SWITZERLAND: Does anyone have access to "Swiss Surnames: A Complete Register"

[JackieG]

If anyone has access to SWISS SURNAMES: A COMPLETE REGISTER would it be possible to do a lookup for me of a couple of Swiss names.
I'd like to verify where ancestors originated in Switzerland.
The names I am chasing are CARISCH or DE CARISCH and SEMADENI.
Thank you
Jackie

[Manchester Rambler]

I don't have access to the Swiss surname register, but this might be of interest from "Dictionnaire Historique et Biographique de la Suisse":

Carisch 
Family from canton Graubünden, established in several communities. 
Otto Carisch, b. 10 Oct 1789, Sarn; d. 17 Jul 1858: studied theology at Bern and Berlin, professor at Coire 1819 and 1837-1851, pastor at Poschiavo 1824-1825.  Author of teaching manuals and edifying tracts, as well as a Romanche language dictionary, and a translation of the New Testament into the Romanche dialect spoken in the Oberland.

Semadeni (also de Samadeno)
Family from Poschiavo (canton Graubünden).
Wolfinus-Thomasius de Samada: mentioned as a witness in 1288.
Thomasus, Petrus and Fancus de Samadeno: mentioned in 1370.
Giuseppe Semadeni: schoolmaster and municipal secretary 1798-1861 and author of a manuscript history of the parish of Poschiavo.
Antonio Semadeni (1824-1884): Swiss consul in Warsaw.
Tomaso Semadeni (1821-1884): municipal secretary.
A branch of the family obtained citizenship of Guarda (Lower Engadine) around 1870; another branch can be found in Warsaw.  A member of the latter branch is Wladislaus Semadeni (b. 1865), superintendant of the Protestant church.

Rambler

[JackieG]

Thanks Rambler
I have an Otto De Carisch born around 1800 in Sarn. He married in Brusio and had children in Poschiavo.
My grandfather Giacomo Rudolfo Carisch dropped the "De" when he came to England pre 1900.  I found him on the 1901 census.
Also I have a Tomaso Semadeni 1767 - 1848.
Looks like I am looking in the right area. Stacks of them in the Poschiavo Graubunden area.
If you have easy access to the information, would you mind also looking up GODENZ family and MINI for me? Or point me in the right direction if the information is online? I can't find it anywhere.
The LDS obviously gathered  loads of records in the area of Poschiavo which was great for me to find.
Thanks again for the information so far.
Jackie

[Manchester Rambler]

The DHBS is sitting in a bookcase to the left of the computer, so no hassle to look things up!

Godenzi (fomerly de Gaudentiis)
Family from Poschiavo.
Bernardinus Godenzi: Doctor of Divinity, vicar-general, custodian of Coire cathedral 1630-1655.  Erected an altar to St Gaudentius in the cathedral in 1665. Died 31 Jul 1668.

Nothing for Mini, I'm afraid.

I don't know much about that region of Switzerland (my husband's family are mainly from Neuchâtel and Bern), but it's a beautiful area.

Rambler. 

[JackieG]

Thanks again Rambler,
It sounds like most branches of the family were upstanding citizens. I imagine my grandfather was among the undesirables the Swiss encouraged to emigrate to other countries with cash incentives. My Grandmother told us he was sent away with his brother because they were a bit wild!
Jackie

[winston]

Hi

Off topic slightly but here is your grandfather on the 1891 census - staying with some this man

Julius Semadens aged 36 Poschiavo, Switzerland Head  Tunbridge  Kent  Occ - Confectioner

He is married with two young children who were born in Tunbridge Wells


Giacomo Codiferri aged 19 born Poschiavo, Switzerland Servant  Tunbridge  Kent  - he is single and working as a Confectioner's Assisitant


Wendy

[JackieG]

Hi Wendy
Thanks but I am not sure that this Giacomo Codiferri would be my grandfather. The birth date and place of birth fit  but the surname is not even close.
I am coming to the conclusion that he had not arrived in England by the time of the 1891 census. I can't find his first wife Orsolina Semadeni or his brother Teodoro Carisch who left (was kicked out of) Poschiavo at the same time either. I have been searching for any Orsolina, Lina, Teodoro, Theodore and Giacomo. Nothing quite fits.
On the 1901 census I found Giacomo Carisch as Carissh... spelling not quite right. I have found the marriage record for Giacomo and Orsolina in 1893 and births of their children Ines Orsolina 1895 and Rudolfo Giacomo 1898. The wife and family have disappeared on the 1901 census. I think they possibly went back to Switzerland. Giacomo is listed as married at this point. Then in 1917 he married my grandmother Lilian Jenden. The marriage certificate arrived today! He is listed as a widower 45. My grandmother was 17 at the time!
I await the 1911 census!
Jackie

[Pelican]

Hello

Rambler wrote this:

The DHBS is sitting in a bookcase to the left of the computer, so no hassle to look things up!

Hope this is so, could you do a look up for me please.

How far does it go back please? I have Gillott/Gillett/Gillet etc in my tree and I have read somewhere that they may have come from Switzerland, France or the Low Countries. However their immigration to UK would have been pre 1650.

I am in the very early stages. I do not as yet have a definite immigrant, only a family legend. Working on that at the moment and doing eliminations and early exploration of the possibility!!! I expect this job to be a marathon!

Any enlightenment at this stage will be very welcome.

Very best wishes

Pelican

[Manchester Rambler]

Hi Pelican,

There are certainly Gillet families in Switzerland:

1.  A family in the canton of Fribourg, which originated in France (Savoie region), and came to Switzerland in the 1800s.

2.  2 families in the canton of Geneva (also spelled Gilet) - one dates from before 1601; the other pre-1617.

3.  A family in the canton of Valais (also spelled Gilliet), dating from at least the 1500s.

So it looks like France and Switzerland remain possibilities. 

Good hunting!

Rambler