Roth/Rothen/Rochen/Rocher/Koch

Question

I am working on a profile for a woman born c. 1562 in Bern, probably near Steffisburg. I have not yet found a birth record.

However, the baptism records for her children, each have different variations of her surname. Does anyone know if there is a  preferred version of this surname for this time and place?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi Lawrence

Roth, Rothen and Koch are completely different surnames (at least today). Rochen and Rocher doesn't exist in Switzerland today.

Do you know her Heimatort (place of origin)? That would be the place with "von" in the records, while "zu" and "in" is the place of living.
The Heimatort was given by the father to his children at birth and to his wife at marriage. The Heimatort remains the same, even if they move to somewhere else. For example, I have a Heimatort where my family doesn't live anymore for about 100 years.

Birth, marriage and death are always registered at the place where it happened, but also in the Heimatort. So if you have her marriage record, it should name her Heimatort and there you should be able find her birth record.

Answer 2

Lawrence,

I think more information would help us to help you better.

Can you tell us in which church book you found the baptism records, and what was the father's name?