The municipality includes: the village of Umkirch; the Dachswangen Farm and Mill (Dachswanger Mühle); and the former settlements of Rendelshusen and Betlinshusen.

The settlement has existed since Roman times (about 100 BC) and was called Latin: Ecclesia in Undis (Church beneath the Waves - maybe because of the two small streams that pass through the village).

Umkirch is first mentioned in the historical record in 1087 in a document about the exchange of the priory of St. Ulrich between the Bishop of Basel, Burkard, and Cluny Abbey in France.

In 1270, Umkirch was given to the knight Dietrich Snewlin, later to several others, among them Martin Malterer, the count palatines of Tübingen and Flora Countess of Wrbna, until it was given to Grand Duchess Stephanie of Baden.

On April 20, 1945, Umkirch was occupied by the French after World War II and was administered by governor Pierre Pène.