Surnames being researched in or around Kindenheim, Pfalz, Bayern: Fischer, Harmetz, Otterbein, and Simon/Simons,

I have German ancestors woven into both my maternal and paternal ancestry along with English and Swiss [German-speaking areas]. I would like to know more about the ancestors of my second great-grandmother Apollonia Becker Bruce. Thanks to family history and microfilm records I know that she was born on 1 May 1838 near the village of Zemmer, in turn near Treves [Trier] in western Germany. Her parents were Ignatii Becker and Magdalena Platt, and they likely married about 1832 as daughter Catherine was born 4 April 1833. Both Catharine and Apollonia came to Wisconsin and have descendants. Any ideas on how to go back further on the parents? Thank you. Barbara

Researching:
August SCHMULT from Strebelin, Prussia/Germany
Anna HUEBNER from Verbelin, Prussia/Germany
Frederick MALESCHEFSKY and Mary KUSC/KUSCHEFSKY from Kl.Wolka, Germany
August Schmult married Anna Hubner in Detroit, Michigan. They were Roman Catholic.
Frederick Maleschefsky and Mary Kuschefsky were already married when they came to Detroit, Michigan. They also were Roman Catholic.

My ancestors are from Momlingen, Bavaria and NuBach, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

LAUMEISTER, GIEGERICH, REISMANN, WILLRICH, MOHR

I have found the best place to get information is to write to the church in the village they were in.. They were more then likely Catholic or Lutheran.

For those who are sick & tired of constantly just posting & surfing for their Germanic Genealogy & not getting anywhere & are finally ready to hire a proven pro' to save them effort, frustration, time & money! If so, email karlmsala at msn .com your free dilemma, inquiry, problem, query...

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If someone told me they found my Sala ancestor on a passenger list--let alone people of THREE of my ancestral target families, I'd be all over it.

Karl-Michael Sala = GermanGenealogist .com (remove the spaces)
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We traveled to Germany several and enjoyed walking through the Alt Friedhof's (old cemeteries.) We were lucky enough to come across the Sigle Family graves in Schorndorf and Alfdorf. What I find very interesting is, since a shortage of graves,or land for cemeteries, many family members are interred together and names just added to the family stone! We saw this numerous times!

Linda K.

I've found some of my ancestors in Doggingen, Baden Germany. My grandmother's family came over in the 1880's (I haven't found their ship yet). I do not know the reason they decided to emigrate, I think that would be one of the most interesting things I could find out. My grandmother was a Straub, her mother was a Hildebrandt. My grandfather was a Link, I believe he was from Hausenvorwold, but my main computer is down at this time so don't have all the information in front of me. Would love to find anyone who has an interest in those names.

My maiden name is Ossinger and I have no idea of the origin of this name but found a small mountain in Germany, near Hamburg called Ossinger mountain. Wondering if any one is familiar with this name and or its origins. I found that reference by doing a google search. The only other instance of the name Google came up with is a town I switzerland named Ossingen. The meaning was said to be"home of the Ossingers" My Great great grand father is as far back as I can go and there is no record of where he was from or where he was born. he showed up in Nova Scotia and founded a family!! All the Ossingers in Canada have descended from him! Thank you in advance for any help you can give me!!

My paternal grandmother's line is Clos some time spelled Closs/Klos/Kloss from Bledesbach, Rheinland-Pfalz, BAV (at time of immigration was part of Kingdom of Bavaria - through New Jersey - later part of the kin moved north west to Michigan and westward. My line crossed to Cincinnati area then crossed the river into Kentucky (Campbell/Pendleton/Bracken Counties. Some the allied families were Faul, Baure and Ruf/Ruff.

My great-great Grandfather was born Johan Huttel in Engelthal, Germany. He changed his name to John Huettel when coming to America around 1905.

Researching Ulrich, Heilman, Wilhelm, Stiely and Meyer in Schuylkill County and Lebanon County Pennsylvania.

My German ancestors name's are Haas, Bauer, Grimm, Wagner, Schneider, Maier, Kumf, Steinbrenner. These are my ancestors from Neckarelz, Baden, Germany and Kalbertshausen, Mosbach, Baden, Germany. They were married and baptised in the Evangelical Church in Neckarelz, Germany. Also, Rosenberg, Baden, Germany.

I am presently searching for any info on my husband's relatives from Germany. His ggfather was Wilhelm David Drexler b. 1850...his gfather Paul Ludwig Dreier (1884-1945) from Ruegenwalde (now Poland).....gmother...Selma Bursche (1883-1958) and gggfather Conrad Frederick Ferdinand Reinking (1828-1900) from Prussia, Germany. Thank you very much for your consideration.

I am researching the Rainbolts which I believe was Reinbold when they came over with the Palatines.

I am researching the family name Wentzell originally from Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and now in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. I am also researching Zipser, Schädel, Bartelmus, Hetschko, and Gettwert from Bielitz (Bielsko-Biala, which is now Poland).

I am working on a Schultz and Neumann family. Will provide some details later

We have a Schultz family member that lived in Chicago after immigrating from Germany!

For Carolyn Dunlap Franklin:

Our Bauer relatives lived in Schorndorf, Wurttenburg, Germany.

My Baldus line goes back to Stockum, Germany.

My German/Prussian ancestors are:

OBST (Altwasser, Schlesien, Prussia & BergKamen, Germany) -- I know all about my grandmother and great-grandparents who came here (my grandmother is still alive and I was fortunate enough to meet my great-grandparents). The trouble is with the ancestors prior to the U.S.

NEUGEBAUER (Prussia/Germany)

HACKE-HOFFMAN-HELL(E) (Prussia/Germany) -- Her mother died within a week of her birth. She was brought up by the Hell(e) family...possibly by an aunt.

SCHÜTTE (Una Kries Hamm, , Germany & Kamen, Germany)

RUBARTH (Prussia/Germany)

PULVERREITER (Pommeromia, , Germany & Kamen, Germany)

LENNEPER (Prussia/Germany)

KRABS/KRABBS (Prussia/Germany)

WERNER (Breitscheid, Hessen-Nassau, Prussia)

PETRI (Breitscheid, Hessen-Nassau, Prussia)

MÖHLIN (Breitscheid, Hessen-Nassau, Prussia)

KAPPENSTEIN (Prussia/Germany)

Searching for BARRINGER, DAPPER, EHRHARD, GROSH, KERST, NIEDERMAN, SENG, and ZIMMERS - after emigrating, my lines settled in primarily in the southwestern Ohio counties: Auglaize, Butler, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Shelby

Looking for the Höh family in Gerhardsbrunn. Valentine Höh (b. 24 June 1821 in Gerhardsbrunn, d. 30 July 1906 in Pike Township, Stark County, Ohio) was my third great grandfather. He, along with his first wife & 4 children, came to the US in 1864.

We found a clue in a "Brave New World: Rhinelanders Conquer America", journal of Johannes Herbergs journey to America. Herbergs wrote, "On the morning of Aug 27 [1764] we went to see a man whom Mr. Kurtz had said we should see called Jan Grothus whose father Hermen came from Bielefeld and who has been here for the last 50 years and lives only a mile to one side.

Herman Grothaus appears to have purchased 9,000 acres in Oct 1709 from an agent of William Penn, Col. Rhedegelt, who was traveling through the Palatinate trying to encourage settlement of Penn's Colony in the new world.

At that time, present day Bielefeld, Germany would have been Bielefeld, County of Ravensberg, Electorate of Brandenburg, Prussia.

So we are hoping to discover Herman Groethausen's family roots in the early church records of Bielefeld.

Linda K, I wonder if your Bauer line is connected to my Baer (Bar) line? They spelled it several different ways. Would love to chat with you and see if there is a connection.

My in-laws are Bauers. They resided in Queens and NYC.

My husband's paternal SCHLEIER line goes back to Ramrath, Dusseldorf, Germany. Also, I used to live in Heinstadt near Hanau.

I am researching Leopold Schlesinger b. Brotchizen Germany and resided in Chicago.

Searching for Surnames: Heartsill (Hartsell, Hartzell, Hertzell, Hirtzel), Featherkille,Antoni,Sechler, Maurer, Duringer & Sinter

I am researching these surnames:

BOLTZ
HOLDEMAN (HALTERMAN)
HUBER (HOOVER)
MESSER
MINEAR
MUELLER (MILLER)
RUTSCHLEY (RITCHIE)
SHUMACHER (SHOEMAKER)
WINTERS
WOLFE

To Frances Baer:

I don't think we link up. Bauer means farmer. Baer I believe means bear. We did not have any Baer's in our family. We had Sigle's mostly in the Schorndorf area!

Good to talk to you!

Fiedler --- Henry Fiedler of Posen Prussia. Died early 1800's most likely in Prussia..
Son went to England. Family made carpet bags, sold internationally.
Sound familiar?

I am looking for information about the Russian Germans... and the Schaefer/Schafer family that settled in the Dakotas and Wisconsin. From what I gather a group of Germans immigrated to Russia upon the promise of farmland, and after farming for a while were kicked out of the country by one of the Czarinas. Any history to this story would be greatly appreciated!

Another branch of the family is Slafter from WI/IL areas. Have a lot on them and willing to share. Interested if anyone knows what caused family split

To Linda K, you are correct on the meanings however there are 32 ways to spell Baer and one of those are Bauer. The Baer (Bar) family came from Switzerland to Germany then to the US. Thanks anyway.

Reply to Jill Nowak: A very large group of Germans emigrated to the Volga Region of Russia in the mid 1700s when Katherine the Great issued a Manifesto promising free land, exemption of military service, freedom of religion etc. Please look at the web site of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia as http://www.ahsgr.org. You can read all about by checking out the links. I think I'll go start a group for "Germans from Russia" here on G Wise!

I also am searching for Germans from Russia, some born in Marienberg. Have some info I would glad share. I am quite ignorant about the research in this area, about how to verify,a dsearch further back into Germany and how and when the families of SCHMALTZ, RAUSCH, MILDENBERGER came from Germany to Russia to begin with. Thanks Barbara for the invite.

Most of my family members married into the German ancestry. But I only have three nephews from 2 sisters and 2 brothers. My oldest sister married Kniefel from Munich, Germany. Another sister married Hauptman; one brother married into Lambert family and another married into Vilbrandt. I have only one French Nephew interested in German language and traveling in Germany.

I have researched my ancestors from Schleswig-Holstein and Bremen, Germany, who settled in New Holstein, Calumet County, Wisconsin, in the 1850s. Surnames include LUEHR, GROTH, BOIE, TONNER, HACHEZ, the latter the family from Bremen. I have had excellent assistance from Klaus Struve, a professional genealogy who provides much free information about emigrants from Schleswig-Holstein at http://rootdigger.de/ - he now has names and brief info on 70,000 emigrants. My brickwall is finding the maiden name, parents and hometown of Louise, the wife of Ferdinand Hachez. She was born somewhere in Hannover. They came to America with son Ferdinand in 1854. Thanks for any ideas you might have. Barbara

Marilyn, My German Russians came to the US in 1900 thru 1930. They settled in Colorado and New Mexico. My Mildenberger was Margaret, married to George Schmaltz .May be a connection somewhere, but would propbably take some digging. That's what we like tho. Right?
good Luck. Salk

interested in Hacker; Miller surnames that migrated from germany , ended up in Tenn. 1720 -1770 arrival on the east coast.

Looking for info on Simon Rosner and his wife Mary Schreivogel Rosner from Leshan, Schleisen, Germany (now in Czech Republic) . They are my 2nd Great grandparents.My great Grandma was their daughter Frances who was born there in 1863, Also my Great Grand Father Albert Hanke was born in Lindeweise, Schleisen, Germany (presently near Wroclow, Poland) but I can't find any threads to the Hanke name there. Any other spellings I should try? My Grandfather was literate so his name shouldn't have changed too much. I appresciate any help. They came here separately but met and married in Jericho, WI in 1888 and ultimately ended up in New Holstein, WI. Thanks for any help.

Hi,
I have been working on my German ancestors for the past 9 years. Traced one line back to Wuerttemberg (before 1749), and trying to locate another in Hanau Land, Hesse (before 1773). Another family arrived in PA about 1710, but have not been able to find their place of origin...believe they were Swiss?

I'm on the board of the Sacramento German Genealogy Society, co-lead a study group, help others with German genealogy at the Sacramento FHC monthly. Have learned to read the German Script, and can read some church records. I'm not an expert, but do what I can to help others.

I have a Mayer line that married into my previously mentioned Schlesinger line.

To Kathleen Ingram: As you probably know, Alsace region was either German or French, depending on who won the last war. My great grandfather Brodt is listed as German & French depending on the census, his daughter & son as French. They were from Volksberg in Alsace region.

I think I descend from Peter Reinbold born abt 1619 in Germany, his son Elias who married Clara Spitzel and his son Mattheus born about 1664 who married Anna Eva Mullier Buckel, which I think was his second wife, as he was 46 years old when they came to US on the James & Elizabeth in 1710. I saw his name spelled Reinbolt in some places. He came with wife and 2 children over 10. One was his stepson Baltasar Buckel which was changed to Pickel.I do not know the name of the second child and how one of his sons got to North Carolina where his grandson was born, Joseph Rainbolt.

My main German surnames are GENTZEN and KRIESTEN. Both belong to my maternal side. Gentzen being her maiden name and Kriesten being the maiden name of my great-great grandmother. The Gentzens came from Prussia in the 1860s as they were in Chicago by the 1870 census. The Kriestens came in 1883. Edward Anthony D. Gentzen married Clara Telka Kriesten 30 Sep 1893 in Chicago.

I am researching Erckenbrecht (Alkenbrack) and Baumann (Bowman)
from New York (Onondaga County & Herkimer County) Eve Alkenbrack b 1782, Harvey Bowman b 1825. I would like to know where in Germany my people are from. Jakki

Kathleen:
My ancestors from Alsace were Catholic. Photos from cemeteries have headstones in German and French. The cousin I communicate with there is French, speaks French. A lot of the ancestors on his side of the family were German speaking. So it gets very confusing!
I found my Brodts, others I have never found and yet we are pretty sure they didn't swim.........just beamed over by the mother ship I guess!
On the census, my ggrandmother listed as French, her parents listed as German, that is why I checked the Alsace area.

I'm looking for genealogy info on my "Hess" and "Rausch" ancestors from Germany. My GGGrandmother was born in Grand Dutchy, Hessen, Germany

I too have german running through my family right back to this famous person Johann Adolf Hasse and soprano Faustina Bordoni and beyond and has just celebrated his 300th birthday and his castle still stands today, so I am a very lucky person to be related to him via my mothers tree.
The other people that I mixed up with through my grand mother are the "Aufderheide's"of Sth Australia. that is a different story trying to find all of that family, but you never know there just maybe that one or two persons out there who have that little bit more info that you need .

Wayne