Hans Jacob Regennass , the first of my family in the United States, was born 14 March 1751 in Lampenberg, Switzerland . His parents were Hans Regennass and Verena Tschopp, married on 23 January 1742 in Hoelstein,Baselland,Switzerland. Their name is spelled Regenass in Switzerland today. Hans Jacob's son who immigrated with him to the United States adopted the spelling Regennas, although two of his grandson's later abbreviated their spelling of the name to Regnas.

There is a coat of arms for Regenass von Lampenberg as well as Regenass von Niederdorf and Regenass von Ramlinsburg .

Hans Jacob Regenass married Barbel Flubacher. She was baptized July 5, 1755 the daughter of Stoffel Flubacher and Elsbeth Thommen. These records were copied from the Register of Baptisms of the church at Bennwil and are now recorded at Liestal.The baptismal records of Hans Jacob Regenass and his family were included in the passport which was issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Republic at Berne in early 1803. This passport was in the hands the oldest child, also Hans Jacob, who resided in Lancaster County, PA.

Knowledge of the baptismal records and the passport was the result of a newspaper article. In June 1931, the Rev. G.V. Regenos, then pastor of the United Brethren Chuch of Twelve Mile, IN chanced to see an account in the Indianapolis Times concerning a Dr. Eugene Regennas who had played the pipe organ in the Moravian Church at Hope, IN for the 54th consecutive Easter Sunday. Because of the similarity of names, he wrote to Dr. Regenos and eventually received a very cordial reply and a translated copy of the Regenass passport which he secured from a cousin. With this information it was possible to connect the two branches of the male descendants of Hans Jacob Regenass. Thirty years later, in 1961, Dr. Graydon W. Regenos, on a visit to Switzerland, was able to verify these records, with the capable assistance of the archivist at Liestal. These records are also on microfilm in the Mormon genealogical library in Salt Lake City, UT. Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Ralph B . Strassburger & William J. Hinke records the arrival of the Ship Traveller from Amsterdam in Philadelphia, PA on June 22, 1803 with the names of all the passengers. All the members of the Regenass family are listed with the ages of the children. In this list Regenass is spelled Reyginass.

The following information was supplied to Dr. Regenos by Mr. Adolf Regnas of Luzern, Switzerland in a letter dated, 24 Oct 1955:
The first mention of the name Regennas was found on occasion of a court day in 1423 presided over by the Prefect of Waldenberg, Kaspar von Regessen (the same prefect is named Regenass in the Lexicon Leu by evident error.) On that court day was accused Wernlin Regennas of Reigotswil to have slain Kleinhans von Sumiswald at Waldenberg. Wernlin Regenass was damned in contumaciam.
In the same time was existing Rudolfi Regens. In heraldry the name Regenass is derived from "Raginas," the counselors.
In 1510 there are mentioned three Rägenaß who campaigned at Milan (as "Reisläufer".) The name has different forms for the same person.
The family descends from Lampenberg, Switzerland. An assembly of the members of the family takes place every year at Lampenberg.
There exists a helaldric figure (burnt on a sledge) of the family: a wanderer with a staff, going under three stars.
There exits another escutcheon of a Bavarian genus of Regnas of the 17th century.

note: Mr. Regnas changed the spelling of his name from Regnas because it was easier to pronounce and simpler. He died on 13 Oct 1968 at the age of 83.