Where can I get help with my German genealogy?
Exploring your German ancestry can reveal fascinating family stories, traditions, and global connections. However, if you've begun this journey, you might have noticed that German genealogy has its own specific challenges.
What Makes German Genealogy Tricky?
Tracing German ancestors often involves:
Language barriers – Records are often written in old German script (Kurrent or Sütterlin), which is difficult to read even for native speakers.
Place name changes – Towns and borders have changed names and jurisdictions over time, especially due to wars and shifting territories.
Emigration records – Many German immigrants came to the U.S., South America, and elsewhere in waves, and tracking down departure or arrival records can be hit-or-miss.
Church vs. civil records – Prior to the late 1800s, most records were kept by churches, which can be challenging to access without knowing the exact parish.
Privacy laws – Modern records in Germany are often protected by strict privacy laws and not available to the public for many decades.
Because of these complexities, even experienced researchers can spend dozens of hours making sense of a single family line.
Resources to Get You Started
Here are a few tools I recommend if you're exploring your German heritage:
Archion.de – A paid site with digitized German church records.
Meyers Gazetteer (www.meyersgaz.org) – Great for identifying old German town names and jurisdictions.
FamilySearch.org – Offers some indexed German records and guides on German research.
Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek – A growing archive of digital German historical documents.
US-based resources – Like ship passenger lists, naturalization records, and Lutheran church archives, which can provide clues about an ancestor’s origin.
These resources can help—but only if you know where (and how) to look.
Need Help With Your German Ancestry?
If you’re stuck translating old records, identifying your ancestor’s village, or just want someone to guide or take over the research, I’m here to help. I specialize in German genealogy and understand the ins and outs of historical records, scripts, and regional quirks.
Whether you're at a dead end or just starting out, I can offer a personalized quote based on your goals.
Click here, to reach out today for a free consultation or to request a research quote. Let’s discover your German roots together.
How to research German ancestors