Re: Emil Sprenger
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In reply to:
Emil Sprenger
Lauren Issel 9/24/08
Researching Swiss Ancestry ~
Swiss are citizens of their commune first, then the canton, and finally the country.Vital records are typically kept in the commune of citizenship, not where the event took place.Therefore, you need to know where a person held citizenship in order to find records.
The “Swiss Surnames ~ A Complete Register” book lists all the surnames that had citizenship as of 1962.In alphabetical order ~ the surname, followed by the canton, then the commune, and the year* citizenship was acquired.(*It might contain a specific year, or a code indicating the
period.)
I looked up your surname and found:
SPRENGER
(note: "old surname" means citizenship was acquired before 1800)
Canton Aargau: in the communes of Gansingen, Oeschgen & Rheinfelden, it's "an old surname".
Canton Lucerne: in the commune of Römerswil, it's "an old surname".
Canton St. Gall: in the communes of Bronschhofen & Gaiserwald, it's "an old surname".
Canton Thurgau: in the communes of Anetswil, Dussnang, Ettenhausen, Lanterswil, Tuttwil & Wiezikon, it's "an old surname"; and in the communes of Münchwilen & Oberwangen, citizenship acquired between 1801-1900.
Canton Zurich: in the commune of Neftenbach, it's "an old surname" (previous citizenship Tuttwil, Canton Thurgau); and in the commune of Seuzach, citizenship acquired between 1801-1900.
You can check the LDS site to see if they have filmed records for any of the above communes.If they have, then you'll have to go to a Family History Center near you to order the film(s).(If you have questions on this, let me know.)
My suggestion is to try and find at least a Canton to narrow down where he was from ~ such as passenger records, petition/naturalization records, children birth records.Marriage/death records might give info re: parents.Also, did he come alone to the US?When he first came to US who did he stay with or near (relatives)?
If you have any questions, let me know.
Carol
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Re: Emil Sprenger
Lauren Issel 10/24/08