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Germans & Swiss Immigration to USA & Canada
Pre-1820 Approximately 650,000 individuals of all nationalities arrived in America before 1820. Most were English and Welsh. Smaller numbers of German, Irish, Scotch-Irish, Dutch, French, Spanish, African, and other nationalities also arrived. These immigrants tended to settle in the eastern, middle-Atlantic, and southern states. Before January 1, 1820, the U.S. Federal Government did not require captains or masters of vessels to present a passenger list to U.S. officials. The lists that remain for the period before 1820 are varied in content. They range from name only lists to giving the person's full name, age, and country of origin.
1820-1880 Over 10 million immigrants came from northern Europe, the British Isles, and Scandinavia between 1820 and 1880. There was a large increase in the number of immigrants from Germany and Ireland beginning in the 1840s and 1850s. Some settled in large eastern and midwestern cities, but most migrated to the midwest and west.
1880-1920 More than 25 million immigrants, mainly from southern and eastern Europe came to USA. Many came from Germany, Italy, Ireland, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and England. Many settled in the larger cities, including New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia. From 1820 to 1902 Custom Passengers Lists were kept the Customs Department. In 1883 the Immigration and Naturalization Service started keeping the records, and these are referred to as Immigration Passenger Lists
The two main German ports of embarkation were Bremen and Hamburg, where German officials prepared lists of emigrants. The majority of immigrants came to New York, but many went to New Orleans and Baltimore, with fewer going to Boston and Philadelphia
To find your German or Swiss ancestors you will want to consult
CD ROMS
What's Available in Genealogy CDs includes
- Swiss Emigrants in the 18th Century
- Germans to America, 1875-1888 Ships Passenger Lists
- German and Swiss Settlers in America, 1700s-1800s - fully-searchable CD ROM listing age, gender, occupation, place of origin, and date of arrival for 2 million German immigrants to United States
- Germans to America, 1850-1874 Ships Passenger Lists
- Ships Passenger Lists Index, 1500s-1900s - Indexed CD with names of approximately 3,530,000 individuals who arrived in United States and Canadian ports
- Immigrants to the New World, 1600s-1800s
- Immigrants to Pennsylvania, 1600s-1800s - * William Penn and the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania, by William I. Hull, * Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750, with Their Early History in Ireland, by Albert C. Myers, * Quaker Arrivals at Philadelphia, 1682-1750. Being a List of Certificates of Removal Received at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of Friends, by Albert C. Myers, * Emigrants to Pennsylvania, 1641-1819. A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists from The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, ed. Michael Tepper, * Pennsylvania German Pioneers. A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, by Ralph B. Strassburger and William J. Hinke, * Names of Foreigners Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania, 1727-1775, with the Foreign Arrivals, 1786-1808, by William Henry Egle, * A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French, and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, by Israel D. Rupp, * Record of Indentures of Individuals Bound Out as Apprentices, Servants, Etc. and of German and Other Redemptioners in the Office of the Mayor of Philadelphia . . . 1771 to . . . 1773, * Passenger Arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia 1800-1819, ed. Michael Tepper and Elizabeth P. Bentley
Online Immigration Records (Fee-based)
 Finding Your German Ancestors
Pennsylvania German Pioneers
Early Germans of New Jersey
New Jersey Early Germans 18th 19th century
Philadelphia German Immigration, 1700-75
Wuertemburg Germany Emigration Index 8 Volumes. Gives date and place of birth, date of emigration, district, destination, and the Family History Library microfilm number of the original document.
Brandenburg, Prussia Emigration Records
Swiss Emigrants in the 18th Century
The Deutsche Auswanderer-Datenbank (DAD) immigration from Germany to USA 1820 to 1939
Books
What's Available in Passenger Arrivals on CD or in Books
Ships Passenger Lists on Microfilm
NARA & FHC Microfilm Reel Numbers Passenger Lists to North America 1820 to 1957
Naturalization Records
For help with Naturalization Records, plus online searchable databases, see NaturalizationRecords.com
Online Articles & Research Advice
The Importance of the Hamburg Passenger Lists for European Immigration to USA 1850-1934
Immigration to USA Before 1820
Immigration to USA After 1820
Naturalization & Citizenship Records USA (PART 1) What the Records contain
Naturalization & Citizenship Records USA (PART 2) Where to Find the Records
Manifest Markings: A Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations (1892-1943) by Marian L. Smith, the Historian of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
Online Free Ships Passenger Lists
Adventure Galley 1727 from the Palatinate Germany
The Friendship Oct. 1727 from the Palatinate Germany
William & Sarah 1727 from the Palatinate Germany
James Goodwill 1727 from the Palatinate Germany
Molly Sept. 1727 from the Palatinate Germany
Albany Sept. 1728 from the Palatinate Germany
Mortonhouse Aug. 1728 from the Palatinate Germany
Mortonhouse Aug. 1729 from the Palatinate Germany
The Joyce 1730 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
The Thistle of Glasgow Aug. 1730 from the Palatinate Germany
The Britannia Sept. 1731 from the Palatinate Germany
Snow Lowther Oct. 1731 from the Palatinate Germany
The Pennsylvania Merchant Sept. 1731 from the Palatinate Germany
Dragon 1732 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
John & William Germany to Pennsylvania 17 Oct 1732
The Judith 1732 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Mary 1732 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Norris 1732 from the Palatinate Germany
The Pleasant 1732 Rotterdam to Pennsylvania
The Samuel Aug. 1732 from the Palatinate Germany
The Samuel 1733 Rotterdam to Pennsylvania (another version)
Elizabeth Germany to Pennsylvania 27 Aug 1733
The Pennsylvania Merchant1733 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
The Richard & Elizabeth1733 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
The Hope 1733 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
The Samuel Aug. 1733 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
The Elizabeth 1733 Germany to Virginia
The Augusta 1736 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Brig John 1736 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Molly Palatine Ship Germany to Pennsylvania 1737
The Samuel Palatine Ship Germany to Pennsylvania 1737
Elizabeth 30 Oct 1738 Germany to Pennsylvania
The Fox October 12, 1738 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Jamaica Galley 1738 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Jamaica Galley 7 Feb 1739 Germany to Pennsylvania
Loyal Judith1739 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
The Samuel1739 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Snow Betsy 1739 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
Lydia 1739 Germany Pennsylvania
Friendship 1739 Germany Pennsylvania
Robert & Alice 1739 Germany Pennsylvania
Lydia 1740 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
Loyal Judith 1740 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
Robert & Alice 1740 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
Samuel & Elizabeth 30 Sep 1740 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
The Europa 1741 Rotterdam to Pennsylvania
Lydia 1741 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Marlborough 1741 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Molly Oct. 1741 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
St Mark 1741 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
St. Andrew 1741 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
Snow Molly 1741 Germany Pennsylvania
The Europa 1741 Rotterdam Pennsylvania
Francis & Ann 1741 Germany Pennsylvania
Loyal Judith 1742 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Charlotta Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania 1743
Loyal Judith 1743 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Rosanna 1743 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
(no ship name) Ireland to Boston, Mass 1744
The Neptune Germany to Pennsylvania 1746
Two Brothers 1748 Germany Pennsylvania
The Dragon Sept. 1749 from the Palatinate Germany
The Leslie 1749 Rotterdam to Pennsylvania
St. Andrew Sept 1749 from the Palatinate Germany
Bennett Gally 1750 Palatine Ship to Pennsylvania
The Royal Union 1750 Rotterdam to Pennsylvania
The Patience from Rotterdam to Cowes England to Philadelphia, Pa. 9th September 1751
Queen Denmark 1751 to Pennsylvania
President 1752 Palatine Ship to Pennsylvania
Edinburgh 1753 Palatines from Rotterdam to Baltimore
Neptune to Pennsylvania from Germany 2 Dec 1754
Good Intent 1754 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Halifax 1754 from the Palatinate Germany to Pennsylvania
Success 1763 Rotterdam to Pennsylvania
The Chance1763 Rotterdam to Pennsylvania
The Boston 1764 Germany to Pennsylania
Minerva 1771 Palatine Germany to Pennsylvania
Molly 1774 Palatine Ship to Pennsylvania
Sally 1774 Palatine Ship to Pennsylvania
Union 1774 Palatine Ship to Pennsylvania
Favorite 1785 Germany to Pennsylvania
London Packet 1785 Germany to Pennsylvania
Patsy Rutledge 1785 Germany to Pennsylvania
Galliote Fortuna List of Passengers from Bremen Germany to New Orleans Louisiana 1820
Leo 1846 from Germany to Texas
The Southerner Rotterdam Germany to New York 1846
John Campbell Bremen Germany to New Orleans 1847/48
Helene Bremen Germany to New York 1850
Itzsein & Welker Bremen Germany to New Orleans 1850
Amerika Germany to New York Jan. 2, 1851
Washington 1851 from Breman & Southampton New York
Frederick, Bremen Germany to New York Dec. 23, 1851 [3 images]
Ship Albert Bremen Germany to Baltimore Maryland 20 May 1851 [10 pages]
South Carolina 1851 Rotterdam New York
George Canning 1852 Hamburg Germany to New York
Antje Brons 1855 Germany to New York (plus picture!)
O. Thigen 1861 Bremen Germany New Orleans Louisiana
Ernst Moritz Arndt 1861 Bremen Germany New Orleans Louisiana
Baltimore 1868 Bremen Baltimore
Gessner 1872 Bremen Germany to New York
E. M. Arndt from Germany to New York (graphics only - may be slow to load)
Vandalia 1881 Hamburg Germany and Havre to New York
Salier 1882 Bremen Germany to New York
Maas 1883 Rotterdam Germany to New York (352 passengers)
Baltimore 1868 Bremen Germany to Baltimore
The No. German Lloyd liner Munenchen Feb. 1929 Germany, France, Ireland to New York
Palatines from Germany to Pennsylvania ships passenger lists from 1727 to 1808
Search for passengers Use Olive Tree Custom Search Engines to search multiple sites (choose search engines by state of arrival)
Germans from Russia to US & Canadian Ports - search by ship or passenger name, port of arrival, town/country of origin
Auswanderung aus Württemberg Wurttemberg Emigration List (doesn't include LDS film no) Choose Recherche, then Suchformular. Fill in the search box, then choose Abschicken
Hamburg Emigration Lists searchable database of 5 million people (Russian, German, Jewish, Austrian) who emigrated from Hamburg, Germany from 1850 to 1934 mostly to the United States. You can search for free and obtain results but for more details there is a fee. Here is an example of what you can see for free [Passenger
Number 330235; Surname Schmidt; First Name Adam; State of Origin Hessen-Nassau; Marital
Status -- ; Date of Birth 1864/1865; Destination New York ; Attendant
Family Members none; Category d ]
Bremen Passenger Lists 1920 - 1939 searchable database. Hint: Use the German language search engine! The English search engine doesn't always work
Ellis Island Ships Passenger Lists Search passenger records to New York from 1892 to 1924
Mennonite Immigrants to Canada Departing from Hamburg, Germany: 1890-1898
Ship and Immigration Records Variety of records (Ships passenger lists, declarations of intent, etc) from Germany to USA & Canada
Newspapers
If the exact date of arrival of a ship is known, you can
read the arrival report in newspapers.
For example,
The New York Times which began publication in September 1851, is available at many large libraries. The type of vessel is normally indicated on the arrival
report, which may also give information about events on the voyage. Sometimes names are also given, although full passenger lists are not. You can search the NY Times online! Search
1857-1880 or
1881-1906 These are off-site pay databases but you may be able to use a free trial offer to view them.
Custom Search Engines
My Custom Search Engines will search Olive Tree Genealogy and the Internet (sites such as ISTG, and more!) for FREE ships passenger lists from Germany to USA and Canada.
Census Records
AllCensusRecords.com Search Census Records all years in USA & Canada. Comparison chart of online sites and what census records they have
If you don't know the year your ancestor arrived in the USA, search the 1870, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 census for the year of immigration! Naturalization status is also given.
 Looking for other USA records? See USA GENEALOGY for searchable genealogy databases |
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