Trefzger
Encyclopedia
Trefzger is a German
surname
that belongs to that category of surnames which originated as nickname
s and were later assumed as hereditary surnames. The origin of this nickname is thought to lie in the Middle High German term "trefs", referring to a "weed," and in some context of a person, a "good for nothing" or an "over-bearing, bothersome person." Another possible origin takes into account that the particular "weed" that "trefs" referred to was nearly impossible to kill, therefore, in the context of a person, a "trefs" would be someone who was very hardy and lived a long life.
is dated on the year 1318. In 1389, a man by the name of Kunrad Treffesese was a church usherer in the town of Fauterbach.
, Germany
. In Wehr, the Trefzger family had a leading role in public life. Five Trefzgers were appointed ‘Vogte’, which means the old kind of landlord-mayor under the umbrella government of a King or a Duke, and later, two Trefzgers were elected ‘Burgermeister’, or mayor:
. The Trefzger family was the second largest in Wehr. In 1833, the law changed for servants, from being owned by landlords to now having a chance to buy their way out and be independent. In 1834, a commission of the mayor Berger and his council members (one of them was a Trefzger) worked out a plan for this matter. There was a problem, however, with Martin Trefzger. He was a teacher, city council secretary and one of the twelve landowners who had to be paid off accordingly. He and another landlord disagreed about how much the city should pay them at this buy-out. The fight between Trefzger and the commission came finally to an end in 1840. Enkendorf, part of Wehr, tried to secede from Wehr. Enkendorf claimed to have enough citizens (90) to receive its independence from Wehr (410 citizens). Against the independence of Enkendorf was the city council of Wehr, with members like Sebastian Trefzger and Karl Berger, as lawyers, and the scriptor (secretary) of law, Martin Trefzger. Revolution in 1848 in Wehr
: In 1847, the movement to create a republic in Baden began to increase dramatically. The idea started in France based on the July Revolution in 1830 against Napoleon III. The government of Baden started, therefore, in 1848, a citizen patrol to calm this political movement down. Two of the leaders of the movement were Frans Joseph Trefzger and Hecker. The radicals declared a ‘German Republic
’ on September 21, 1848. Many citizens, and finally the Prussian army troupes, fought against the radicals. So did Wolfgang Trefzger, who belonged to
the mayor's council. Frans Joseph Trefzger and his movement finally gave up in May, 1849. Some political activists emigrated to Switzerland
and to America
.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
surname
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
that belongs to that category of surnames which originated as nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s and were later assumed as hereditary surnames. The origin of this nickname is thought to lie in the Middle High German term "trefs", referring to a "weed," and in some context of a person, a "good for nothing" or an "over-bearing, bothersome person." Another possible origin takes into account that the particular "weed" that "trefs" referred to was nearly impossible to kill, therefore, in the context of a person, a "trefs" would be someone who was very hardy and lived a long life.
Early Trefzgers
Amongst early bearers of a variant of the surname Trefzger, a reference to "der (the) Trefs" of Hundgersingen near RiedlingenRiedlingen
Riedlingen is a town in the district of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, in the south-west of Germany. It is one of the destinations of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. There are ca. 10,000 inhabitants.- Geography :...
is dated on the year 1318. In 1389, a man by the name of Kunrad Treffesese was a church usherer in the town of Fauterbach.
Trefzgers in Wehr
Most Trefzgers that have not yet emigrated to the US reside in the town of WehrWehr
Wehr is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km north of Bad Säckingen, and 18 km east of Lörrach. Wehr is the home of two very old and large families: the Trefzgers and the Nagelins....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In Wehr, the Trefzger family had a leading role in public life. Five Trefzgers were appointed ‘Vogte’, which means the old kind of landlord-mayor under the umbrella government of a King or a Duke, and later, two Trefzgers were elected ‘Burgermeister’, or mayor:
Landlord-Mayor
- Fridlin Trefzger (1699-1707)
- Josef Trefzger (1754)
- Michael Trefzger (1787-1791)
- Johann Baptist Trefzger (1806/08)
- Anton Trefzger (till 1820)
Strife in Wehr
In the beginning of the 19th century there were 19 families with the name Trefzger in WehrWehr
Wehr is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km north of Bad Säckingen, and 18 km east of Lörrach. Wehr is the home of two very old and large families: the Trefzgers and the Nagelins....
. The Trefzger family was the second largest in Wehr. In 1833, the law changed for servants, from being owned by landlords to now having a chance to buy their way out and be independent. In 1834, a commission of the mayor Berger and his council members (one of them was a Trefzger) worked out a plan for this matter. There was a problem, however, with Martin Trefzger. He was a teacher, city council secretary and one of the twelve landowners who had to be paid off accordingly. He and another landlord disagreed about how much the city should pay them at this buy-out. The fight between Trefzger and the commission came finally to an end in 1840. Enkendorf, part of Wehr, tried to secede from Wehr. Enkendorf claimed to have enough citizens (90) to receive its independence from Wehr (410 citizens). Against the independence of Enkendorf was the city council of Wehr, with members like Sebastian Trefzger and Karl Berger, as lawyers, and the scriptor (secretary) of law, Martin Trefzger. Revolution in 1848 in Wehr
Wehr
Wehr is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km north of Bad Säckingen, and 18 km east of Lörrach. Wehr is the home of two very old and large families: the Trefzgers and the Nagelins....
: In 1847, the movement to create a republic in Baden began to increase dramatically. The idea started in France based on the July Revolution in 1830 against Napoleon III. The government of Baden started, therefore, in 1848, a citizen patrol to calm this political movement down. Two of the leaders of the movement were Frans Joseph Trefzger and Hecker. The radicals declared a ‘German Republic
German Republic
German Republic can refer to:*Weimar Republic*Federal Republic of Germany , also called Bonn Republic*Federal Republic of Germany , also called Berlin Republic*German Democratic Republic...
’ on September 21, 1848. Many citizens, and finally the Prussian army troupes, fought against the radicals. So did Wolfgang Trefzger, who belonged to
the mayor's council. Frans Joseph Trefzger and his movement finally gave up in May, 1849. Some political activists emigrated to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Trefzgers in the World Wars
Died in World War I:- Trefzger, Alois 1894-1915
- Trefzger, August 1887-1914
- Trefzger, Emil 1896-1916
- Trefzger, Franz Josef 1896-1917
- Trefzger, Julius 1895-1915
- Trefzger, Theodor Philipp 1898–1918
- Died in World War II:
- Trefzger, Emst 1917-1945 (seriously wounded)
- Trefzger, Gustav 1911-1942
- Trefzger, Hermann 1924-1945
- Trefzger, Hermann 1916-1940
- Trefzger, Karl Friedrich 1919-1943
- Trefzger, Otto 1918-1944 (never found)
- Trefzger, Otto 1918-1943
- Trefzger, Robert 1925-1944 (never found)
- Trefzger, Siegfried 1914-1940
- Trefzger, Walter 1925-1944
- Trefzger, Wolfgang 1913-1941