When Barbara Schenk was born in May 1781, in Eggiwil, Bern, Switzerland, her father, Christen Schenk, was 23 and her mother, Maria Wüthrich, was 25. She married Christian Ramseyer on 16 May 1802, in Eggiwil, Bern, Switzerland. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 3 daughters. She died on 9 April 1857, in Bern, Switzerland, at the age of 75, and was buried in Eggiwil, Bern, Switzerland.
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Revolution in Switzerland. Farmers in occupied territories become free citizens. Centralistic parliamentary republic according to French model. Occupation by French troops and some battles of Napoleon vs. Austria and Russia in Switzerland.
Switzerland is one of the first industrialized countries in Europe.
Civil war brings Helvetic Republic to an end. French emperor Napoleon enforces a constitution negotiated under his "mediation".
Some characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Otto, Arno, Erwin, Gerhard, Hans, Lothar, Armin, Florian, Frieda, Fritz, Gottlieb.
German and Dutch: from Middle High German, Middle Dutch schenke ‘cupbearer, wine server’ (from Old High German scenko, from scenken ‘to pour out or serve’), hence an occupational name for a cupbearer or server of wine. It also denotes an innkeeper. In another development, similar to English Butler , the word came to be used as an honorary title for a high court official, and some cases of the surname may have arisen from this use. The surname Schenk of German origin is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Hungary, Czechia, and Slovenia (see also 3 below).
Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for an innkeeper, from German Schenke ‘inn, tavern’. At one time only Jews were allowed to sell alcohol in the Russian empire, which is why S(c)henk and its related surnames are very common as Jewish names.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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