The foundation
The founding meeting of the association took place on June 10, 1849 in the restaurant “zum Löwen” in Andelfingen, Switzerland. At the same time a family fund was endowed. Initially, the association included only the family members originating from the Lindenmühle (Lime Mill).
Much later, at a meeting in the “Löwen” in the fall of 1935, convened for the first time since 1916, a motion was unanimously approved to extend the family association to the other two lineages of “Bären” and “Dorf”. At the memorable 28th General Assembly of June 13, 1937, the new statutes were approved at the same place.
At the 61st General Assembly of September 13, 2009, the statutes were adapted to today’s conditions: The family fund was transferred to the free association assets and the membership was newly regulated. Adopted children bearing the name Arbenz are now on an equal footing with natural children.
History of the name Arbenz
formerly Arbeson or Orbeson (around 1400), Arebenzon (1488), d’Albenson and d’Albentzon (1496), Arbensen and Arbesun (1567), Arbisung (1569), Arbentzon, Arbenzon, Arbanesen, Albenzo, Albensen and Arbantzon (1570/71), Arbanzs (1573), Arbanz (1575), Arbenson and Darbentzon (1577), Arbenso (1578/79), Arbentz (1579/80), Arpänso (1581), Albenso (1582), Arbent (1586), Arpenson (1586), Arbäntz, Ärbentz (1637), Arbens (1605), Harbantz, Harbentz (1608), Arbentzo (1641), Arbenczon (1650), Arbençon (1671), Arbenz (since 1800 predominant together with Arbenson in the Aosta Valley).
Protestant Reformed and later sporadic Roman Catholic. A merchant family from the Augsttal (Aosta Valley), which is first attested in Zurich in 1567, then settled in Elgg and Rapperswil and since 1577 in the bailiwick of Andelfingen, where it developed into one of the leading and most influential families of the Zurich countryside as a wealthy miller, innkeeper and farmer family. A related branch of the family also settled in Wildensbuch and later in Langwiesen and Feuerthalen. Citizen of Rapperswil in 1571 and 1573, of Andelfingen in 1577, of Dorf in 1581 and 1589, of Wildensbuch in 1605, later of Zürich, Schaffhausen, Oetlikon, Würenlos, Feuerthalen, Stein am Rhein, Winterthur, Riesbach, Rheineck, Richterswil, Basel, Rüti, Baden and Zollikon.
Origin of the name
Not certain. Possibly originating from the two Maiensässen Grand et Petit Albenson in the valley of Gressoney (Valle d’Aosta), called in today’s Gressoney German “Uf dr Albetso” and translated into Italian Alpenzù Grande e Alpenzù Piccolo. Also the question whether the Arbenz were originally Walser, could never be answered conclusively.
Emigrants to Switzerland
Pierre Arbenson (died before 1586), a velvet, silk and coral merchant, moved from the Aosta Valley to Switzerland as a merchant and bought the Obermühle (Upper Mill) in Andelfingen. He was married to Ursula Mantel of Elgg and had 4 children. From their descendants, the line of the “Bären” and the line of the “Linden- und Haldenmühle” were founded.
His brother Petitpierre Arbenson (died before 1589), an ironmonger, moved from the Aosta Valley as a tradesman to Switzerland; he lived since 1580 in Dorf near Andelfingen, was married to Margreth Hirt of Dorf and after her death to Dorothea Bloner of Veltheim, he had no children. Their brother Pantaleon Arbenson died after 1589 in the Aosta Valley. His son Antoine founded the line of “Dorf”.
The complete genealogy in 2 volumes, edited by J.P. Zwicky von Gauen, was published in 1977 and 1999 by the Arbenz Family Association. Copies are available from the president: Peter Arbenz, Bubental 24, 8852 Altendorf
The historical novel “The Arbenz Saga” (author Peter U. Arbenz, published by Amazon.com) describes the origin and emigration of the family in the 16th century.