The settlement has existed since Roman times (about 100 BC) and was called "" ("Church beneath the Waves" - maybe because of the two small streams that pass through the village). Sigillat shards and coins have been found and the church was built on top of a Roman building, as a part of its wall was found. When the Romans left in sixth century, Alemanni clans settled in Umkirch, ruled by the Lords of Üsenberg, a noble family, and later by the Kageneck family.