Klopfenstein Genealogy

Following information is in part taken from "Das Geschlecht Klopfenstein von Frutigen u. Kandersteg" by Rob. Germann-Bucher, Frutigen (CH).

The origin

The first written record of the Klopfenstein family appears to be a letter, written by the Tschachtlan (bailiff) of Frutigen in 1610 to the ruling lords of Berne (Switzerland), respectfully asking them to accept the travelling chandler Cunrath Klopfenstein as their subject.

In the same letter the bailiff remarks that the origins of Cunrath are unknown. However, according to legend, the prime father of the Klopfensteins was found as an abandoned orphan while knocking (klopfen, ger.) on a stone (Stein, ger.). More realistically, it seems that our family came from Italy or Tyrol and then settled down in Switzerland.

Spread

In Switzerland, the first known Klopfensteins settled down in Frutigen in the 16th century. In 1663 David Klopfenstein moved to Adelboden, while in 1630 other families moved to Kandersteg.

At the turn of the 18th century, Friedrich Klopfenstein crossed the border to Germany and settled down in Aken an der Elbe. Many others instead crossed the ocean and travelled to the new american continent, perhaps to escape the persecution of anabaptists in Europe. The family records list Abraham and Susanne Schmid-Zurbrügg (departed in 1837), Johannes and Elisabeth Reichen (1831), Abraham and Susanna Ryter, Johannes and Müller Maria (settled in Ohio), Johannes and Elisabeth Grossen, Samuel and Maria Rychen, Johannes and Elisabeth Rösti, Gottlieb and Frieda Dutli (married in Cripple Creek, died in La Grande) among others.

Nowadays not many swiss Klopfensteins still live in Frutigen or Kandersteg: most of them live in the Zürich canton or in the regions around Biel and Basel.

Family tree

The following picture is a (very approximate) representation of our family tree from Cunrath Klopfenstein.

Cunrath's son, Cunrad Klopfenstein, is the prime father of our family branch from Frutigen. Steffen Klopfenstein moved to Kanderbrügg and most of his descendants remained in the area around Frutigen, Kandersteg and Adelboden.

Albert Klopfenstein was born in Frutigen in 1913, married Dora Känel-Bütikofer from Aarberg and then moved to Sutz-Lattrigen, close to Biel/Bienne. His sons are Gerhard Clemens (1944), Roland (1948) and Hubert Klopfenstein (1955).

Coat of Arms

The Klopfenstein coat of arms is composed of green twigs on a green Dreiberg and three red six-pointed stars on a yellow-golden field.

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