Nicole Marie Skutelnik and Nicole Marie LaCroce met in 2021 and were . The Old Prussian tribes inhabited eleven regions (in the Old Prussian language, " tautos "), whose names are mentioned in writings from the 13th century: Semba, Ntanga, Nadrava, Pamede, Vrme, Brta, Skalva, Sudva, Galinda and Kulma. Perhaps, the following explanations and links will help clarify the matter.To begin with you need to be aware that there are, at least, four major categories or groups of people with clear and justifiable claims to being Prussian. The territory was included within Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia from 1939-45. (Note: Naturalization documents contain uniform information after the process was federalized in 1907, but details will vary in earlier records.). You can also find geographic-specific databases of emigrants relating to Prussian areas. This category has the following 14 subcategories, out of 14 total. Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland. (US civil vital records, too, might have specific place names, but this is less likely.). Here are some of my thoughts regarding genealogy and family names in northeast East Prussia (Ostpreussen) and Memel. Rostova Leo Tolstoy 's War and Peace. Church archives themselves are digitizing records from their congregations. When researching/reading genealogical records, this is most often the group/ nation to whom your family members are claiming an allegiance or an affiliation. Once youve found your ancestral town of origin and located it on a map, you can consult a few different resources for Prussian records. 2 Merrow. Karamazov If this surname looks familiar, it's likely because of Fyodor Dostoevsk y's infamous novel, The Brothers Karamazov. German immigrants may have been grouped together as the overly broad term "Prussians." The misleading label may believe their actual identities: Pomeranians, Rhinelanders, Hanoverians and more. She has a teaching degree and an M.A. Home. In November 1918, the monarchies were abolished and the nobility lost its political power. Be aware that as people moved, this might change their surname, and it may revert back and forth within the same records. do not look for your family to be German before 1871; there was no Germany before 1871! Alber (name) Albin (surname) Albrecht; Albrich; Alemann; Allerstorfer; Allmayer; Allram; Alms (disambiguation) Alpenheim; Alscher; Alt (surname) Alterman; Altermann; Altmaier (surname) Altmann (surname) There are 251 census records available for the last name Prussian. But many of these families had a common denominator. Several books are available that list variant forms of given names. Site Search. Archion.de and Matricula have growing browsable databases of Protestant and Catholic records, respectively. Prussia/Preuen was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. PVF was established to research and preserve the culture, genealogy and history of the Pomeranian people who came to the territory of Wisconsin and founded Freistadt in 1839. Patronymic names changed with each generation. Or, at least, a record might identify a Provinz (province; plural is Provinzen) to narrow down the search to a particular area of Prussia. In many areas of Germany there is a widespread use of "Hofnamen" or "farm names" used. They include Schneider (tailor), Fischer (fisherman) and Weber (weaver). The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. What does it mean when a record(s) says that your family member was Prussian? More about Hofnamen can be studied here. For example, Weber Ernst Friederich Zentner is a man named Ernst Friederich Zentner who is a weaver. 3. Prussian genealogy research isnt always easy. Trace your ancestry in Prussia, Bavaria and more with our guide to research in Germanys historical regions, What is Prussia? Perhaps the name is misspelled in a record or has multiple names. It is being seen as mocking India as the country overtakes China to become the world's most populous nation. "The Top 100 German Surnames." Some of these collections are also on Ancestry.com and MyHeritage, since the two companies helped fund some of FamilySearchs digitization projects. Minnesota had the highest population of Prussian families in 1880. While every record of an immigrant, spouse and children has some potential for a specific village name, church records are far and away the most likely to include such information. Before record keeping began, most people had only one name, such as John. The average life expectancy for Prussian in 1972 was 71, and 82 in 2002. East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) surname derived from Lithuanian puaite " (young) pine tree", which - allegedly - used to be a term of endearment for a young girl. Some US records may yield the gold standard of immigrant genealogy research: an exact village of origin. For each Germanic surname in this glossary, we have provided the English meaning, which may or may not be a surname in English. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/german-last-names-1444607. Where variations of a spelling of a surname occurred, those monikers are listed as separate names. This is taken from the Hebrew name 'hevel' meaning 'breath,' 'vanity' or 'vapor.'. Another valuable tool can be the Prussia, Municipality Gazetteer, 1905 (Gemeindelexikon fr Knigreich Preussen) on Ancestry.com. Why so many people consider themselves German, even though their ancestors lived in other countries, sometimes for hundreds of years. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. If a German moved onto someone else's farm estate (or Hof), it was not uncommon to change his last name to that of the farm. Germany - Names, Personal - Handbooks, manuals, etc. Sometimes surname spelling variations are based on dialect (a particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group) differences. The 10 Most Common German surnames (with English translations) Becker - baker Fischer - fisherman Hoffmann / Hofmann - courtier or steward Meier or Meyer - manorial landlord, or later, a self-employed farmer Mller - miller Schmidt - smith Schneider - tailor Schulz - sheriff (medieval) Wagner - wainwright (maker & repairer of wagons) Weber - weaver Ingrid Bauer, who is fluent in German, has been teaching and tutoring the German language since 1996. Do not sell or share my personal information. Seafarer. 100 Russian Last Names 1. How Continue reading This is an Ashkenazi Jewish last name of German or Old English origins with the meaning 'plowed field.'. (Kevan Hansens Map Guide to German Parish Registers series, found in many libraries that have German collections, can also give this information.). Understanding Prussian History, 6 Ways to Find Your German Ancestors Place of Origin, Researching Genealogy in Historical German States, Best UK, Irish and Commonwealth Genealogy Websites, Family Tree Templates and Relationship Charts, How to Find Your Ancestors US Military Records, Preserving Old Photos of Your Family History, Surnames: Family Search Tips and Surname Origins, Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America, hosts research-aid primers for all of the former Prussian provinces, a historic gazetteer (GOV), and links to many regional groups, Eastern Prussian Provinces, Germany [Poland], Selected Civil Vitals, 18741945.. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/german-last-names-1444607. Because of this, German last names can be found throughout bordering countries, including Poland, Austria, Franceand Spain. Althann. This topic comes up frequently and seems to cause a lot of confusion, especially here in the US. German inflation had "peaked" however, he added, predicting it would slow from 5.9 per cent this year to 2.7 per cent next year. ThoughtCo, Apr. Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). https://www.thoughtco.com/german-last-names-1444607 (accessed May 1, 2023). The list was initially created by searching for the most common last names in German telephone books. List of Bavarian noble families. Find your last name and learn about its meaning and origins. For example: Althaus ("old house") Birnbaum ("pear tree") Bauer, Ingrid. (2023, April 5). Our team is comprised of parents, experts, and content professionals dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and relevant information in the parenting space. 2, also appears as Schmitt (No. 26). Agnet f German (East Prussian), North Frisian (Archaic), East Frisian (Archaic) East Prussian German, North Frisian and East Frisian variant of Agnes via the variant Agnete. 2005- 2023 eirenicon llc. Both contain valuable information about origins; make sure you look for both document types. Although it is not obvious today, Prussia was once one of the worlds great powers. This writer is a part of the FamilyEducation editorial team. Subjects were often reluctant to comply, so several decrees were needed. Sebastian = Bastian Christophel = Stophel Christina = Stin or Stina Katharina = Trin Note that these familiar forms are used in church or other records, even though by today's standards we might expect formal names to be used. The Celts populated Europe and England until conquered and assimilated by Germanic peoples, The First Reich, or first German Empire, lasted 1000 years, succeeded by the Second Reich in 1871, The 1871 map of Germany shows Prussia at the height of its power, The city of Breslau in Silesia has a long German history, but it is no longer part of Germany, The first practical refrigerator was invented in Germany in 1873. Der Spiegel is a weekly news magazine. Many Indians have tweeted, saying that that the . Many people there had German ancestors who emigrated from Saltzburg and a variety of other German cities and states. Once you have some more direction about your ancestors province, consult resources created by individual societies and genealogy groups about Prussians who came from a particular region. Surnames developed from several sources. In 1871, German states united in creating the German Empire under Prussian leadership. Bauer, Ingrid. However, an attitude adjustment will help you solve your Prussia problems. A small collection of women's given names from Arnsburg, in Hessen. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more. The most Prussian families were found in USA in 1920. Prussia shaped the history of Germany, with its capital in Berlin after 1451. Christopher I, Burgrave and Count of Dohna-Schlodien, Countess Katharina Dorothea Finck von Finckenstein, Friedrich Heinrich Ferdinand Leopold von Forcade de Biaix, Friedrich Wilhelm Ferdinand Ernst Heinrich von Forcade de Biaix, Friedrich Wilhelm Quirin von Forcade de Biaix, Friedrich Wilhelm Leopold Konstantin Quirin Freiherr von Forcade de Biaix, Mathias Franz Graf von Chorinsky Freiherr von Ledske, Friedrich Albrecht Karl Herrmann, Reichsgraf von Wylich und Lottum, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Prussian_nobility&oldid=1107202751, Template Category TOC via CatAutoTOC on category with 101200 pages, CatAutoTOC generates standard Category TOC, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 August 2022, at 18:51. Minert has published more than 20 volumes to date, each with an abstract showing origins written in the more commonly used church registers (baptisms, marriages and burials) but also harder-to-find record groups such as membership lists. You also wont want to miss the Germany-based supersite CompGen, which hosts research-aid primers for all of the former Prussian provinces, a historic gazetteer (GOV), and links to many regional groups. The use of patronymic names was prevalent in the Schleswig-Holstein and Ostfriesland areas in northern Germany. Where is Pomerania? Because German genealogical records were kept in various languages, you may find your ancestor's name in different languages at different times. Few of the latter are on the following list, but examples include Brinkmann, Berger, and Frank. My thoughts regarding genealogy and family names in EastPrussia, When the ravens cease to fly around the mountain he will awake and restore Germany to its ancient greatness. Dukes of Prussia Junker (Prussia) A Althann Ambly des Ayvelles Johann Wilhelm von Archenholz Arco family Arnim family Arz von Wasegg Hans Adolf Erdmann von Auerswald Rudolf von Auerswald B Ballestrem Barnekow family Beissel von Gymnich Bentheim (noble family) Cornelius von Berenberg-Gossler Heinrich von Berenberg-Gossler all rights reserved. In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Prussian. Ancestry.com has a collection of these records: Eastern Prussian Provinces, Germany [Poland], Selected Civil Vitals, 18741945.. Derived from the name of the region of Brabant in the Netherlands and Belgium. Most Popular German Last Names on Family Education: Abbas, Altergott, Adler. Standesamt I in Berlin holds duplicate copies of civil registries in eastern Prussian territories now in Poland or Russia. It contains information about name variants, ancestry, extent and well-known personalities of the line. Many people there had German ancestors who emigrated from Saltzburg and a variety of other German cities and states. . Barbara, for example, can appear as Barbel, Barbele, Barbeli, Brbel, Brbelchen, Brmel, Bbi, or even Wawerl or Wetti. The following is a screenshot of the full list of current last names available: We will continue to make additional updates to the available last name pool . Find your Dutch last name and learn about name meanings and origins in the Netherlands. Braband German. 4. An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Prussian ancestors lived in harsh conditions. Rudat German (East Prussian) Variant of Rudatis. John became John the smith, John the son of Matthew, John the short, or John from Heidelberg. For instance, Schmidt, which is ranked No. View Census Data for Prussian | Data not to scale. Dialect spellings can often give a clue to the origin of the name and even the region where an ancestor lived. *We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs. Adelebsen (German noble family) Ahlefeldt (noble family) Albertine branch. You might even be happy to see that detail rather than the even more generic Germanyuntil you look at the map and realize how big Prussia had become in the 19th century. In February 1920, Germany (after it had been defeated in 1918) handed over West Prussias central parts to become the so-called Polish Corridor and the Free City of Danzig, while the parts remaining with the German Weimar Republic became the new Posen-West Prussia or were joined to the Province of East Prussia as Regierungsbezirk West Prussia. The use of patronymics continued until decrees were passed that required persons to adopt permanent hereditary family names. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure. The more clues you can unearth the better. In January 1871 Germany became a unified country. When you face one of these problems, your first stop should be the Meyers Gazetteer, the leading geographical dictionary of German lands published in the Second Empire period and available online. The terms meaning differed greatly during the half-millennium in which the Hohenzollern family wielded power in Central Europe, many of its members crowned Kings of Prussia.. Prior to 1900, formal surname changes documented in local court records are relatively rare. Between 1972 and 2002, in the United States, Prussian life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 1991. The most common German surname is Mller (which translates as Miller). "Old French Records", at "BYU Script Tutorial", Last edited on 29 December 2022, at 15:19. What are the most popular Dutch surnames? Preu (Preuss) Sachse Others were based on place names: Hans from Nrnberg might be called Hans Nrnberger. Ill walk you through three steps to tracing your Prussian ancestors. Aalbers Abela Abele Abeles Abrahamsen Achen Achter Achter Achterberg Acker Ackerman Addicks Adriance Akerman Akkerman Al Alberda Albers Alderink Alders Ale Alers Alkema Alles Alper Alsteen Ameling Amerman Amster Andries 1854. https://script.byu.edu/Pages/the-french-documents-pages/the-french-documents(english), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_name, https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Germany_Personal_Names&oldid=5187196, Surnames of wives and mothers often end with, Another form, indicating a female bearer of a surname, was the addition of a genitive, Most of the time the surname spelling changed to accommodate the, Within the German community, such as the local parish, immigrants may continue to use the proper German name, while at the same time. Many of these professions no longer exist but survive in naming traditions. This guide goes through the best Prussian genealogy records that may help you pinpoint your ancestors origins. Within that name held two syllables which both held distinct meanings. As German immigrants moved into English-speaking countries, their surnames were impacted in a variety of ways. 2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. For more parenting tips and tricks, find us on Pinterest: Are you a writer, expert, or influencer? The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed. Find your German last name and learn about the meaning and origins of different German surnames. Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. Jews in Germany followed the custom of using only a given name and the name of the father, such as Isaac, son of Abraham (Isaac ben Abraham). Accola. Count of Family Names in the 1776 Census Count of Family Names in the 1776 Census Compiled by Glenn Penner (gpenner@uoguelph.ca) The following table is a count of how many times each family name, or variation of that name, appears in the 1776 census of Mennonites in West Prussia. Browse profiles of historical people with the Prussian last name, This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. A couple who have identical first and middle names chose to have different surnames when they got married to avoid confusion. East Prussia (Ostpreuen) was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and again from 1878 to 1945. Apply this search to the main name collection, the letters in the pattern are compared to the letters in the name, search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes, this field understands simple boolean logic, force a term to be included by preceding it with a, force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a, sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations, syllables can only be counted in names that have been assigned pronunciations, names without pronunciations are excluded from results. Rudatis German (East Prussian) To get a quick, pictorial view of the growth of the Nation State of Prussia (it was correctly called Knigreich Preuen- Kingdom of Prussia) what follows below is a set of maps show the nations evolution: West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773-1824 and 1878-1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish fiefdom of Royal Prussia. Occupational name meaning "cooper, barrel maker" in German. Prussia : 1790 : 1867 Anderson : Hordaland : Norway . From 1772-1829 and 1878-1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. Other record groups havent survived the regions tumultuous 20th century. Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning. About Us. Examples: Feuerstein= Firestone, Schwarzenbach (er) = Blackcreek [which evolved into "Blackrick" and other phonetic spellings], or simply "Black". Because many of the Prussian areas were either destroyed (nearly completely) in the allied bombardments and assaults of WW2 and most Prussian areas were ethnically cleansed of 99+% of all native German speakers between 1945 and 1950, even tiny clues are most important. Get in touch! A patronymic surname is a surname originated from the given name of the father. East Prussia was the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. Get unlimited access to premium articles. For People Proud of their German Heritage, Interesting German historical and cultural facts, Here are some of my thoughts regarding genealogy and family names in northeast East Prussia (Ostpreussen) and Memel. Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940. For most, naturalization was a two-step process that required a declaration of intent followed by a petition for naturalization. Notice that there is no apostrophe. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found. If major changes occur in the naming patterns or form used, that could indicate a ministerial change, perhaps one coming from another area. A version of this article appeared in the January/February 2021 issue of Family Tree Magazine. But with the right attitude, dedication, and tools, you can find your ancestors who lived within the limits of the former kingdom. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations. Arick Prussian Dallmann Prussian Prussian Fuge Prussian Hittenrauch Prussian from the prussian word von hittenraoucht meaning "of royalty" Langwer Prussian Lemke Prussian Prussian Pommerania Lubbe German, Slavic, Prussian Variant of Lubben. 2. German Last Names and Their English Meanings, The Meaning and Origin of Famous German Names, Everything you need to Know About German Names, The History of Popular German Last Names (Nachnamen), A German-English Glossary of Popular German Abbreviations, Learn How to Say the Days of the Week in German, Learn the German Lyrics to Two Hit Songs by Die Prinzen, German for Beginners: Occupations (Beruf), How The Nursery Rhyme 'Eins, Zwei, Polizei' Can Help You Learn German, Translations of 3 of Rammstein's Top Hits, Conjugations of the Most-Used German Verbs. For example, Hans Petersen was a son of a man named Peter. Names that were comprised of syllables with the . The historical state, political entity, of Prussia (English)/ Preuen (German)- see the blue map on the right.Again quoting from Wikipedia: East Prussia (English)/ Ostpreuen (German), was a political subdivision/ province in the nation-states of Prussia and Germany. If doing ancestry searches, you should be aware that in some areas of Germany, such as Westfalen, Hannover, Lippe-Detmold, Oldenburg and Schlesien, there are exceptions to the rule which make research more complicated. A good way to determine naming customs of the area is to study the patterns found in the records of birth/christening, marriages, and burials/deaths. This page has been viewed 166,064 times (14,599 via redirect). Ammendorf family. The endings -s or -es show possession. Most German surnames derive either from archaic professions (such as Schmidt, Mller, Weber, or Schfer) or places. This page was last edited on 29 December 2022, at 15:19. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Prussian surname lived. Extra care needs to be taken to make sure that the correct people are included in the family group and that no one is accidentally overlooked. Pommerscher Verein groups were formed by descendants of emigrants from the Prussian province of Pomerania. At first surnames applied only to one person, not to the whole family. German immigrants may have been grouped together as the overly broad term Prussians. The misleading label may believe their actual identities: Pomeranians, Rhinelanders, Hanoverians and more. The former German state of Prussia took its name from the Baltic Prussians, although it was led by Germans who had assimilated the Old Prussians; the old Prussian language was extinct by the 17th or early 18th century.The land of the Old Prussians consisted approximately of central and southern East Prussia the present-day Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship of Poland, the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia and the southern Region of Lithuania. A team led by German genealogy scholar Roger P. Minert continues to compile the valuable book series German Immigrants in American Church Records (Family Roots Publishing). Some records preface names with occupations, and the occupation may erroneously be indexed as a given name. Surnames may also have been translated outright into English, sometimes with a slight twist. As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. It is worth noting that in US Census records this term rarely appears after 1871, the year of the creation of the Second Reich- Germany. In Germany, these occupational names still form the largest group of German surnames. The Prussian family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. Click. the "eit" at the end of their Surnames. You can see how Prussian families moved over time by selecting different census years. Until then, it was made up of smaller nation-states whose borders frequently changed. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Prussian census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more. To view this content, you need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. House of Alvensleben. A daughter Maria might be either Maria Hansen or Maria Hansdotter. The list is an alphabetical overview of Bavarian nobility. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed. Teutonic Knights and their descendants, the Baltic Germans, prospered for 700 years in north eastern Europe. Prussian civil registration dates to 1874 in most places, and (for the most part) are kept in the civil registry office (Standesamt) where the event occurred. Your support, through donation or affiliate useage, allows ManyRoads to remain online. If you are researching ancestors (family) it is possible that your family records are referring to this area. As the various provinces and duchies of German fell under the rule of different countries, the language used in records could change. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. For example, Hansel and Gretel for Johan and Margret. Dive into this disappearing state with this overview of Prussian history. Men often take on the wife's surname if moving onto her property. The cousin who came over with his family at the same time chose to use "Black". FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Specifically for Prussian areas that are now in Poland, Kartenmeister gives loads of information about the villages east of the Oder and Niesse rivers (the current boundary between Germany and Poland). Apply this search to the main name collection, the letters in the pattern are compared to the letters in the name, search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes, this field understands simple boolean logic, force a term to be included by preceding it with a, force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a, sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations, syllables can only be counted in names that have been assigned pronunciations, names without pronunciations are excluded from results. (All vestages of German government and control were removed following WW2. Though its home page is in German, the site has an English-language interface called Genealogy.net. How Continue reading My thoughts regarding genealogy and family names in EastPrussia. In some areas of Germany, individuals took a second surname from the name of a farm.. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed. Trade Surnames [edit | edit source]. Abram. Naturalization documents are especially important if your ancestor became a citizen (which you can determine by examining federal censuses). Few of the latter are on the following list, but examples include Brinkmann, Berger, and Frank. During the early 20th Century, especially the World War I era, surname changes are recorded more frequently, as immigrants or, more often, their children, tried to adopt more neutral surnames. Given that Prussia (the country) covered as much as ~135,000 square miles with a population of nearly 40 million people; names and dates are not enough to go on for a successful genealogical search. ManyRoads' work and material is licensed under a: Saxony Ambly des Ayvelles. You have Prussian ancestry, but cant find Prussia on modern maps. Questions varied by census yearand didnt guarantee that the enumerator would follow the proper instructionsbut may still provide some insight: US passenger arrival lists often give birthplace (or place of last residence) data. United States (US) Wisconsin (WI) Prairie du Sac/Sumpter Twp. With this list of German last names, discover the origin of your surname and how your ancestors made it come to life. Sign up for the Family Tree Newsletter Plus, you'll receive our 10 Essential Genealogy Research Forms PDF as a special thank you! Along with the rest of the Kingdom of Prussia, East Prussia became part of . Bsch 1 German. From 1824-1878, East Prussia was combined with West Prussia to form the Province of Prussia, after which they were re-established as separate provinces.
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