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42-400: While several explanations exist for the origin of the surname Hunziker, the following appears to be that stated by most, if not all, Swiss historians. In the 13th and 14th centuries, surnames often indicated a person's hometown. Hunzikers originated in the 13th century from a very small village called Hunzingen (today called Hunzikon, just east of Geuensee , Canton Lucerne). In the 14th century,

84-508: A corner or "ecke" in German and hence the Hun's valley would be "Hunsecke". However, these explanations appear to be speculative. During the 15th and 16th centuries, most Hunzikers belonged to Reformed Protestant denominations and lived largely in and near Unteraargau . From 1415 to 1798, this part of Aargau belonged to the old state of Bern, from 1798 to 1803 to the mini-canton of Aargau and in 1803

126-508: A ruthless repression of Anabaptists during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. From 1798 to 1805, modern Aargau was created from four distinct areas ( Baden , Freie Ämter , Fricktal , and Unteraargau). Different regions had been forcefully converted to Protestantism or Catholicism with even further re-conversions, while others were allowed religious freedom. Government in the different regions also differed significantly. Fricktal had been outside of Swiss control altogether, having been controlled by

168-401: Is forested. Of the rest of the land, 13.8% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.3%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains). In the 1997 land survey , 15.09% of the total land area was forested. Of the agricultural land, 69.83% is used for farming or pastures, while 4.67% is used for orchards or vine crops. Of the settled areas, 6.22% is covered with buildings, 0.47%

210-466: Is generally well educated. In Geuensee about 64.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule ). As of 2000 there are 708 households, of which 198 households (or about 28.0%) contain only a single individual. 106 or about 15.% are large households, with at least five members. As of 2000 there were 343 inhabited buildings in

252-486: Is industrial, 0.62% is classed as special developments, 0.16% is parks or greenbelts and 2.8% is transportation infrastructure. All of the unproductive areas are classed as unproductive flowing water (rivers). The municipality is located in the Suhrental . It consists of the village of Geuensee and the hamlets of Krummbach and Hunzikon. Geuensee has a population (as of 31 December 2020) of 2,882. As of 2007 , 23.8% of

294-638: Is still unknown. The two Bruggisser brothers made careers as chief justices, members of the Grand Council, and representatives of the Canton at the Confederation Tagsatzung . The Freiämtersturm of 1830 and other assemblies of 1830-31 had a significant impact on the former Swiss Confederation . The political reforms that came after these assemblies ended the period known as the Restoration and led to

336-804: The Kappelerkriegs (1528–1531), the First War of Villmergen , in 1656, and the Toggenburg War (or Second War of Villmergen), in 1712 (collectively, the Villmergerkriegs) occurred largely in and near modern Aargau and reinforced significant religious conflicts in the region. Famine and plague were common during the 18th century. Also during this period, Argovite cottage industries (cotton and silk weaving, cigar production) were devastated by industrialization in England and elsewhere. As discussed below, Bern engaged in

378-639: The SVP (25.5%), the FDP (18.9%) and the Green Party (12.5%). The age distribution in Geuensee is; 610 people or 26.6% of the population is 0–19 years old. 687 people or 30% are 20–39 years old, and 789 people or 34.4% are 40–64 years old. The senior population distribution is 161 people or 7% are 65–79 years old, 42 or 1.8% are 80–89 years old and 3 people or 0.1% of the population are 90+ years old. The entire Swiss population

420-615: The Sternen Gasthof in Wohlen , several prestigious Freiämter , including Fischer and both Bruggisser, met to discuss the situation. Fischer advocated raising a militia to break the political deadlock. However, the majority of those present refused this, as they wanted to pursue other legal ways to change. Back in Merenschwand, Fischer met with an angry rural population. They demanded immediate change. After an almost unanimous decision for

462-414: The primary economic sector and about 29 businesses involved in this sector. 456 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 39 businesses in this sector. 396 people are employed in the tertiary sector , with 100 businesses in this sector. As of 2000 53.6% of the population of the municipality were employed in some capacity. At the same time, females made up 42.3% of the workforce. In

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504-576: The 16th and 17th centuries. In the late 16th through early 18th centuries, many Anabaptists were expelled from or otherwise left Switzerland for the Palatinate , Alsace , Moravia , Hesse , France , Luxembourg , Lorraine , Bavaria , Galicia , Volhynia , Tyrol , Austria and the Netherlands . Hunzikers in particular emigrated to the Palatinate, Bavaria, and Alsace. Ongoing persecution in those locations led to further emigration to Poland , Russia and

546-668: The 16th century, many Hunzikers (especially from the Emmental ) became involved with pacifist Anabaptist movements, especially the Swiss Brethren . The Anabaptist movements typically propounded believer's baptism , voluntary church membership and other positions that contradicted those of the Catholic church , Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli . Anabaptists' properties were confiscated. Bern in particular attempted to eradicate all Anabaptists from

588-880: The 18th century, Hunzikers became heavily involved in the Aargau textile industry. About 1780, Johann Jakob Hunziker founded a textile firm in Aarau. The factory erected in 1821 still stands. Johann Jakob's grandson, Guido Ulrich Hunziker ran the firm until 1873. Before 1800, persons with the surname Hunziker lived primarily in: Canton Aargau ( Aarau , Bottenwil , Gontenschwil , Hendschiken , Kirchleerau , Leimbach , Moosleerau , Muhen , Oberkulm , Oftringen , Reitnau , Staffelbach , Unterbözberg , and Unterkulm ); canton of Bern ( Schwarzhäusern , Wynau ); and canton of Basel-Landschaft ( Arisdorf ). Hunzikers in their traditional homeland of Unteraargau were particularly impacted by civil strife, natural disaster and cultural upheaval. Battles of

630-432: The 2000 census the religious membership of Geuensee was; 1,340 (68.9%) were Roman Catholic, and 203 (10.4%) were Protestant, with an additional 91 (4.68%) that were of some other Christian faith. There are 152 individuals (7.81% of the population) who are Muslim. Of the rest; there were 12 (0.62%) individuals who belong to another religion, 72 (3.7%) who do not belong to any organized religion, 76 (3.91%) who did not answer

672-577: The Aargau was relatively liberal for the time, the increasing power of the city aristocrats and diminishing power for the rural population added to the unrest in the Freiämter . Then, the July Revolution in France showed that the people could successfully force the government to change. Johannes Herzog, the cantonal president , ruled the Canton with a strict hand. He made enemies of virtually every group in

714-538: The Ancestry.com name distribution tool, the following number of families were listed in the 1920 U.S. census: Geuensee Geuensee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland . Geuensee is first mentioned around 1217-22 as de Geînwison . Geuensee has an area of 6.47 km (2.50 sq mi). Of this area, 70.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 14.4%

756-468: The Canton. Cynics said, in allusion to his style of government, that he was setting up a Duchy of Aargau. He was so divisive that two diverse groups, rural farmers and educated middle class "Liberals", joined together to oppose the current government. The "Liberals" called for a revision of the Cantonal Constitution, in order to have more say in the government and more freedoms. The farmers, on

798-655: The Habsburgs. As a result, the new union was not stable. Conflicts driven by rural-urban conflict resulted in the Freiämtersturm revolt of 1830, which was resolved in large part by Aargau canton president, Johann Georg Hunziker. A change from a 50% split of cantonal representation for Reformed and Catholic resulted in bloody conflict in 1841. In 1845, potato rot spread. The 1847 Swiss civil war resulted in further Argovite casualties. These cultural and economic pressures drove many Argovites, including Hunzikers, from Switzerland. In

840-632: The U.S. William Penn invited some to settle in Pennsylvania and, starting in 1683, numerous Anabaptist Swiss settled in Pennsylvania. After continued persecution in the 17th century, some Swiss Anabaptists joined the Swiss state church. In 1693, Anabaptists who remained in communion with those in the state church became known as Mennonite and those who rejected communion with those in the state church were known as Amish . Hunzikers were found in both camps. One of

882-505: The United States. American Hunzikers have played a critical role in the U.S. Mennonite church. The name is typically anglicized, such as Hunsaker, Huntzinger, or Unsicker. Some genealogists have speculated that the surname Honeysuckle, found among Cherokee and Seminole tribe members, may be a variant created by marriage of Swiss immigrants with native Americans and transformation of the surname to match an item found in nature. According to

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924-454: The army was made up of simple farmers without military training. Fischer, the Bruggisser brothers and other leaders held fiery speeches and urged the troops to discipline. Any unnecessary bloodshed should be prevented, they ordered. Fischer sent a detachment to Seengen , and then on to Seon and Gränichen , while he led the main body to Lenzburg. The troops' discipline and lack of violence

966-465: The canton, sentencing them to galley slavery, flogging, branding and expelling Anabaptist ministers, and, in 1699, established an Anabaptist Bureau specifically to persecute the Anabaptists. Many Anabaptists were imprisoned and tortured at Trachselwald Castle , Thun Castle, and other Swiss sites. Anabaptists were held in cells known as death-boxes. Executions of Swiss Anabaptists were not uncommon during

1008-428: The council that prepared a new constitution, which came into force in 1831. However, the needs of the Freiämter were quickly ignored. The joy of victory soon gave way to bitter disappointment. "General" Fischer's future life was dull. He fell out both with the Merenschwand people and with his family. In 1835 he moved to Lenzburg. In 1861 he was preparing to visit his daughter, but never arrived. What happened to him

1050-592: The earliest Hunzikers to reach the United States was Valentine Hunsicker (1700–1777). Valentine was born in Switzerland (apparently in a Reformed household), moved to the Palatine, arrived in Philadelphia in 1717, and became a prominent U.S. Mennonite. In the early-to-mid-18th century, a number of Mennonite Hunzikers were released from the dungeons only upon intercession from the Netherlands and their promise to emigrate to

1092-705: The end of the Restoration period and the beginning of the liberal Regeneration period. The changes during the Regeneration led to the creation of the Federal State in 1848. The rural population of the Freiämter were poor and uneducated while politically and economically under the control of the cities. During the French controlled Helvetic Republic in 1798 the ideas of freedom and equality spread. The medieval idea of different laws for city citizens and countryside peasants

1134-514: The family was also found in large numbers in the Wetzwil neighborhood of Schlierbach , Canton Lucerne and then spread throughout the Suhrental ( Suhre River valley). In the 15th and 16th century, Swiss surnames were derived by appending the syllable –er (this largely replaced the practice of using the "von" prefix). Several Hunzikers living in Aargau have expressed a belief that the surname descends from

1176-419: The fighting, he sent messengers to the surrounding communities. The militia was to assemble on 6 December. On the morning of 5 December, throughout the entire upper Freiamt , alarm bells rang, calling the militia out. Fischer hoped to force the assembly at Wohlen to go along with his plan. That evening he made the zum Sternen inn his temporary military headquarters, as he waited for the militia to assemble

1218-545: The government quickly negotiated an end of the uprising. They agreed to a full revision of the constitution and all the other demands of the Freiämter militia. Fischer returned to the Freiamt in triumph. Muri Abbey installed a memorial plaque in his honor. In his home town of Merenschwand he was met with liberty trees and a triumphal arch. While the government was not overthrown, the people had shown their strength. Heinrich Fischer, now called "General" Fischer, presided over

1260-540: The government. The foreign-educated lawyers at the meeting called for the convening of a Great Council to consider revisions to the constitution. As the meeting wore on, the movement developed a more aggressive approach and increasingly delegates called for an armed revolution. Johann Heinrich Fischer belonged to the wealthy rural upper class and was the innkeeper at the Zum Schwanen Gasthof in Merenschwand . He

1302-558: The insurgents and simply let them pass without conflict. The situation became more dangerous in Lenzburg, where about 100 government soldiers formed to resist the militia, and brought their guns in position. The Freiämter militia ran toward the militia with wild battle cries, and the government soldiers broke and ran without firing a shot. By 6pm the militia entered Aarau and the commander of government troops surrendered without any resistance. The militia surrounded government buildings, and

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1344-441: The municipality, of which 264 were built only as housing, and 79 were mixed use buildings. There were 180 single family homes, 33 double family homes, and 51 multi-family homes in the municipality. Most homes were either two (128) or three (108) story structures. There were only 8 single story buildings and 20 four or more story buildings. Geuensee has an unemployment rate of 3.02%. As of 2017 , there were 84 people employed in

1386-417: The next morning. On the morning of 6 December, about 6,000 soldiers gathered on the broad field between Wohlen and Villmergen . They were quickly divided into companies and battalions. At the head of the army were about 2,000 uniformed and well armed soldiers, who were recently returned from mercenary service in France. Because of their red uniforms they were called Rotröckler or Red Coats. The rest of

1428-402: The other hand, accused the government of extravagance, nepotism and complained about high taxes. They knew very little about the constitution, rather they pushed for concrete things such as changes to military service or construction of roads. On 12 September 1830 two young students, Johann Peter and Kaspar Leonz Bruggisser, rode to Lenzburg to attend a meeting that would draft a petition to

1470-447: The population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 13.6%. Most of the population (as of 2000 ) speaks German (85.9%), with Albanian being second most common ( 5.7%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 2.7%). In the 2007 election the most popular party was the CVP which received 30.8% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were

1512-592: The question. The historical population is given in the following table: Frei%C3%A4mtersturm The Freiämtersturm in December 1830 was a bloodless revolution in the Swiss canton of Aargau . The dissatisfied rural population of the Freie Ämter region in Aargau marched on the cantonal capital of Aarau to demand changes in the cantonal constitution . The Freiämtersturm , together with other uprisings in 1830–31 led to

1554-401: The representation of rural areas in the cantonal councils. By 1830 the region was also experiencing great economic difficulties. After years of growth, the Freiämter straw industry experienced a major crisis. Many workers feared for their economic future. Adding to this concern, a poor harvest in late summer led many to worry about the possibility of starvation. While the constitution of

1596-461: The traditional occupation of dog breeder (Hundezüchter) and have indicated that Hunzikers have been involved with the development of several dog breeds. This belief is supported in part by the rampant hound regularly found in Hunziker coats of arms. Another possible origin raised by some genealogists is a reference to a valley in which a Hun army camped. A valley or part thereof might be referred to as

1638-456: Was a friend of the Bruggisser brothers as well as a member of the Grand Council . During a meeting of the Grand Council, on 26 November 1830, he launched into an impassioned speech on the explosive mood in the Freiamt . When the president interrupted his speech, Fischer left the room stomping and reportedly shouted "The people themselves will show you what they want!" On 4 December 1830, at

1680-514: Was admired by both sides. Much too late the authorities reacted and ordered the army out to suppress the militia. However, moral was poor among the government troops and most units either did not move or deserted. For example, Lieutenant Sauerland, on the evening of 5 December had 250 soldiers from the Fricktal garrisoned at Küttigen . On the next morning he discovered that he only had 50 soldiers left. Whole companies expressed their solidarity with

1722-468: Was merged and made part of the modern Canton Aargau. By the early 16th century, records demonstrate that a master named Hans Hunziker lived in Aarau. His sons, Niklaus and Hans, became significantly involved with the urban upper class. Niklaus was a member of the court in 1547 and city council in 1566. His son was an Aarau Schultheiß and his brothers also held offices. In the 17th century, family members were influential Schultheiß, councilors and pastors. In

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1764-607: Was overthrown. However, in 1803 the Helvetic Republic collapsed and was replaced by the Act of Mediation which struck a compromise between the Ancien Regime and a Republic. In the following years, even the limited freedoms under the Act were undermined and following Napoleon 's defeat in 1813 the Act was overturned. In the Restoration , which started in 1814, the new constitution reduced

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