Tag: research

German Genealogy Tip #29: Use the German Phone Book to Find Surname Concentrations

Do you have a German immigrant ancestor whom you have absolutely no idea where in Germany they came from? Most of us do. One great method for finding clues on where they might have come from is to use the modern-day German phone book, which is available online at: http://www.dastelefonbuch.de/ Here’s how it works. If the […]

German Genealogy Tip #7: Anglicized German Names

Something you will inevitably find when you research German ancestors who immigrated to America are names that changed to something more “English sounding”. Can you blame somebody named “Balthasar” for desiring a name that fits in a little better in America? Some Germans would change their names only slightly: Wilhelms would become Bills, and Adelheids […]

Episode #1: “German-American Day” | The German-American Genealogist Podcast

Download file Published 6 October 2014 The very first episode of The German-American Genealogist Podcast! In this episode, we discuss the history of German-American Day, October 6th, and the struggle of German-Americans to find their place in the national fabric. We also discuss tips for researching German ancestors: things you need to know about your […]

German Genealogy Tip #6: In Germany, People Used Their Occupation as a Title

When looking at genealogical records in Germany, especially from the pre-20th century era, you will often find that individuals’ names were prefixed by their job title. These occupational prefixes were capitalized, so don’t confuse the job title for being part of their given name. Common examples are: Taglöhner Johann Brack (English: day laborer Johann Brack) Leinweber […]

The Perils of Being a Young Genealogist

Many people generally view genealogy as a retired person’s hobby–a pastime of sweet, old ladies nostalgically reminiscing about days gone by.  This is not entirely accurate.  One report from 2009 revealed that of the nine million Internet users who describe “genealogy” as a “core passion/hobby,” 7.5 million are 45 years or older. ((Bank of America […]