Tips For Researching Prussian and German Settlers in Australia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Australia
Surnames/tags: German_Roots Australia Genealogy_Help

This Page is Provided by the Prussian Settlement in Australia - German Australians Project
Other Pages in this Project: | Prussian and German Settlement in South Australia| Prussian and German Settlement in Queensland | Prussian Immigrant Ships to Australia | Back to Main Page

Here we will have information to help Australians research their German or Prussian ancestors. Can you add something under any of these headings?

• Gothic Script - Fraktur - Searching Trove, Using Google Translate
  The first German newspaper was published in South Australia in 1848 by Karl Kornhardt on a printing press brought to the colony for the purpose. Like most German texts printed in the 19th century, it was printed in Fraktur or Gothic Script. What can an English speaker do when confronted with one of these documents? Here are some tips:
  • Seven Websites For Deciphering Old German Script - Family Tree Magazine
• Place Names - the 1917 Nomenclature Act
  It's no surprise that when German immigrants settled an area in Australia, they gave towns and geographical features names they were familiar with, in their own language, but you may not find these places on today's maps. During the First World War, Australia still regarded itself as British and it was thought to be unpatriotic to have towns and locations with German names. The Australian Nomenclature Act of 1917 changed many names to either English or Indigenous names. Consider that the Australian town where your ancestor lived or died may today be called something different. In some cases, eg Hahndorf, South Australia, the name was later changed back again. This list will help.
  • Wikipedia - List of Australian Place Names Changed From German Names
• Person Names - spelling, naming customs
  • Google search - German Naming Traditions
  • German Naming Traditions - Family Tree Magazine
  • Spelling Variations of German Surnames in Australia
• Occupations
  • German Occupations in the 19th Century translated list.
• Archives and Libraries
  • Lutheran Archives The national archives of the Lutheran Church are in South Australia, at 27 Fourth Street, Bowden SA 5007. There is no online searchable database; you can visit in person, write or email a request. Modest charges for library use, printouts etc. The archive holds workshops of interest to Family researchers.
  • National Library of Australia - Trove is an invaluable online searchable database of digitised newspapers, magazines, documents and images, including early German newspapers. Free to use and download.
  • National Archives of Australia for naturalisation records available online. Name search a last name. Most naturalisation records for South Australian Prussians are available to view digitally for free.
• Articles and Information Sheets
  • German Missions in Australia
• Local government areas in Germany and Poland.
  In most German states, the primary administrative subdivision is the Landkreis ("rural district"). 95% of the passengers on board the Zebra in 1838 emigrated from the Kreis of Züllichau-Schwiebus in the province of Brandenburg. The Gmina is the principal unit of the administrative division of Poland, similar to a municipality. The village of Kay, Kreis Züllichau-Schwiebus, Frankfurt, Brandenburg, Prussia is now named Kije, Gmina Sulechów, Zielona Góra County, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland.