graubünden”
  • “Jura”
  • “Luzern”
  • “Neuchâtel”
  • “Nidwalden”
  • “Obwalden”
  • “Schaffhausen”
  • “Schwyz”
  • “Solothurn”
  • “St. Gallen”
  • “Thurgau”
  • “Ticino”
  • “Uri”
  • “Valais”
  • “Vaud”
  • “Zug”
  • “Zürich”

The following are examples of adding Step 1 and Step 2 to the above query elements.

  • “Luzern” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Luzern” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
  • “Luzern” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”

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