FREE digital copy of “Table of Contents” and “Every Name Index” based on all newsletters published 1983-2017.
This is a vital resource for researchers and newsletter subscribers. Send your request to Cary Adams cavalleyboy@earthlink.net and he will email you a pdf version.
Coming Soon: Our Biennial Schürch Family Reunion!
July 24, 25, and 26, 2024
Millersville University, Millersville PA
“Celebrating Heritage and Homeland”
REGISTER EARLY! REGISTER EARLY!
Registration forms available for download: www.schurchfamilyassociation.net
Schürch descendants of Lancaster County, PA extend a warm welcome to visit this summer. Enjoy this opportunity to connect with family members from across the U.S., Canada – and a few persons from Switzerland! Learn more about our common Swiss history and emigration to North America, enjoy an afternoon trip to local Shirk/Sherrick homesteads…and yes, cemeteries! Enjoy tasty food and fellowship…and the popular auction to close our reunion weekend!
To register for the reunion, complete the registration form by JULY 5, and mail it with a US $$ check/cheque to Ray and Joan Shirk, 11 Krell St, Nuangola PA 18707. A registration form and detailed information are also available for download at www.schurchfamilyassociation.net and the SFANA Facebook.
All reunion activity (except Friday afternoon coach tours) will be held in the Millersville University Student Memorial Center, commonly known as “SMAC.” Meals are provided on the second floor (elevator available) of Gordinier Hall, a short walk from the SMAC.
We are a diverse group of people with many interests and in our planning, we hope to meet some of those interests. WELCOME EVERYONE.
Detailed information of the reunion can be found on the Reunion 2024 menu button.
For forty years, The Sherk Family by Thomas A. Sherk has been the go-to resource for Schürch family history. At the 2022 reunion auction, two copies sold for more than $200 each. Now, through a one-time collaboration with Tom Sherk, the Schürch Family Association of North America is able to offer copies of a limited reprint edition of The Sherk Family.
The book was reprinted in November 2023 and will be offered at the 2024 reunion at a special price of $159 USD. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to own your personal copy of The Sherk Family. This price includes shipping.
This book would make a wonderful gift for someone who is looking to learn more of their Schürch history.
To take advantage of this offer, please send your check/cheque or money order as well as the number of desired copies, your contact information including name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address, to our US treasurer at the following address:
Jack Sherick, 18 North Pine Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. Direct inquiries may be sent to Jack at sci5teach322@yahoo.com.
Please make payments payable to Schürch Family Association of North America in US$.
Canadians, please use a US bank draft or a money order.
FAMILY NEWSLETTER
The November 2023 issue of the Schürch Family newsletter is in the mail.
Click here for excepts of our latest issue.
FREE digital copy of “Table of Contents” and “Every Name Index” based on all newsletters published 1983-2017.
This is a vital resource for researchers and newsletter subscribers. Send your request to Cary Adams cavalleyboy@earthlink.net and he will email you a pdf version.
The Sherk Family
by Thomas A Sherk
LANCASTER COUNTY BARN TOUR
Tour Launch October 21 from 10 to 2
Location: Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
Read all about the tour in the Schürch Newsletter - November 2023 issue.
Schürch Symposium
The latest symposium took place on Saturday, September 23rd, 2023. Lots of good information was shared in Introduction to SFANA Ancestry Discovery Tools.
If you missed it and would like to see it, it will be uploaded to our YouTube channel. It is not there yet but look back in a week or two.
To see the previous symposia, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiS3CNfUlAeITjo09Y0aJ2DeNtlLgCCbG
How Many Ways can one Spell Schürch?
Scharc
Schark
Sharrach
Schearch
Schearck
Scherch
Scherck
Schereck
Scherg
Scherge
Scherich
Scherk
Scherrich
Schirch
Schirck
Schirg
Schirk
Scheorck
Schoerg
Schorch
Schorck
Schorg
Schorock
Schorrock
Sharrich
Shirrock
Schorg
Sherak
Shorck
Schuerch
Schurch
Schurcho
Schurck
Schuerg
Schurg
Schürg
Schurge
Schurger
Schurgh
Schurgo
Schurig
Schuricht
Schurke
Scurean
Scurge
Sharg
Sharick
Sharigh
Shark
Sharrich
Sherak
Shercg
Sherch
Sherck
Shereck
Sherg
Sherich
Sherick
Sherig
Sherk
Sherock
Sherog
Sherrick
Sherrig
Shierk
Shirch
Shirck
Shirg
Shirk
Shirok
Shirrock
Shorck
Shorg
Shork
Shurck
Shurg
Shurixh
Shurk
Sierck
Tscherck
Tsherch
Tsherck
How many? Sixty or more at last count. Add family surnames with ties to the Schürch family like Bergey, Brubacher, Clemmer, Detweiler, Erb, Good, Hunsberger, Martin, Shantz, and many more and the number of Schürchs skyrockets. In the 37 years since our association was established, Schürch historians have discovered numerous ties connecting the descendants of the first Swiss arrivals in 1727. Come and explore and celebrate your ties to Schürchs in Switzerland and across North America.
Y-DNA Project
Alan Leis is the new administrator of this project. Justin Houser is a co-administrator. If you would like to have your Schurch genes tested, contact Alan. He would be more than happy to assist you.
E-mail: alanleis1@gmail.com
Who are the Schürchs?
Well, if your family name or that of any ancestor is Scherich, Scherch, Schirch, Schuerch, Sharick, Sherck, Sherick, Sherk, Sherrick, Shirck, Shirk or any of the more than 70 variants, you are a member of the Family. The Schürch Family originated in Switzerland and through emigration spread to North America in the late 1600s.
Our Swiss-German ancestors spelled their name Schürch and this is still the accepted spelling in Switzerland today. The Swiss also spell it ‘Schuerch’ exchanging the umlaut for the letter ‘e’. Our immigrant forefathers did not speak English and the clerks on the ships at the port of arrival did not usually speak German. Thus in Colonial America and later in the 1800s, various phonetic spellings were adopted. The name of the Family Association uses the Swiss spelling since it is the original surname and is representative of all the various branches of the family in North America today.
The Schürch Family Association of North America (SFANA) was created in 1982 by a group of individuals who were interested in preserving their family heritage. At that time, it was known that at least twenty-five individuals with likely ties to a Schürch family arrived in North America between the years 1727 and 1808. Many of those families (but not all) had ties to Sumiswald, Switzerland. Consequently, a sister organization, Schweizische Gesellschaft für Namenstrager Schürch (SGNS), developed around the same time, with similar goals. This sister organization has compiled extensive documentation on family branches in Switzerland.
The Swiss Schürch Association meets regularly. To learn more of the Schürch Family Association of Switzerland, abbreviated SGNS, visit the Swiss Schürch Family.
SFANA has provided this site to disseminate information about our family and the activities of the Association. Check in on a regular basis to see the latest information on the biennial reunion, research and family happenings.
To learn more of the Schürchs who first landed on North American shores go to Schürch History.