Switzer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Switzer or a variant listed above:

Switzer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Christian Switzer, aged 20, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
• Henderick Switzer, aged 25, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
• Johannes Switzer, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
• John Switzer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1761 2
• Jacob Switzer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Switzer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Laurence Switzer, who landed in Maryland in 1800 2
• Martin Switzer, aged 28, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1804 2
• Simon Switzer, who landed in Mississippi in 1847 2
• Henry Switzer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Switzer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. Peter Switzer U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1875 was a Cutler 3
• Cpl. Philip Switzer U.E. (b. 1757) born in Ballingarrane, Limerick County, Ireland from New York, USA who settled in Ernest Town [Ernestown], Lennox & Addington, Ontario c. 1784, then resettled to Marysburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario in 1796, before finally settling in Camden East, Ontario after 1830 he enlisted in 1776 serving in Loyal Rangers, Justus Sherwoods 4th Company, married to Patience Rose in 1784 having 11 children, 3

Switzer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. Michael Switzer who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Primrose" departing 7th April 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 18th June 1847 but he died on board 4

Switzer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. George Switzer, English convict who was convicted in Southampton, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5

• Carl Dean "Alfalfa" Switzer (1927-1959), American child actor, professional dog breeder and hunting guide, best known for his role as Alfalfa in the Our Gang shorts
• George Shirley Switzer (1915-2008), American mineralogist
• Robert Mauck Switzer (1863-1952), U.S. Representative from Ohio
• Robert C. Switzer (1914-1997), American co-inventor along with his brother Joe Switzer of the first fluorescent paint which he called "Day-Glo"
• Kathrine Switzer (b. 1947), American runner, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry
• Harold Frederick Switzer (1925-1967), American child actor
• Jon Michael Switzer (b. 1979), American Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• Barry Switzer (b. 1937), American former football coach
• Jay Switzer (1956-2018), Canadian television executive from Calgary, Alberta, longtime senior executive of CHUM Limited
• Brigadier Thomas Deeves Switzer (b. 1885), Canadian Deputy Master-General of Ordnance, National Defence Headquarters 6
• ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)