The Catholic branch associated with Switzerland assumed the name "Peyerimhoff de Fontenelle" in the late 18th century.

[2] His father was head of the Colmar municipal council and did much to modernise the city.

Henri de Peyerimhoff became a magistrate and was also an entomologist who specialized in microlepidoptera (smaller moths).

[2] When Alsace became part of Germany after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Peyerimhoff chose to remain French and became judge of the civil court of Moulins in 1873, and then of Perpignan.

[2] In his obituary of Peyerimhoff the Abbé Umhang wrote, "I have known more than one young man who has been passionate about a branch of natural history, and I have not seen any of them depart from the path of virtue and honor.