Koffler History in Durmersheim

To paraphrase the published accounts of Durmersheim historian Martin Burkhart, "Koffler is a typical Durmersheimer surname. The master father to many Kofflers is Rupert (also written Ruprecht) who was a bricklayer by trade according to records researched by Burkhart. Rupert Koffler had twelve children (see his family tree on this website). The homeland of the Kofflers is not mentioned in the old church books, but a variation of the Koffler name (Kofler) is mentioned frequently as families who inhabited the alpine regions (mountains) in Tirol. Another Koffler, Johannes, was mayor of Durmersheim from 1824 - 1833. Between 1660 and 1900, family albums registered 93 families as having the Koffler surname in Durmersheim. Genealogist Burkhart offers a lengthy history of Durmersheim including some pictures on his german website www.durmersche.de Using an internet translation service to scan the site in English; however, one finds the syntax is sometimes not arranged properly making it slightly difficult to understand. With a little patience, though, an understanding of the storyline is possible. While Burkhart's site is rich in history, clicking on www.meinestadt.de will supply you with general information relating to the great country of Germany as it is today. This link was supplied by Ralf Stutzenberger a new Durmersheim resident who tells me the population of Durmersheim & Wurmersheim is 12,349 as of December 31, 2001 (the two cities were incorporated into one municipality in the 1970s).

Known as "Turmaresheim" in official documents as early as 991, the present day spelling first appeared in the records around 1388. Between 1244 and 1350 there was a clan of knights named after the town. The former moated castle called Rohrburg, mentioned as early as 1388, today only exists in the history books. The old monastery and the Bickesheim church of St. Mary are located on the northern edge of Durmersheim. Bickesheim was an independent town until the 14th century, when it was taken over by the villagers of Durmersheim. As early as 1683 there are written reports of the portrait of Madonna in the church, to which miracles were attributed. In the early 1700s there are reports of pilgrimages to Bickesheim-Durmersheim, from all over the area. Artifacts from the stone age, and major Roman digs from the days of the Roman and Alleman tribe, provide insight into the ancient past of Wurmersheim history.

Emigrant surnames associated with this region include: Abath Becker, Bertsch, Braun, Brunner, Buchmuller, Datz, Dunz, Duterhofer, Ell, Enderle, Flasak, Ganz, Gorig, Grafenacker, Greif, Hafele, Hammer, Heck, Heinz, Hettel, Hoger, Kary, Kassel, Kastner, Kiefer, Kistner, Kock, Koffler, Kossel, Lrug, Lang, Maier, Manz, Martin, Mayer, Nagele, Obert, Ocks, Ring, Rummel, Sattler, Schlager, Schuler, Schwamberger, Seiberlich, Siegel, Spath, Vollinger, Vollmer.

Sources: Birth and baptism records: 1660-1714 - Birth and baptism records: 1716-1895 - Marriage records: 1672-1900 - Death and burial records: 1675-1895 - Confirmations: 1726-1756 - Confirmations: 1762-1856 - Family Registry: 1756, 1762, 1856

Civil Records: Births: 1849-1930 - Births: 1934-1962 - Marriages: 1859 - Marriages: 1861-1933 - Marriages: 1843-1961 - Death and burial: 1860-1962