German Genealogy & Surnames

Individuals who report German ancestry comprise the largest self-reporting ancestry group in the United States at this time. German-Americans account for 17% of the U.S. population (which is 49 million people). California and Texas have the largest number of people of German origin, whereas, the Midwestern states of North Dakota and Wisconsin have the highest population of German-Americans.

At one time, German was spoken in many regions of the United States. There was, in fact, a rumor that German was almost declared the country’s official language, but this was just a myth.

Many of the German émigrés were searching for political and religious freedom. Others were seeking better economic opportunities available here. Whatever their reasons, millions of Germans decided to emigrate and make North America their home.

In 1608, the first German settlers went to Jamestown, Virginia. In the 1680s, another group of settlers arrived and located primarily in New York and Pennsylvania. The greatest number of settlers appears to have arrived between 1840 and 1900.

Many early German settlers began here in the U.S. as indentured servants. Others pursued the blacksmith trade. Automobile manufacturing was another favored trade, and the German-American run automobile company, Studebaker, got its start on American shores. The German-Americans were very prominent in the field of ale making and started several breweries in Milwaukee, such as Pabst, Old Milwaukee and Miller.

There were two presidents who had German-American fathers. They were Dwight D. Eisenhower and Herbert Hoover. And, there were several other presidents who had German ancestors, including John Tyler, George W. Bush, George H. Bush and Theodore Roosevelt. President Barrack Obama’s mother was also of German descent.

German-Americans

With so many German-Americans, there will be a wide field of investigation you undertake as a genealogical researcher. But, armed with some good resources, you will be able to work your way through the plethora of information. Some of the best choices for research pursuit are:

• Genealogy Net
• Passenger Arrival Records
• German Genealogy Group
• Ellis Island
(**this site has passenger lists of immigrants)
• German Culture
• D’addizio
• German Corner
• Schlegel’s

In German Conclusion

German-American ancestry research can be a fascinating and thought-provoking journey. Armed with the right resources and documents, you can find out all about the relatives who came here from Germany and your relationship to them. You can learn what traits you share, what family traditions you have in common and all kinds of meaningful information that will make your ancestral history fascinating for your entire family now and in the generations to come. Try out the links available in this article and begin your journey into the world of German-American ancestry.