Birth records for Switzerland?

[exessexgirl]

Would any one know if it's possible to find birth records for Berne Switzerland 1855.  Lyn

[aghadowey]

LDS catalogue has lots of records listed under Bern, Switzerland. Have you also tried searching on IGI & other records they have online?

[rbangorreg]

Hi  Lyn.
         Also try the following Swiss site--
http://www.eye.ch/swissgen/schweiz-en.html
          Good luck    Reg.

[aghadowey]

Went to Cyndislist to check when birth registration started in Switzerland and nothing listed under Vital Records as for most countries. Then checked a reference book and it says "prior to 1848 civil registration was the responsibility of each canton and the dates when registration began vary from canton to canton. Registration was made in the parish records of churches until 1876 when it became the responsibility of civil authorities" (How to Find Your Family Roots- by Beard & Demong)

[exessexgirl]

Thank you aghadowey & Reg

I have had a look on the IGI and found quite a few WAGNER details. Thank you for the site details Reg, I'll certainly take a look.  Lyn

[Manchester Rambler]

If you're trying to trace a Swiss relative, the starting point is not necessarily where he was born, but the town/village where his family holds citizenship (also called his place of origin) - roughly speaking, this is usually the place where the family was first recorded.  Children automatically take their father's citizenship, and when a woman marries, she loses hers father's citizenship and acquires that of her husband.  (Ths has become a little more flexible recently!)  Vital records for each family dating back to the start of civil registration are held at the town/village where they have citizenship - this date varies from canton to canton, but is generally the early 1800s.

So - how can you find out where someone held citizenship?

1.  Passport
2.  Livret de Famille/Familienbüchlein
3.  The Swiss Surname Register

1.  Passport
Self-explanatory!  If you're lucky enough to have g-grandad's passport, look for the words "Heimatort"/"Lieu d'origine"/"Luogo di attinenza" or similar.

2.  Livret de Famille/Familienbüchlein
If your relative was married before he left Switzerland, or if he immigrated with his parents, somone in the family may have a small hardcover booklet (like a large passport) with the family's details.  The first entry will be the marriage details, and will include the place(s) of origin as above.

3.  The Swiss Surname Register
Also called the Swiss Surname Book, this is published in English under the title "Swiss Surnames: a Complete Register" by Picton Press, and lists the place of origin (citizenship) for all Swiss families.  I believe it is currently out of print, but your local library should be able to get hold of it for you.  (NOTE - Sorry, but I don't have access to a copy!)

Once you know the place of origin, you can contact the appropriate register office - some are more helpful than others, but you will probably need to supply some kind of proof that you are related, and there may be an administrative fee, so it's worth checking first.

Rambler

[exessexgirl]

Thank you Rambler for your very detailed reply. It is really helpful.  Lyn

[brianog]

Am finding replies on this topic very helpful. Thankyou all. I am looking for birth registration of Karl Heinrich Kubler born 23 May 1848. He was born in Basel.  His father's place of origin was Basel so I need to get my hands on surnames a complete register by Picton Press to find out appropriate register office. Is the right ?

[Manchester Rambler]

If KHK's place of origin was Basel, you can contact the Basel register office directly:

Zivilstandsamt
Rittergasse 11
4010 Basel

e-mail za [...AT...] jsd.bs.ch   (replace [...AT...] by @)

Give them details of your connection to KHK - depending how fussy they are, they might want some kind of documentary proof.  If you are a direct descendant, they *should* provide the information free, or for a small administrative fee, but I haven't dealt personally with Basel.

Good luck!

Rambler