German- fore fathers

[susieq]

Does any own know how to go about tracing German ancestors?
My husbands GG Grand father is beilieved to be German, but I don't have a clue where to start.
Thanks, in anticipation of some one being able to help me!
Susieq.
By the way the surname is Gembles.

[DavidWW]

Hi Susieq

I quote from Angus Baxter's In Search of Your European Roots

"It is probably harder to trace your ancestors in Germany than in any other European country"

Wow !!

The basic reason for this is that Germany as an undivided nation only existed from 1871 to 1945 (apart from the much more recent re-unification).

Prior to 1871, in the 19th century there were 34 or more separate states that now comprise Germany, including the kingdoms of Bavaria, Prussia, Saxony, Württemberg, various Grand Duchies such as Baden, and "free cities" of Hamburg, Bremen, Lübeck, Anhalt, Brunswick, Darmstadt, Hesse, Lippe, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, Reuss, and other "states" such as Thurungia.

And this all in the context then and since that the boundaries between "Germany" and neighbouring states have varied greatly !

A look at Cyndi's List at http://www.cyndislist.com/germany.htm is as good a place to start as any.

David

[susieq]

You're right David, WOW
I think I'll give it a miss,but thank-you any-way.
Susan.

[eilthireach]

Does any own know how to go about tracing German ancestors?
My husbands GG Grand father is beilieved to be German, but I don't have a clue where to start.
Thanks, in anticipation of some one being able to help me!
Susieq.
By the way the surname is Gembles.

Gembles is most certainly not a German surname! Granted, it is not a common surname, but that should not be a reason to think it is foreign. In fact, a quick search on IGI with Surname=Gembles and "All countries" selected will show you that the only entries that come up are actually Scottish! A few show in the English records using other search sites, but these are probably people who have moved there or are descendants of people who have taken the road south.
A broad search on ScotlandsPeople brings up the following entries:

Census 1841 5
Census 1851 0
Census 1861 6
Census 1871 1
Census 1881 3
Census 1891 20
Census 1901 19
Old Parish Records Births & Christenings 1553 - 1854 9
Old Parish Records Banns & Marriages 1553 - 1854 5
Statutory Register Births 1855 - 1905 28
Statutory Register Marriages / Banns 1855 - 1930 18
Statutory Register Deaths 1855 - 1955 29
Wills & Testaments 1513 - 1901 0

[susieq]

Thank-you Eilthireach,
I made a school boy error by listening to someone else in the family, and presumed that they may have been correct.
Plus the fact that I can find no trace of the said Alexander Gembles prior to the 1851 census.
Once again thanks for the help.
Susan.