Our Swiss Roots

Most researchers seem to agree that the Graybill, Grabill, and Crabill families who came to America in the early to mid-1700's had their origins in Switzerland and were German speaking people. The name Kraehenbuehl is found in the early records of Switzerland with several variations, just as we have variations of the Americanized spellings today.

There was a place named Krayenbuhl (with umlatus over the a and u) in the parish of Groshochstetten, Canton of Bern, Switzerland. This place of residence was a cluster of houses where about forty people lived. Much of the family departed Switzerland in 1671, having been driven out along with some 800 other Anabaptists (Mennonites) because of their religious beliefs and activities in the Mennonite movement. Krayenbuhl was located near the village of Zaziwyl, near Signau in the Valley of The Emme River.

Jost Krehbiel who purchased the Pfrimmerhof estate near the Community of Sippersfeld in 1709 (located in Southern Germany) is believed by some to be a descendant of those who left Switzerland in 1671. And Peter Krehbiel who settled at the Weierhof in 1682 (near Bolanden in Southern Germany) is believed to be another descendant.

I would be interested in corresponding with anyone who is working on this part of the Kraehenbuehl Family History.

Home Page of the Krahenbuhl Family | European Connections

Last modified 12/01/03 by Margaret Crabill Mead.
Send e-mail to: patrick.mead@comcast.net