1. Marty LINDER was born about 1585 in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland. He died in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland.
Linder Family Association Quarterly Reports
International Genealogical Index for Switzerland Parish Records by A. Reichen, Gen.New research by Harold Linder of Tempe, Arizona as published in
The Linder Quarterly (No 125 Summer 2001) sheds considerable
new light and scholarship on the origins of the Linder name in
Switzerland. Mr. Linder has visited this area and researched its history.
His fluency in German and natural curiosity had
benefited all those interested in the Linder origins. One of the most
valuable sources he has found is the book The Oldest Families of
the Saanen District (Die altesten Geschlechter der Landschaft
Saanen) by J.R.D. Zwahlen (1998, Muller Marketing & Druck AG,
Gstaad. 66 pp.) This is said to be a reprint of a 1967 book which is
on file in the Family History Center library.
This part of Switzerland is about 35 SW of the capital Bern and to
the east of Lake Geneva and the French border. This research
identifies very early 'Linder sightings' in a small area of only one or
two square miles along the Saane River Valley near the villages of
Saanen and Gstaad. To the south are the Alpes Pennine including
the Matterhorn. Note that later sources appear to localize Marty
Linder, previously the oldest known Linder in Switzerland, in nearby
Gstaad. From Harold Linder's discussion of the findings of Mr.
Zwahlen it now appears to be established that:1. Zwahlen notes Linder to be one of the oldest Swiss names with
earliest versions thought to be de la Linda & de Laigna (1312), de la
Ligda (1324), de la Lindac (1355) and de la Linda (1360). These
early names were registered for owners of parcels of land along a 2
mile length of the Saane River Valley between 1312 and 1360.2. Three brothers Yanni, Uldricus and Heyni de la Linda were noted
to be Tallibles or serfs with a farm in La Linda, Gstaadwiler, NW
Gstaad. They held nine Jucharten (acres) of farmland and one Mahd or
alpine pasture meadow per the tax rolls of 1312 along with what
may have been rights to fell timber in woodlands that were common land.
Two other meadows in Gstaadwiler and Parzgum formed the balance of
this estate. By 1324 two farms or hearths are on the rolls and Heyni is
presumed to have died. His son Peter however is paying taxes in 1355 for
land in Rubeldorf. Linder lands identified in 1312 are still so connected in
1360.3. One Anton Linder in 1470 is noted to be the Landesvenner or
district administrator in the Schwellenbrief of Saanen district. He
was chosen by local assembly and supervised all rights and property
of the district. His position was said to be second only in importance to
the castle warden. Given his prominent position it should be possible to
locate other relevant records of his activity.4. Jorg Linder was noted to be the Landschreiber or head clerk on
at least nine occasions between 1528 and 1565. Johannes Linder is
identified as a notary in 1528. Peter Linder is another name that
appears in this location during the 16th century.5. The surname Linder is thought to be derived from a locational
field name related to the linden tree. According to Zwahlen
however the name is also related to the occupation of wood cutter
or wood carrier. Harold Linder believes it likely based on evidence
that the earliest Linders who lived in "la Linda" were wood cutters
or carriers when tax rolls were made in 1312, 1324 and 1355.
6. According to Zwahlen half of the ninety-seven family names in
the Saanen area were of French origin. This portion of Switzerland
is at the extreme SW frontier of the German speaking world and just 2
miles from French speaking citizens. The Saanen area did not
become part of Switzerland until it was absorbed by the Canton of
Bern in 1555. Saanen is known as Gesseney in French and the
Saane River as the Sarine.7. There is a coat of arms which shows: in white an arched golden
chevron, accompanied by three green Linden leaves (1811), which
has a strong resemblance to the fourth coat of arms from about
1480 in the Mauritius Church; three white hearts in white circles on
green (possibly yellow).8. The other thirty-five early Swiss names researched by Mr. Zwahlen in
this area are: Aellen, Annen, Bach, Baumer, Brand, Frautschi, Gander,
Gehret, Gonseth, von Grunigen, Gyger, Haldi, Hutzli, Jaggi, Kohli,
Kropfli, Kubli, Matti, Mosching, Perreten, Reichenbach, Reller, Romang,
Schopfer, von Siebenthal, Steffen, Sumi, Topfel, Tuler, Walker, Wursten,
Zingre, Zumstein & Zwahlen.
Harold Linder has opened the doors to all of us with an interest in
pursuing the earliest history of this family name. He does not dispute that
Linders arose in other parts of Europe but asks the following questions:
In how many places did the Lidner surname originate?How many of these origins can be traced to the present?
Harold Linder can be reached by email at haroldlinder@hotmail.com
Marty married Salome WERREN on 26 May 1605 in Gstieg, Bern, Switzerland. Salome was born about 1586 in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland.
They had the following children:
2 F i Elsbeth LINDER was born on 25 May 1606 in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland. She died in Switzerland. 3 F ii Christina LINDER was born on 29 Sep 1607 in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland. She died in Switzerland. Christina married Peter HAELEN on 27 Jul 1629. Peter was born in 1603 in <Saanen, Bern, Switzerland>.
Line 28175 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
NAME Peter /HAELEN/ GIVN Peter
Line 28176 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
NAME Peter /HAELEN/ SURN HAELEN4 F iii Salome LINDER was born on 1 Mar 1609/1610 in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland. She died in Switzerland. 5 M iv Marty LINDER was born on 18 Mar 1610/1611 in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland. He died in Switzerland. + 6 M v Simon LINDER 7 F vi Maria LINDER was born on 6 May 1618 in Saanen, Bern, Switzerland. She died in Switzerland. Maria married Hans WERREN on 9 Mar 1638/1639. Hans was born about 1618 in <Saanen, Bern, Switzerland>.