In Search of Your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of Europe

by Angus Baxter

Book Overview

This book is designed to help you trace your German ancestry, not only in Germany but in all the German-speaking areas of Europe, from the Baltic to the Crimea, from the Czech Republic to Belgium. It... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806314478
• ISBN13: 9780806314471
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company
• Length: 114 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A solid, easy-to-use, plain-terms manual

Now in an updated fourth edition, In Search of Your German Roots is a guide created to help readers track their German ancestry, regardless of their personal familiarity with the craft of genealogy. Chapters walk one through conducting research via correspondence and e-mail; working at home on an ordinary personal computer with internet access; and tapping into the resources of libraries, archives, and church and state records. Filled with useful websites and e-mail addresses as well as the newest facilities and records available, In Search of Your German Roots is a solid, easy-to-use, plain-terms manual, highly recommended especially for anyone just starting a research project.

A good place to start

If you're researching German ancestors who emigrated to the U.S. or Canada, then this book is a good place to start.Baxter provides a brief history of Germany and describes German migrations over the centuries to specific areas of central Europe such as Silesia, the Banat, parts of Slovakia, the Ukraine, and southern Russia. Baxter also traces migration patterns into North America where many Germans settled in Pennsylvania, the mid-West, and the Kitchener area of Canada.He describes the different groups that settled in specific areas, including their place of origin, religious background, and dates of migration.There is also a lot of useful naming information, which includes the changing of names' spellings, the system of patronymics used in some areas of northern Germany, the use of 'von' or 'Von' in one's surname, and the use of diminutives in first names.

The place to start for German genealogy

This is a great place to start for German genealogy. Mr. Baxter gives a brief history of Germany (including the Soviet breakup) and locations of record repositories. As in all of his other book, he tells you how to start your research (talk to Grandma before it's too late!), an overview of the LDS organization and tips and guides to doing research in Germany. He also gives you information on the languages of the area and what types of records you might expect to find. Do not despair of finding people in Germany-Mr. Baxter can help. You'll never regret buying this book.