Genalogy
Sun, 29. December 2002, Peter Steiner
Alpsteg (Dürrenäsch)
Alpsteg is an uncommon surname and in Switzerland appears as a citizen family (burghers with city rights) only in Dürrenäsch. Today, two spellings are used there: «Alpstäg» and «Alpsteg». Either spelling represents the same origin. Even in the past, the name was spelled in various ways, originally more often with -ä- and later preferring the -e-. The variants «Alpstäger» and «Halbsteg» appeared simultaniously.
It is extremely likely that the progenitor Hans Alpsteg emigrated from Bavaria, Germany, to the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, judging from the fact that his first generation descendants in Dürrenäsch got the nickname «Beyer». However, Hans, a mason by profession, did not go to Dürrenäsch. Probably as a traveling journeyman he came into the Ruedertal (little valley between Wynental and Suhrental, married there and settled down in Schmiedrued for a few years.
Coat of Arms of the Alpsteg from Dürrenäsch, variant a
Coat of Arms of the Alpsteg from Dürrenäsch, variant b
His wife died soon after, probably in 1611 during the plague. Hans moved on, and in Mooslerau he found himself a second life’s companion and a permanent home. «Hans Halbstegen the mason» is mentioned in Leerau as late as 1632. One year later, in 1633, his son Jacob (born in Rued in 1608) got married there. He and his family remained in Leerau at least until 1650. By 1654 [Jacob had moved to Gontenschwil, namely as a well-to-do farmer on the Haselhof (hamlet). But he didn’t stay there long either. Like his father, wandering was obviously in his blood. In 1666 he sold his homestead and moved to Dürrenäsch, his fourth and final home. He died five years later. His sons, Adam and Hans, born in Leerau, carried on the family name in Dürrenäsch, where it still flourishes today.
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Dokument
- Titel:Alpsteg (Dürrenäsch)
- Autor:Peter Steiner, Reinach
- Veröffentlichung:29. Dec 2002
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Literatur
- Die alten Familien von Gontenschwil (The old families of Gontenschwil), yearbook of the HVW 2000, p. 24. (Here the connection between the family members in Rued and in Leerau isn't yet described perfectly.)