(How to find place of origin in Germany)

The first step in tracing a German ancestor is determining his or her date and town of birth. Begin by searching the following records for the area where the ancestor lived.

Begin with U.S. records (e.g. census) and work back to the time of the person's immigration, and then on to Germany. The following records are also helpful when searching for a German ancestor.

Emigration/Immigration and Naturalization Sources at Mesa Family History Center:

1. Naturalization:  Guide to Naturalization Records of the United States Schaefer, 
    Christina K 973.P4s (Reference table)

2. German American Newspapers and Periodicals 1732-1955. Film 829041, item 1.

3. Passenger List and Immigration CDs,
Family Tree Maker
        a. Genealogical Records: Early Texas Settlers 1700s-1800s
        b. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1538-1940
        c. 1999 update Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
        d. 1500s-1900s; 2000 supplement Genealogical Records: 
            Early South Carolina Settlers, 1600s-1800s
        e. New Orleans Passenger Lists 1840-1849
        f. Passenger and Immigration Lists: Boston, 1821-1850.
        g. www.Ancestry.com has portions of these records.

4. Rupp, Israel Daniel. Thirty The usand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, 
    French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727- 1776.
    Call #1965974.8 W2ra (index)

5. The Alsace Emigration Book 944.3& W2s

6. The Wuettemberg Emigration Index, Shenk, Trudy 943.47 w22.st (based on local 
    German records which have been filmed.)

7. Strassburger, Ralph Beaver, Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication 
    of the original lists of arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 - 1808) 
    974.811 W3s

8. Collection of Ships Passenger Lists from Boston, New Orleans, Baltimore,
     and other eastern ports - except New York (Green Book on Reference Table)

9. Germans to America (Ship Passenger Lists - these include some years of German
    and other immigrants) Volumes 1-67 973 W2ger.

10. Hamburg Passenger Lists 1850-1934 (indices and passenger lists and 
    corresponding films (in burgundy book on Reference Table. 943.5l5/Hlw2)
    (20%, chance to get exact name of town of birth)

Naturalization records in the United States were kept by local courts until 1906. 
Contact the Reference Desk for help in applying to the US National Archives 
for naturalization records for 1906 and after.

Passenger Lists: After locating a name on a passenger list, the names and 
dates for all the other passengers you should be copied. Examination of the other names
on the passenger list is often productive because whole families and sometimes 
communities emigrated together.

Books on German, Surnames and Their Variations at Mesa Family History Center:

1. Bahlow, Hans. Detdsches Nantenlexikon, 943 D46ba (A Lexicon of 
    German Names)

2. Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Worterbuch derDeutschen 
    Familiennamen. 943 D466j (Origins of German Family Names)

How To Do German Genealogy:

1. www.familysearch.org  - search - research guidance - G for Germany. 
    Click under Germany on A Genealogical Handbook on German Research, 
    an instruction book by Larry O. Jensen. In this database there are research 
    guides, letter writing guides, German word lists, instruction in reading 
    old German script etc. .

2. Contact the international Desk, at the Salt Lake Family History Library 
    (1-800-453-3860).

How To Find Civil Registration and Church Records For Your Town:

1. Meyers Orts- and Yerkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs: auf Grund 
    arntlicher Unterlagen von Reichs Landes- und Gemeindebehorden 
    (3 volumes on reference table) 

    Dearden, Fay, The German Researcher 943.D27df  943.0274f   
    Look for the place (listed as StdA and Kath Pft or ev. Pft) for your town. 
    This is where the filmed records may be located. (a companion book to Meyers-Orts)
    (on the reference table)  

2. Salt Lake Family History Library Catalog on line at <fami1ysearch.org> 
    lists all records that have been filmed. This is the most up to date 
    version of the catalog.

3. Search the Mesa Family History Catalog for book holdings under the name 
    of your town or state.

Maps:
    1. www.davidrumsey.com
    2. Atlas of The German Empire 1892 in Q Book (oversized book) section.

Need Any More Help Contact the Following: 
    1. www.mesarfhc.org (The Mesa Regional Family History Center lists 
        all book and film holdings) 
    2. www.familysearch.org (Salt Lake Genealogical Library Web Site) 
    3. 1-800-453-3860. Ask for the International Desk.

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