Germany Finding Town of Origin

Germany Gathering Information

Finding the Town of Birth

In order to research your family in Germany, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. It is not enough to know only ‘Germany’ or ‘Prussia,’ as these were quite large entities. You must know the city, town, or parish that they came from. In many cases, it will be difficult to identify the place of origin by going directly to German sources. Therefore, you will need to search in American sources first.

What You Need to Know to Begin Research in Germany

It is essential that you know:
1. The given and surname of your ancestor: for example,Henry M Borgmann.
2. The exact place name, for example: Stadt Osnabrück, Kreis Osnabrück, Hannover, Prussia ( now Niedersachsen).
3. The time frame.
4. The religion of your ancestor: usually Catholic or Evangelical Lutheran.

Name

Before you can embark in meaningful research, you need to be clear about the name of your ancestor. Many names have been Americanized or have been recorded according to sound. Following the paper trail of your ancestor may give you clues. Search ship lists, naturalization records, church records, civil records or any record where your ancestor had to sign his name.

Place Name

Another very important piece of evidence to find the correct origin of an ancestor is the place name. Again, you may run into problems here because many ancestors gave a place name as a point of reference. Also, a given place name may be spelled according the recorder’s understanding. Sometimes it helps to know what language your ancestor spoke and something about topographical features of the homeland. It is not enough information to just know that your ancestor came from Germany or Prussia. Even to know the German state, such as Hessen, sometimes proves futile, because there are states called Hessen, Hessen-Nassau, Hessen-Darmstadt, Kurfürstentum Hessen etc.

Time Frame

It is also most helpful to know the time frame when you search for a German ancestor. Germany was never a united state until 1871. Before that it consisted of hundreds of little states which had their autonomy, their own sets of laws, their own ways of administration. A general search by looking at census records is not possible in Germany, nor do there exist any centralized data banks from which to extract information. All successful research is based on knowing general and local historical backgrounds of the area in question, and the availability of records for a given time period.

Religious Affiliation

If you know the religious affiliation of your ancestor you may also get faster results in locating your ancestor. Most Germans were Catholics or Protestants, however, in some areas, the records of people of other faiths were kept by the predominant church. For example, Jewish or Mennonite births were occasionally recorded at Catholic parishes, especially in areas where the Church was used as the civil registration office.

Search Home Sources

Thoroughly go over all home sources available to you, including family history papers, copies of records, pictures, old letters (i.e. with an old address), family bibles, journals/diaries, copies of vital record certificates and church records, memorabilia etc. Interview extended family and close relatives as well as former neighbors--all of which may prove very helpful in gathering as much knowledge about an ancestor as possible.

19th Century Census Records

• Search19th Century Census Records, available for the United States, Canada, England, and other countries. Censuses are often taken every ten years.
• Try to locate your ancestor in every census during which he or she was alive. This information provides a good framework for further research.
• The 1850-1880 U.S. federal censuses sometimes list a German state or province as birth place.
• The censuses for 1900 to 1930 ask for the year of immigration and whether or not the person was naturalized. This information can help you find naturalization records or a passenger list.
• Many images of census records are available without charge at familysearch.org. Others can be accessed at various subscription Web sites.
• State census records vary in availability and the type of information they contain, but they are always useful as another source to document an ancestor in a specific locality. See U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State for links to online state censuses.

Local Municipal Records

Pre-19th Century immigrants may be listed in local or county tax lists and other municipal records. Many such records have been microfilmed by FamilySearch and can be ordered to a Family History Center near you.

Vital Records

Vital records, or civil birth, marriage, and death records document important events in an ancestor’s life. Many states have posted statewide indexes on the Internet. The respective state and county pages on the USGenWeb may provide the needed links. See U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State, for online vital record databases.

Church Records

Church records of baptisms, marriages, and burials may provide additional information. If, for example, the civil marriage record showed that a couple was married by a minister, this marriage was probably also entered in the respective parish register. City directories and county histories may help you find the name of the congregation where the minister served. You can also “google” the minister’s name and city.

Passenger Arrival Lists

Passenger lists, especially in the 20th century, may list birth place, last residence in mother country, and name and residence of a close relative in the mother country. Study the records of fellow passengers, as frequently relatives and neighbors traveled together. See United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records

Passenger Departure Lists:

One source to determine place of origin is in a passenger departure list. Hamburg Passenger Lists: Hamburg a major port of departure for Germans and the records from there usually give the place of origin. The Hamburg Passenger Lists include the last foreign residence of people leaving from Hamburg.

• There are two lists:
  • The Direct Passenger List (1850 to 1934) lists those who left Hamburg and went directly to their destination.
  • The Indirect Passenger List (1850 to 1910) shows those who left Hamburg, went to another port, and then on to their destination.
  • After 1910 the indirect list is included with the Direct Passenger List.

Records from other ports, however, tend to be sparse.

TIP:German emigrants usually left in groups from the same area of Germany. Be aware of the following information when searching your ancestor's passenger list or port record: After finding your ancestor on a port record or passenger register, write down all the people on the same list.
Check local census and other records to determine which people settled in the same area as your ancestor.
Check for place of origin information on those who were on the same list.
If your ancestor's surname is not unusual, but some of the others on the same list are, look those names up in the German surname books to determine where they originated.

Naturalization Records

• Naturalization records may also list an ancestor’s birth place.
• Prior to 1906 any U.S. court could naturalize foreigners. Many pre-1900 records only list “Germany” as the country of citizenship; however, there are notable exceptions, so these records should be checked routinely.
• The process involved two sets of papers: a declaration of intention to become a U.S. citizen, and a petition filed some time later.
• Beginning in 1906, naturalization records became more detailed, as the responsibility shifted to the Federal government.
• More information about naturalization records, along with helpful links, is found at Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records and United States Naturalization Online Genealogy Records.

Military Records

Draft records for World War I and II ask for birth place, which can be listed as just Germany or in greater detail.

• • U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Index and images.
  • U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Indexes and images. ($)
  • United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 image browse, alphabetical by state.
  • United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 Images with partial index.

Social Security

• The application for the Social Security card may also contain a town of birth. These records are available for deceased individuals who died after 1935 when Social Security began.
  • United States Social Security Death Index
  • U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
  • U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete, ($).

Other Sources

• Germans to America is a multivolume set that lists many Germans who arrived in the United States between 1850 and 1897. It is organized chronologically and then by ship. It often gives the town or state of origin of the immigrant. FHL Call number 973 W2ger v.1-67. Also available on CD- ROM.
• Check the local libraries in the areas where your German immigrant ancestor lived. The reference librarian can direct you to local sources or local record keepers.  Ask where local newspapers and periodicals are archived and search them for such events as wedding announcements, obituaries, or other important life events.
• County and town histories where your German immigrant settled often contain biographical information. Local histories sometimes provide a place of origin. City histories give the origin of prominent citizens, and county histories show where German settlers came from. Biographical information of descendants may contain specific places of origin beyond the non-descript "Germany" or "Prussian" words found in other records.
• The German-American Newspapers and Periodicals 1732-1955 is a listing of German language newspapers throughout America.
  
• There are many books written about Germans settling in various states.

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