Thank you so much for your advice and directions. I had no idea where to start- this is a big help! Jamie -----Original Message----- From: Wolf Seelentag [mailto:wolf.seelentag@swissonline.ch] > Has anyone any connection to this name UTIGER? I get the > impression it is an uncommon name in Switzerland? Not a very common name - but it does exist: citizenships prior to 1800 in Wiggiswil (Bern) and Baar (Zug) - in fact, these were also the only ones until 1913. As a son was born after 1876, the family will be registered with the Civil Registry Office of Wiggiswil - wherever the parents got married or the mother came from. I would recommend you contact the civil registry office - responsible for Wiggiswil is the one in Fraubrunnen: http://tinyurl.com/h9wtp Ask whether your ancestors can be identified on their register (this info is usually given without long formalities, and free of charge) - and what you are expected to do to get a "Familienschein": http://swiss.genealogy.net/intro-e.htm#schein Good luck - Wolf ==== SWITZERLAND Mailing List ==== Going on vacation? Gone longer than 4 days? Go to http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/CHE/SWITZERLAND.html to unsubscribe