Books of Interest to German Genealogists

Wed Aug 26 07:58:50 UTC 2009
All of these books can be purchased on-line if you click on the link. Note that clicking on the link does not commit you to buy.

English:

Names:

Dictionary of German Names
The most famous and comprehensive dictionary of meanings of German surnames. By Hans Bahlow.
German-American Names
A lower-cost, but less thorough work on the same topic. 2nd Edition by George F. Jones

Research:

If I Can You Can Decipher Germanic Records
This explanation of German writing is indispensable in deciphering German handwritten records such as those found in parish books. By Edna Bentz.
Meyer's Directory of Genealogical Societies in the USA and Canada, 1996/97

Social History / Daily Life:

Family Life in Early Modern Times, 1500-1789
Daily life in Europe during early modern times. By Marzio Barbagli.
Family Life in the Nineteenth Century, 1789-1913
Daily life in 19th century Europe. By David I. Kertzer.
The Burgermeister's Daughter: Scandal in a Sixteenth-Century German Town
Actual events in the town of Schwäbisch-Hall as revealed by recently-discovered letters revealing how our German ancestors thought and acted. By Steven Ozment.
Shaman of Oberstdorf: Chonrad Stoeckhlin and the Phantoms of the Night
The horse wrangler Chonrad Stoeckhlin was burned after accusations of witchcraft in 1587. Taking this as his starting point, the author discusses withcraft, local history, pre-Christian religion and much more. By Wolfgang Behringer.
Kinship in Neckarhausen, 1700-1870
Analyses shifts in the relations of families, households, and individuals in a single German village during the transition to a modern social structure and cultural order. By David Warren Sabean.
Property, Production, and Family in Neckarhausen, 1700-1870
A good view of the government, farming practices and private life in a small village, based on a fifteen-year study of documents from many sources. By David Warren Sabean.
The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier
True first-person account of a German man conscripted into Napoleon's army from a small Württemberg town just in time to take part in the march to Moscow. By Jakob Walter.
German Chicago: Danube Swabians & The American Aid Society
Social history of Donauschwaben immigrants to the Chicago area. By Raymond Lohne and Melvin Holli.
German Mercenaries in Canada
Social history of a very special set of immigrants. By Jean Wilhelmy.

Deutsch:

Der große Shell Atlas 2002/2003. Deutschland/ Europa
This wonderful atlas treats Germany in depth showing every village, hamlet, burg and dorf, indeed every road, large and small. In lesser depth are shown the neighboring countries. This indispensable resource is treasured by anyone ever fortunate enough to own one. Stocked by many Family History Libraries.
Deutsches Namenlexikon
The most famous and comprehensive dictionary of meanings of German surnames. Suhrkamp Taschenbücher, Nr.65, by Hans Bahlow.
Deutsche Namenkunde
Another good resource on the meaning of German surnames in case you don't find what you want in Bahlow. By Max Gottschald.
Die deutsche Schrift: Ein �bungsbuch zum schnellen und sicheren Erlernen der alten deutschen Schreibschrift
[The German Script: An Exercise Book for Quickly Deciphering Old German Handwriting Script] This explanation of German writing is indispensable in deciphering German handwritten records such as those found in parish books. After a short intro in German and English, including one page of alphabet and variants, the rest of the 50 pages are made up of a script document on the right hand page and the same in type on the left. Deciphering these writings should be good practice for anyone learning script, and amusement for those who just likes puzzles. By Fritz Verdenhalven.
Wie die Schwaben nach Szulok kamen: Erzählforschung in einem ungarischen Dorf
[How the Swabians Came to Szulok: Researching Stories in a Hungarian Town] German-speaking Szulok in southern Hungary was settled by Donauschwaben. The author has traveled there and interviewed the inhabitants to re-tell their stories, folk tales and beliefs, including the turbulent period after World War II and the myth of the "good old days". By Bernd Rieken.
Wer war Wer 1. Band A - L. Genealogisches Lexikon
[Who Was Who, volume 1: A - L Genealogical Dictionary]
Ratgeber '95. Familienforschung Mittel- und Osteuropa
[Advisor '95: Family Research in Central and Eastern Europe]

This page created March 13, 2001.

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