Zumbrun Genealogy

Life Sketch
Heinrich Zumbrunnen, sometimes Henrikus, was the third child and second son of Burkhard Zumbrunnen.

While sources agree that Heinrich was the son of Burkhard Zumbrunnen, I believe this is some confusion in these sources and that he is the son of Burkhard Zumbrunnen who was a Knight in the Order of St. Lazarus, and the grandson (not the son) of Landammann Burkhard “Schüpfer” Zumbrunnen.

No details are known of his life, aside from his heroic death at the famous Battle of Laupen. A full account of this battle can be read here.

In brief: in the early 1300s, the city of Bern had asserted its independence from feudal tyrants like the Counts of Burgundy and the House of Hapsburg. In 1339, the Hapsburgs, the counts of Burgundy and other nobles laid siege to the town of Laupen. Bern called for help from the mountainous regions of Switzerland. Heinrich joined his cousin, Johann Von Attinghausen, and several thousand other men in marching to Bern’s relief. The men from Uri were outnumbered and the Hapsburgs were heavily armored. But the men of Uri, with superior tactics and valor, triumphed; the nobility in western Switzerland never really recovered from this defeat. But the men of Uri suffered heavy losses; Heinrich was among the fallen on that day of June 21, 1339.

He was regarded as a war hero in his homeland. His name is recorded multiple times in the Necrology of the Monastery of the Order of St. Lazarus. Every year, the church prayed for him on April 15 and May 18. His fall in battle appears to be the beginning of the tradition of naming men in the family Heinrich/Henry.

According to the Nobiliaire Militaire Suisse, Heinrich was the father of Walter Zumbrunnen. But most other sources agree that Heinrich was the uncle of Walter.

Vital Information

Name: Heinrich Zumbrunnen
Sex: Male
Birth: Late-1200s or early 1300s
Residence:
Offices:
Death: June 21, 1339 at the Battle of Laupen

Family Members

Father: Burkhard Zumbrunnen
Mother: Unknown
Siblings: Johann Zumbrunnen, Mechtilde Zumbrunnen (Püntener)

Spouse: Unknown
Children: Walter Zumbrunnen? (according to the Nobiliaire Militaire Suisse, he is Walter’s father, but according to other sources, Walter is the son of Johann Zumbrunnen, making him Heinrich’s nephew.)

Fourth cousin: Johann Von Attinghausen
Uncle: Conrad Zumbrunnen
Grandfather: Burkhard “Schüpfer” Zumbrunnen

Sources

Heinrich Zumbrunnen, War Hero and Namesake

Heinrich is mentioned in the Historical Dictionary of the Swiss

Heinrich Zumbrunnen entry in the Nobiliaire Militaire Suisse

Heinrich Zumbrunnen entry at FamilySearch.org. His birth year is estimated as 1313; I think he was likely born a decade or two before this.

Heinrich Zumbrunnen entry at Stammler Genealogie. Stammler lists Johann as the likely father of Walter, rather than Heinrich.

Heinrich Zumbrunnen is listed on April 15 and May 18 in the Necrology of the Monastery of the Order of St. Lazarus.