The Family Tree German Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Germanic Ancestry in Europe

Media: BOOK - paperback, 240 pages
Author: J. Beidler
Year: 2014
ISBN: 9781440330650
Other: b&w photographs, maps, appendixes, addresses, index
Publisher: Family Tree Books

Follow your family tree back to its roots in Bavaria, Baden, Prussia, Hesse, Saxony, Württenberg and beyond. This in-depth genealogy guide will walk you step by step through the exciting journey or researching your German heritage, whether your ancestors came from lands now in modern-day Germany or other German-speaking areas of Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, and enclaves across Eastern Europe.

In this book, you'll learn how to :
- Retrace your German immigrant ancestors' voyage from Europe to America
- Pinpoint the precise place in Europe your ancestors came from
- Uncover birth, marriage, death, church, census, court, military, and other records documenting your ancestors' lives
- Access German records of your family from your own home town
- Decipher German-language records, including unfamiliar German script
- Understand German names and naming patterns that offer research clues

You'll also find maps, time lines, sample records and resource lists throughout the book for quick and easy reference. Whether you're just beginning your family tree or a longtime genealogy researcher, the 'Family Tree German Genealogy Guide' will help you conquer the unique challenges of German research and uncover your ancestors' stories.

Contents:
Introduction

Part 1 - Linking Your Family Tree to German-Speaking Nations
1. Your German-Speaking Heritage
2. Identifying the German-Speaking Immigrant
3. Pinpointing the Place of Origin
4. The History of Germanic Lands

Part 2 - Getting to Know the Old Country
5. Understanding Germany's Geography
6. Language, Surnames, Given Names

Part 3 - Tracing Your Family in German-Speaking Nations
7. Civil Registration in Germany
8. German Church Records
9. German Census and Court Records
10. German Military Records
11. Printed Records
12. German-Speaking Peoples Outside of Germany

Part 4- Advances Sources and Strategies
13. Putting it All Together
14. What to Do When You Get Stuck

Appendices
- Understanding German Script
- Sample Letters to Request Records
- Civil Record Archives in Germany
- U.S. Genealogy Archives and Libraries
- Societies: German, Genealogical, and Historical
- Publications and Websites
Index