STREIFF INTRODUCTION
 
The Straif, Streif or Streiffer and latterly called Streiff originate
 from the Province of GRAUBUDDEN, Switzerland. 
They were first recorded as coming from the Prattigau, also from
 Schanfigg and Muldis near Oberas, (oftimes called Mulden).
 
They had two horizontal horns depicted in their escutcheon.
The sires of Ortstein also carried two horns on their shield or crest.
 At times the STRAIF had only one horn on their escutcheon.
 
The STREIF or STREIFFER were a very old and noble clan from
 CHUR, who were closely associated with the Court of the Bishop
 of Chur. They were landowners in the Prattigau. The first recorded
 members of this clan are the brothers:
Konrad STRAIFF.... Nobleman
Otto STRAIFF.... Nobleman
who are witnesses in a cronical of HENRY the IV of Chur,
 on
the 19th July 1270.
The imprisonment of Hans STREIFF mentioned in a record of
 1335 is possibly in connection with the Vatzic War.
 In this case the brothers STREIFF were on the side of the Donats
 of Vatz, the reason for this being their position as nobleman from
 the Prattigau.
This however is not clearly established and may have been a feud
 with the people of RHAZUNS.
 
1335... The brothers Heins and Simon STREIF joined
 Hans STREIFF in arms against the brothers Walter, Christof,
 Heinrich and Donat von RHAZUNG for the sum of 350 marks.
 
1371... It is further recorded that the STRAIFF from the 
CASTLE FAKLASTEIN near Igis, also close by from the
CASTLE FRAKSTEIN at the entrance to Prattigauer Klus 
were of the same clan. They were also Lords of 
CASTLE STRAHLEGG near Fideris. They were also owners 
of extensive land near Vatschaunenburg in the Welsar Colony.
(This is recorded in the Archives of the Swiss Heraldic Society.) 
(Book 3 Pages 110-113 in the year 1913.)
 
It is further recorded in the historic records of the fifth house of 
Thurn & Taxis No 15 of the Regensburg Chronicle.
 
Excerpts pertaining to the above may be found in Book X of 
"Guellen aus der Schweiser Gasluclite".
 
The original data for the Streiff Family Tree 
(from a hand written cronical) has been compiled from the 
biographies of Balthasar STREIFF which has also been 
explained to the compiler during the compilers life time. 
(Compiler not known thought to be a 
J. M. STREIFF Papateria Buchbladerel Elerahmungen GLARUS) .
 
Version from Historic Biographisches Lexicon Dei Schweiz 
 
Data in upper case and Brackets(*) as referred to in
Chronif der Familie Streiff von Diesbach - Betschanden. Note difference in dates and names.
 
STRAIFF, STRAIF. Families from the cantons of Graubunden and St. Gallen.
 
Canton of Graubunden Straffer and Streif. State bishop of Chur ministers.
 
Coat of Arms: in blue, two white Capra Ibex in Pfahlstellung (stake prop).
 
(1) Already in 1270 the knights Conrad and Otto brothers, (*Konrad STRAIFF and Otto 
(2) STRAIFF) were feudal lords over the citizens of Falkenstein at Iglis, Strahlegg at 
Fideris, Upper and Lower and Kapfenstein at Kublis.
 
(3) Johann I (Hans) led an unfortunate private war against the Barons of Razuns in 1335 
and was captured by them, he lived in Kapfenstein and Stralegg.
 
(4) Albrecht soon after 1350 won the citadel fortress Neu Aspermont, and was the 
biggest landed proprietor of the family, wealthy with Jenins, Maienfeld, Malans, 
 Igis, Zizers, in Schanfigg and gained the Castle Aspermont which reached the 
 Urdensee Alps in Radanfis (Flaschertal, Falknis) and Ortensee Alps (Jenins) and 
 sold, with his brothers and sisters, 
 Johann II
 Otto II
 Elsbeth
 Anna
 Agnes
 On
April 1, 1351 the Castle Kapfenstein (Upper Sansch) to the Countess Kunigunde, 
 from Vaz.
 In 1403 came complete possession of the city together with the Veste Stahlegg by 
 Friedrich VII of Toggenburg.
 
With that they disappeared from Churwalden (the forests of Chur), and in 1518 the Streiff
appear in Glarnerland.
 
 
STREIFF. Originally, an old, noble family of the city of Chur,
they adopted the villages of Diesbach. Linthal, Schwanden, Glarus and Mollis in
the canton of Glarus.
 
(1) St. von Diesbach --- Hans from Graubunden, Captain in the Swiss Confederation 
League at the Castle of Mailand in 1513, he was killed in the battle of Marignano 
in 1515.
.
(2) Fridolin died December 20 1658 
FRIDLI born Abt. 1580 in Betschwanden Glarus 
died
December 10 1658 Glarus Switzerland.) was the ancestor of all presently living 
 Streiff's in the land Glarus.
 
(3) Joachim b.September 26 1607, d September 1647, purchased the Tagwenrecht in 
Schwanden in 1638. He was a shipbuilder and was Provincial Governor of Werdenberg 
In 1674.
 
(4) Fridolin brother of Joachim (3) was born
May 21 1620 and died November 30 1690.
Was an ancestor of those of Glarus and Mollis. He served for his brother as Provincial 
Governor of Werdenburg, he was a senator and Ennetbirgischer Judge, an Ambassador 
in 1676, a representative of
the Glarners in the negotiations that came as a result of the evangelical and religious
feuds in the land of Glarus in 1682, local Captain from 1656 to 1690,
and Burger of Glarus in 1665.
 
II. von Glarus Johann Balthasar, born 
August 8 1656 was Provincial Governor in Mendrisio 
In 1674, in local government in 1691, "Landshauptmann" was Chorrichter in 1697, and 
Died June 20 1720
 
(5) Fridolin born December 8 1653 died September 25 1742.
Leader of an evangelical. Leader of a company in the Peter Stuppa Regiment in France 
between 1693 and 1697. He was Commander of the march against the revolting citizens of 
Werdenberger in 1721
 
(6) Johann Heinrich born
January 1 1708 died October 28 1780.
A senator and ambassador of the hilly region in 1743 and 1751. He was County Squadron 
Leader in 1749 and Provincial Governor of Thurgau in 1768. He founded the first cotton
and handkerchief fabric factory in Glarus in 1740 and through this became the founder
of the world famous textile printing of Glarus and of Glarus's factory industry.
 




 
STREIFF
 
A translation from page 78 from the book "WAPPENBUCK DES LANDES GLARUS"
Translated by Felix Hohener, New Zealand 1998.
 
(1) Ministers of the diocese of Chur and freemen from Vaz.
 
In 1270 brothers Otto and Conrad, knights are mentioned.
 
Before 1352, 15 Streiff's were documented.
 
The family at times had large amounts of property including the castles Unter and Ober 
Sansch the latter known as Kapfenstein near Kublis above Strahlegg by Fideris, Fackelstein
by Igis and since 1348 through Albrecht Streiff the citidal fortress Neu Aspermont
as well as many farms and alps in Schanfigg, Chur, Davos, Churrätien (Pratigau), 
Oberhalbstein.
 
In 1304 St. Gallen appears on the family crest.
 
In 1403 the total family possessions in Churwalden including the fortification of Strahlegg
went to Earl Friedrich VII from Toggenburgh.
 
In 1467 it is documented the Streiff's owned land in the areas of Chur, Oberhalbstein 
(Präsanz, Savogin)
 
In the second half of the 16th century the family name disappears from the canton
Graubunden and in the 16th century appears in Glarnerland.
 
 
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