How common is my Family name?

by Steve
(USA)

Hi Suzele.

I forgot to ask this before, but can you give an estimate how common the name WERMUTH is in Alsace? Or even a guess. I figure there might be more in Waldighofen where my Ancestor is from, but have no real idea.

Thanks Suzele!

Stephen M. Wermuth

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Wermuch Family Name in Alsace and How to Find Your Family's Village in Alsace
by: Suzele

Hi Stephen,

Based on my experiences here in Alsace, I would say WERMUTH is definitely not a very common name.

I live in southern Alsace, so it's based on my observations there of course (and Waldighofen is in southern Alsace so that's a good thing for you!)

And get ready to hear lots of Alsatian because Waldighofen is deep in the Sundgau (a very traditionally rural Alsatian area)!

For those of you who have no idea which villages your family comes from...

If you are determined to find them, you can go to the village cemetery of every little village in Alsace until you find a lot of people with your family name.

Because the cemeteries in the village or villages that your family comes from will usually be full of your ancestors (unless they all moved away of course which isn't likely).

And even if they did all move away, you'll usually find plenty of older gravestones in most village cemeteries or specially done gravestones with everyone listed.

Of course this only works if you have a family name that is not everywhere...

An easy way to find out if your family name is really common is to go to the French Yellow Pages and type your name in and see how many listings there are.

Qui means "who" in French and Où means "where"...

You can limit the search to the Haut Rhin (southern) department or the Bas Rhin (northern department) or a particular village if you want.

And you may just find out where a large group of your distant relatives are too!

Good luck!
Suzele

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Could Family name have been shortened?
by: Stephen Wermuth

Thanks Suzele! I had heard somewhere in the past that the name may have been shortened from Wermuthausen, but have no proof what so ever. From all your experience in Alsace do you think this may be possible? Thanks again for such a wonderful site!!

Stephen Wermuth

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Family Names Change
by: Suzele

It is entirely possible, because many people doing genealogical research (around the world) often find that their family names have changed for many different reasons.

Alsace has changed ownership so many times in its history (1871-1947 in particular), so there is a definite possibility of it.

With the extreme depopulation of Alsace during the 30 Years War (and the subsequent repopulation of Alsace afterwards by the Germans, Swiss and other nationalities), people moving in may have changed their names as well.

Not to mention that literacy and public education in France (which would lead to being able to read and write their names) was not widely available until the time of Napoleon (early 1800s).

Good luck with your research!
Suzele

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Wermuth Name
by: Anonymous

My grandfather was from Waldighafen and we have traveled there twice.

Have traced my family back to early 1700s and the name has always been Wermuth. The cementary there also uses the spelling Wermuth.

Also there quite a few Wermuths living there.

Hope this helps,
Arthur Wermuth

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Question for Suzele
by: G. Zupp

Are there any residence of Alsace with the surname "Zupp?"

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Ley from Wolschwiller, Alsace
by: Anonymous

Greatgrandmother Kalsch maiden name was Ley (said US as Lee) and immigrated to Ohio 1840-1850 from Wolschwiller, Alsace. Her mother had surname Berton form Haguenau, Alsace. I understand most of my Alsatian ancestors were German speaking except Berton might be a French name. How common are those surnames? Reed Vandehey, Oregon

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Name Change Coming to America
by: Peggy

My great-grandfather was born somewhere in Alsace in 1866. He came to the US as a young man, so likely in the 1880s. He spoke German and his first name was Gottlob (not Gottlieb.). His surname was supposedly misunderstood or improperly recorded (changed?) at Ellis Island to „Winnay" but no one living knows what the true name was. Is that spelling close to anything that would be a typical surname in Alsace? Thanks.

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Surname
by: r1234

Hello. I would like to know how common Fornecker is in the area & the literal meaning.

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Bertsch
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How common is bertsch?

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Ruh family in Alsace-lorraine
by: Chris Ruh

Good day, looking into my family name that immigrated from the area. great great grandfather Godfereid Ruh immigrated from Germany placed to rest in Columbus, Ohio 1856. How common is the Ruh last name, and how would I dig deeper into local alsace records department?
thank you
Chris Ruh

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Karl and Ertel
by: Anonymous

I know my great grandfather and grandmother came from Alsace.Peter Karl and Matilda Ertel Karl.
I think around the time the Prussians invaded.
I know his father listed France as his birth country, but his Mother Mary Allen listed Prussia as hers. I have no luck finding anything about where they are even buried here in the U.S. around Buffalo NY.

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Dumolt
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How common is the surname Dumolt in Alcase?

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Grimm from Alsace
by: Frances

I have no idea what town in Alsace my GGG born in 1826 came from. I have looked at random towns in the archives and have not found her birth in the books. Frances Grimm was her name and I looked for variants of her first name. Looking online it looks like the Bas Rhin had more Grimm's than the Haut Rhin. I knew her husands town and found his family. Any ideas on how to find her?

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Family name Haas or Haase
by: Anonymous

My paternal Grandmother’s maiden name was Haas or Haase. She was born in the Alsace region. I know that is a common German surname. If you know the families occupation, would it be listed in a census?

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Haas
by: Suzele

Haas, it's a name I've heard in Northern Alsace.

Good luck with your research!
Suzele

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Yanney Surname
by: Yanuney

I have a bit of a family mystery for you. We know that our surname used to be spelled Yanney but after our earliest known ancestor immigrated to the American Colonies we have no information. We know that he was born near Strasbourg around 1695 and lived there until he was about 25. That is the extent of our knowledge. Does anyone have any insight into where I might look for more information?

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Alsace Lorraine
by: Gale

My DNA results showing small part to be Ashkenazi Jew. Relative born in 1697 in Alsace Lorraine France. Hope that I can find our Jewish link through him. Last name is Jennette, Jennette, Genet or other spellings. How is the best way to research this? Thanks

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Stice, Steiss, Steis,Stys
by: Kayla Stice

I am looking for more information on my ancestors from the Alsace-Lorraine area of Germany from the 1600’s time frame. I have been able to go as far back as locating a Ludwig Steiss and a Maria Ziegler Steiss. I am hoping to find more out about them and their son Karl, his wife Mary Baker Steiss and their son Charles. I know that Charles came to America in 1754 after what appears to be his parents passing away. Any information on them would be helpful! Thank you!

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GT Grandfathers name
by: Debra

Hello, My Great grandfather CHarles was born in Alsace in 1850. His last name when he immigrated to the US was changed to Reno. I have been trying to track down any history on him

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Surname of Lottes
by: Anonymous

I am told my maternal grandfather's family was from the Alsace Lorraine region. His surname was Lottes? Could this be an Alsace Lorraine name?

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Great Grandmother
by: Anonymous

Surname was Schiller

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