Häfeli von Basel BS

[ginahaefeli]

Original title: Theodore and Louisa Haefeli of Basel City

I am looking for any Swiss records of my great grandparents:
Theodore Haefeli born abt. 1863 in Basel City, occupation silk worker
Louisa, his wife, born about 1861, maiden name unknown

2 sons, Theodore birth date unknown in Basel City
Robert, born 2 May 1886 in Basel City

emigrated via Le Harve France in 1888 to New York

I cannot read or understand German.

Thank you for any assistance.

[Wolf]

A general comment first: one has to distinguish between citizens of Basel (or any other community) - von (of) Basel - and people just living there - in Basel.

In your case it would be possible, but is not sure, that your ggfather was a citizen of Basel when the family emigrated: a line from Mümliswil-Rämiswil (canton Solothurn) was granted Basel citizenship in 1879. Citizenship was also granted to other Häfeli lines - but after 1900 only.

In either case - a 1886 birth in Basel will be recorded at the Basel Civil Registry Office ("Zivilstandsamt): contact them and ask
1) whether your ancestors can be identified in their register, and - if yes
2) what you are expected to do (and pay) to get a "Familienschein".

[ginahaefeli]

My understanding of Swiss citizenship is poor. Would the family's records be found some other place?

Although it is a rare name here, I understand it is a common name in Switzerland.

Would all Haefelis be registered in the same place? Or would there be several locations for branches of the family when citizenship was establlished?
Are there any records on line as I have found in Denmark and the UK?

Thank you

[Wolf]

Already since before 1860 we have 23 places of citizenship for Haefeli/Häfeli in cantons (= states) Aargau, Bern, Graubünden, St.Gallen, Solothurn and Zürich, more have been added since then - so finding the place of citizenship is important to get started: you should be able to get that info from Zivilstandsamt Basel - contacting them is the first step!

Understanding the basics of Swiss citizenship is also the prerequisite of any successful research in Switzerland - see the short description on SwissGen.

There are few data online for Swiss research, especially for the last 100 to 150 years, partly due to the Swiss privacy legislation - so again: contacting the Zivilstandsamt Basel is the first step, the chances to find anything online or detailed help on this forum are extremely dim.

[ginahaefeli]

Thank you. I will contact them.