Etzelkofen is a former municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

[2] During the Middle Ages, Etzelkofen village belonged to the Herrschaft of Messen.

In the 14th century Fraubrunnen Abbey acquired the land rights over the village from Messen.

However, in 1410 the collegiate church of St. Ursen in Solothurn, citing a donation from 1278, claimed authority over the Herrschaft of Messen.

Two years later Solothurn was able to claim jurisdiction over the village of Etzelkofen and incorporate it into the bailiwick of Bucheggberg.

In 1833 the municipality (Einwohnergemeinde) of Bernisch-Messen was created with the mostly independent villages of Etzelkofen, Mülchi, Messen-Scheunen, Bangerten and Ruppoldsried.

[2] Beginning in the 19th century many farmers began to raise dairy cattle in addition or instead of growing grain.

Today agriculture still dominates the local economy, though a brick factory opened in 1967.

[3] Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (355 or 99.2%) as their first language, English is the second most common (2 or 0.6%) and French is the third (1 or 0.3%).

[3] There were 186 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 46.2% of the workforce.

In the tertiary sector; 5 or 23.8% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 3 or 14.3% were in a hotel or restaurant, 6 or 28.6% were technical professionals or scientists, 3 or 14.3% were in education.

[3] From the 2000 census[update], 28 or 7.8% were Roman Catholic, while 288 or 80.4% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude.

Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an apprenticeship.