Alsace Lorraine/Switzerland Germany Question-I was told that my relative was from Zurich Switzerland?

Question

I was told that my relative was from Zurich Switzerland,then i was told that they were from Alsace Lorraine.Is there any Connection between Switzerland and Alsace Lorraine?Was it the same at one time?

Answer 1

The last political connection definitely was before the year 1501...

But as it's a fairly small geographical area (100 miles), there has always been a certain amount of immigration and marriages across the borders.

With appropriate information, it should be possible to track the ancestors back many hundred years (specially with church books). Perhaps someone did the job already...?

Answer 2

Alsace Lorraine is the bone constantly fought over by Germany and France, since it lies between their two countries.

The connection, well geographicaly, Switzerland touches both countries, and uses both languages. Most likely, your relatives fled or were evicted from Alsace-Lorraine during a border dispute (a.k.a. a war) and ended up in Zurich because it was neutral and they could speak at least one of the languages. It'd be culturally close to region they were from.

Answer 3

Nope, never the same. Alsace/Lorraine are the two disputed regions of France which have been tossed back and forth between France and Germany, but never Switzerland. That being said, Zurich still isn't that far from Alsace.

Answer 4

No connection.