The first indication of human settlement near Besenbüren are paleo- and mesolithic items that were discovered in the Forenmoos.

The modern municipality of Besenbüren is first mentioned in the Acta Murensia, which was first drawn up in 1160 but included a number of various older documents, as Besenbürren.

[3] The major landholders in the Middle Ages in Besenbüren were Muri and Engelberg Abbeys.

The rights that the Hermann of Heidegg received after the conquest of the Aargau by the Swiss Conderation remained with his family until 1617, when they were transferred to Muri Abbey.

In the 19th century, agricultural employment and the straw plaiting industry provided nearly all the jobs in the municipality.

In the second half of the 19th century, the population decreased as a result of fires, emigration and land scarcity.

The bad traffic situation and the small territory led to no industrial development.

[8] The age distribution, as of 2008[update], in Besenbüren is; 90 children or 15.5% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 76 teenagers or 13.1% are between 10 and 19.

[10] About 66.1% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage or a rent-to-own agreement).

[8] The historical population is given in the following table:[3] The Speicher (warehouse) on Zentralstrasse is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.