Brief Life History of Barbara
When Barbara Handschin was born on 15 June 1704, in Gelterkinden, Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland, her father, Sebastian Handschin, was 37 and her mother, Ann Handschin, was 36. She died on 4 November 1781, at the age of 77.
Photos and Memories (0)
Do you know Barbara? Do you have a story about her that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (2)
- Barbara, "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418-1996"
- Barbara, "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418-1996"
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
Siblings (10)
+5 More Children
Name Meaning
From Latin, meaning ‘foreign woman’ (a feminine form of barbarus ‘foreign’, from Greek, referring originally to the unintelligible chatter of foreigners, which sounded to the Greek ear like no more than bar-bar). St Barbara has always been one of the most popular saints in the calendar, although there is some doubt whether she ever actually existed. According to legend, she was imprisoned in a tower and later murdered by her father, who was then struck down by a bolt of lightning. Accordingly, she is the patron of architects, stonemasons, and fortifications, and of firework makers, artillerymen, and gunpowder magazines.
Dictionary of First Names © Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges 1990, 2003, 2006.
Possible Related Names
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.