Welcome to Swiss & German Family Names

My hope is, that you will find the help you need in this blog, to search thousands of Swiss and German surnames, because of what you learn.

In the way of background, my mother's ancestors came from the Bauma area, in the Zurich Canton, of Switzerland. This was something I discovered about 1989, by finding the research of several others, including the late Raymond Bell, genealogist. Others discovered our Swiss connections, as well.

Since then, I have translated, "transcribed into English", the 261 page section of the Deutsches Geschlechterbuch,volume 65, which was printed in Gothic German type, regarding her Wolfensberger family name. There were no less than 4200 names in just 438 pages the book. Out of an Index of 84 pgs, only 18 were for the family surname. (Granted, there were hundreds of entries on those 18 pages for her family surname.) See the inset sample, of a typical entry in the book.

In addition, you will find here, a link to a free "Guide to Reading Geschlechterbuch's", which would allow you to pick up the book, or read it on a CD, and readily understand what you are reading. [See link below the Swiss Declaration of Independence picture, at bottom of blog.]

The correct translation of the word Geschlechterbuch, is Genealogical Family Name book.
[...more about that later. The modern literal translation on Google is incorrect, because it should translate the word into Family "Gender" book.]

The amazing quantities of names that are found in these books is astounding. The listed names on the publisher's website do not do justice to the actual names found in each of the 216 volumes.

I will include here a pdf file which lists the publisher's listed Index of Names, by volume, which you will be able to search. If you do not find your name, be not dismayed! I will soon post a list of locations for where these ancestors are found in each volume. That is the key to searching further.

This is an frequently overlooked resource for finding Swiss and German names for family genealogies, because people are not aware of the great possibility that their family name would be included, even if not listed as one of the Indexed Names by the publisher.

Finding resources for copies of these Geshlechterbuchs has been very difficult, since the publisher is in Limburg, Germany, and has strict rules about thier texts in library research departments. However, the good news is, now these volumes are being produced onto CDs, which are searchable.

Remember, by printing my Guide to Reading Geschlechterbuch's you will be able to "read" the pertinent information you find.

I will include here, a post explaining how to read the publisher's site, which is in German. No, I do not receive any payment for this service.

The publisher, [=verlag in German]
C. A. Starke, publisher
is placing their 216 volumes onto CD's since the original books are now out of print, except those found in libraries, and private collections. Remember, these books are the source for over 2 million Swiss or German names with birth, death, marriage, dates, locations, and even parents names sometimes.

This research for these collections, were done in the early 1900s, from original documents, often from parish records, by professional genealogists of the day. It was not unusual for there to be a state Genealogist who researched, and assisted in research.