Family Registers and Family Books
I have been trying to educate myself on Swiss Family Registers and Swiss Family Books. Does anyone have experience in acquiring one? We are going to Switzerland in May and I would like to know more about how to see if there is a Register/Book for my families. Is there an online source for me to see if my surnames are in these registers/book? They are from Solothurn so I believe I need to contact the Civil Registry office in Solothurn. Would the local library have any books?
Your help is much appreciated.
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Hello Sharon Lee,
let's first define what exactly(!) you are looking for 😉. Do you mean official records - or published family histories?
1) Official records:
https://community.familysearch.org/de/discussion/91988/council-minutes-chur-1889-transcription-translation-and-background-explanations starts with a transcription of a specific document - but if you scroll down you'll find short explanations of different sources, including "Bürgerregister" (citizens register). These were started in most Swiss cantons during the first half of the 19tzh century - in some cantons managed by the community administrations, in others this was delegated to the parishes.
Many larger cities have managed such registers much earlier, e.g. the one of the city of St.Gallen (http://kunden.eye.ch/swissgen/kant/sgstemma.htm) was retrospectively set up in 1683 and compiled info (in selected cases) back to the 13th century … it was just continued when the "Bürgerregister" became required by law. These registers are usually kept at the State Archives today - some are available online.
In several parishes the priests/pastors kept similar registers, usually called "Familienbuch", in some cases even starting in the 17th century. These have often been filmed together with the other church records - so in cantons where church records are online, these sources will usually also be online.
"Familienregister" are part of todays official civil registration system, started in 1876 - with the Familienregister added as late as 1929. They are not online - and access is restricted: you have to apply for a "Familienschein" (and pay fees).
2) Private publications:
All sorts of books have been published, some on specific families, some compiling information on all families of a given community. I would include here also manuscripts, which have been copied several times to be given to archives or libraries.
All such documents published in Switzerland, submitted to the Swiss National Library, or at least reported to them can be searched with https://helveticat.ch/discovery/search?vid=41SNL_51_INST:helveticat&lang=en.
Another great source (for publications prior to 2001) is the Bibliography by Mario von Moos: https://www.geneal-forum.com/phpbb/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=90423#p907. You'll find an example (von Arx families) on https://www.geneal-forum.com/phpbb/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=463&#p735. To my knowledge this book (3 volumes) is not available online, but in several Family History Centres. If you are looking for only 1 or 2 surnames, let me know.
In https://www.geneal-forum.com/ single families are discussed in each topic: sometimes there are references to published family histories - or you can contact researchers interested in a given family who might know about published books. To use the powerful internal search engine you have to be registered (which is free and without obligation) - but alternatively you could use your favourite search engine - search for surname site:geneal-forum.com.
I wish you an enjoyable and successful visit to Switzerland - Wolf
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Wolf,
Thank you so very much. This does some clarification for me. I have searched the on-line parish records For Solothurn and found many strong possible links. I am looking for Meister's that were butchers, most likely from Oberdorf. My 2ggrandfather immigrated in 1852 and what I believe to be his brother around 1864. Both were butchers. Last year my research revealed he came from Solothurn. The exit papers indicate he comes from Oberdorf. I have been able to construct what I believe is George Meister's family, but I would feel better if I knew they were butchers. Any further insight is appreciated.
Sharon
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Unfortunately von Moos doesn't list any publication on Meister from canton Solothurn - mostly from cantons Schaffhausen and Zürich.
You have found many Meister mentions in the church records of Oberdorf in Solothurn (there are several other Oberdorf in Switzerland) - correct? Oberdorf is not listed as place of citizenship for Meister, however - the communities in Solothurn would be Herbetswil and Matzendorf. Finding the place of citizenship would help to pin down or confirm, respectively, your ancestors. Very often place of citizenship is mentioned in marriage entries: have you got a marriage entry from what you assume to be your line? If you have one - could you post it here (entire page, not just a small snippet)?
What do you mean with "exit paper"? Again - could you post this here? Might help 😉.
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Wolf I hope this information makes sense. I have provided George Meister's Family Search identification, his Passkotrolle - exit from Solothurn and his parish baptism record. His birth month varies in his USA Records, but his birth year is consistent. He was a butcher in Chicago and Idaho/Washington border. His brother Anton immigrated about 10 years later, also a butcher in same locations. The birth parents I found for George are also the same parents for an Anton.
George Meister Info for Family Search
- George Meister (L9H7-4XP) 12 February 1832 – 5 November 1912
- Leaving Solothurn – Passkontrolle
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXW-R934-3
Slide 363
#302 Johann Reck (future brother-in-law)
#307 George Meister – butcher – place of residency? By many individuals evaluation of residency it was decided Oberdorf was the closest translation. Oberdorf Parish records is where I found him.
- Parish baptism record
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXW-DQRM-B
Right Side 1832, fourth one down
Any additional light/knowledge is appreciated.
Sharon
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I forgot to attach his parent's marriage record. Also I think I should explain how I decided this was the George in Oberdorf. I researched as many of the canton's birth records for 18250-1840 for male Meister. I organized my notes by locality and then constructed what I believed to be families based on parents. The family in Oberdorf is the only one that had both George and Anton as children with the correct age. Also the father is from Laupersdorf, the same location George listed on the Passkotrolle records.
Jacobus Georgious Meister - GN21-H1Y 25 September 1786 – deceased
Elisabetha Vogt - M9V9-TRY 4 February 1794 – Deceased
It is the second entry. The citizenship is also listed a Laupersdorf, and he lives in Obersdorf.
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Unfortunately the links don't work from home (only from Family History Centres) ... and the resolution of the attachments is far to low to read them with confidence. I have posted a few comments on attachments on https://community.familysearch.org/de/discussion/comment/458272/#Comment_458272.
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Thank you for helping to educate me. I will read this and try to send again. In compiling my information I realize that I do have the correct family. Your willingness to help others is appreciated.
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Hello Sharon,
Just to help out, this is 1 of 3 records with higher resolution.
Reference: Passkontrolle Reise 1848-1875, Solothurn, year 1854, entry 302 for Johann Reck and entry 307 for Georg Meister.
Debra
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Sharon,
This is 2 of 3 records with higher resolution.
Reference: Pfaarbuch Taufen - Ehen - Tote 1811-1835, Oberdorf Solothurn, year 1832, 4th entry for Georg Meister.
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Sharon,
This is 3 of 3 records with higher resolution.
Reference: Pfaarbuch Taufen - Ehen - Tote 1811-1835, Oberdorf Solothurn, year 1819, 2nd entry for Jacob Meister and Elisabetha Vogt.
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Thank you, Debra, for providing images with sufficient resolution.
1) Passkontrolle (passport register)
302) 07.10.1854 / Reck Johannes / Zimmermann (carpenter) / Muggensturm / for 1 year / age 35 / height 5 ft 5 in (Lin ??) / hair light brown / forehead high / eye brows brown / eyes grey / nose medium / mouth medium / chin pointed / face oval / journey Amerika.
307) 09.10.1854 / Meister Georg / Mezger (bujtcher) / Lauberstorf (Laupersdorf) / for 1 year / age 22 / height 5 ft 6 in (Lin ??) / hair brown / forehead nieder / eye brows brown / eyes blau / nose pointed / mouth small / chin oval / face oval / journey Amerika.
2) Baptism 1832 Oberdorf
12 Februar
Father: Jacobus Meister ex Lauperst(orf) in Bellach, fil. (son of) Jacobus (Jacobi = genitiv) et A(nna) M(aria) Fluri.
Mother: Elisabetha Vogt ex Grenchen, fil. (daughter of) Jacobus et A(nna) M(aria) Schilt.
Child: Georgius legitimus (legitimate).
Godparents: Georgius Meister (father's brother) et Maria Ursula Graf Solodorana (= from Solothurn).
3) Marriage 1819 Oberdorf
Die 15ta Februarij A(nno) 1819
Jacobus Meister ex Lauperstorf
Filius Jacobj, et Anae Mariae Flurj, Solemniter in Ecclesia parochialj in Oberdorf Matrimonio junctus est cum
pudica Virgine Elisabetha Vogt ex Grenchen, filia Jacobj, et Anna Maria Schilt. Facta una Denutiatione, obtenta super duabus Dispensatione. Requisito Testibus.
Jacobus Meister from Lauperstorf, the son of Jacobus and Anna Maria Fluri was solemnly married in the parish church in Oberdorf with the virtuous virgin Elisabetha Vogt from Grenchen, the daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria Schilt. After one denunciation, obtained with two dispensations. Witnesses required.
My Latin is a bit rusted - not too sure about the last two sentences (denunciation/dispensations and witnesses).
Now - Laupersdorf is not mentioned as place of citizemship for Meister (in canton Solothurn only Herbetswil and Matzendorf are). So - what next? There are two possibilities: your line either never acquired citizenship of Laupersdorf (they just lived there) - or the line became extinct there (e.g. all emigrated to America). I would therefore recommend you start a new discussion on https://www.geneal-forum.com/ for "Meister in Laupersdorf SO" - you have to be registered for that (which is free and without any obligation); English is fine on the forum. Describe what you know so far about the emigrant's family (children and ancestors); we usually do not publish info on persons born after 1900. You might be lucky and someone sees a connection to his own data - or just has some advice how to continue your research.
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This provides so much more light. I've abstracted the Meister surname in Laupersdorf for B-M-D from 1600's to 1800's. There are numerous Meister families and they are all from Laupersdorf. I'm trying to organize them into families to see if this sheds some light. (I had previously done this for Matzendorf, but didn't find my Meister family.)
Did the family need to register their citizenship? If yes, when did this practice begin? Your help is very much appreciated.
Sharon
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"Did the family need to register their citizenship? If yes, when did this practice begin?"
You find a very(!) basic description of the principle of Swiss citizenship on http://kunden.eye.ch/swissgen/CH-burger-e.html. An important issue in earlier centuries was (for many citizens) that being a citizen of some "organization" (see below) was the function as social security system ... as a consequence, if you wanted to become a citizen (other than by birth) you had to pay a fee - and the community citizens had to accept you.
This "organization" could be a community, in earlier times usually the larger cities - where citizenship also had other features, like joining a guild to be able to work as a professional. This may begin in the late middle ages. Registers were kept by the community.
For smaller communities the system was started later - depending on the region. In several regions there was not a community citizenship, but e.g. all persons living under the rule of an abbey had "Gotteshausmannsrecht", covering several communities. A nationwide community citizenship was developed as late as early 19th century.
The Register of Swiss Surnames (https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/famn/?lg=e) will often list citizenships as "since before 1800" in regions where this community citizenship did not really exist - if you interpret it strictly. This takes into account that most families gaining a (newly established) community citizenship will have lived in the same community for many generations before (and got that status automatically when the citizenship was started) ... so this information is still most helpful when you are trying to find a starting place for your research on a specific surname.
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"I've abstracted the Meister surname in Laupersdorf for B-M-D from 1600's to 1800's. ... I'm trying to organize them into families to see if this sheds some light. I had previously done this for Matzendorf, ..."
Would you be willing to accept questions on these families (and answer them, if possible from your accumulated data)? If yes, I would invite you to register (free and without obligation) with https://www.geneal-forum.com/, briefly describe what you got and what help you could provide. Let me know if you are interested, and we could then talk about it in more detail.
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Wolf,
Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge. It is so appreciated. I would be willing to share what I have gathered after I get it organized. I am very busy these next few months and it will be June or July before I can get it all organized. I will definitely reach out to you when I am ready.
Sharon
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