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

Canadian Immigration

Between 1923 and 1930 almost 6,000 Mennonite households (20,201 individuals) left the USSR and emigrated to Canada. The Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization of Rosthern, Saskatchewan created a registration form for each family that came to Canada under its auspices. Search the indexes of these forms at the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization Extraction Project

To find your Mennonite ancestors you will want to consult

• Passenger Lists (if available)
• Indexes to Ships Passenger Lists on Microfilm after 1820 (if available)
• CD ROMS
• Books
• Online Databases
• Articles & Research Tips
• Newspapers (for ship arrivals)
• Naturalization Records

CD ROMS

Ships Passenger Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Indexed CD with names of approximately 3,530,000 individuals who arrived in United States and Canadian ports. Or search online Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [$]

Online Immigration Records (Fee-based)

Ships Passenger Lists on Microfilm

NARA & FHC Microfilm Reel Numbers Passenger Lists to North America 1820 to 1957

Online Articles & Research Advice

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

Newspapers

If the exact date of arrival of a ship is known, you can read the arrival report in newspapers.

Online Free Ships Passenger Lists

Search for passengers Use Olive Tree Custom Search Engines to search multiple sites (choose search engines by state of arrival)
Mennonites born in Germany in the 1871 census of Ontario
Mennonites born in Prussia in the 1871 census of Ontario
Mennonites born in Switzerland in the 1871 census of Ontario
Mennonites born in France in the 1871 census of Ontario
Quebec Passenger Lists: 1874-1880 Adobe Acrobat file with names of Mennonite passengers on ships
Mennonite Immigrants on Quebec Passenger Lists: 1881-1896
Mennonite Immigrants to Canada Departing from Hamburg, Germany: 1890-1898
Mennonite Ship Passengers Arriving in Canada: 1900-1914 (Halifax, St. John & Quebec arrivals)
Quebec Ship Arrivals 1900-1909 Many of these passengers had a final destination of ND, MI or other American states
Halifax Ship Arrivals 1900-1914 Many of these passengers had a final destination of ND, KS, NE, IL or other American states
St. John Ship Arrivals 1900-1909 Many of these passengers had a final destination of ND, KS, NE, OH or other American states
St. John Ship Arrivals 1910-1914 Many of these passengers had a final destination of CO, IL or other American states
Mennonite Passenger List 1872-1904 Arranged by surname
Russian Mennonite Immigrants From Harbin, China To The United States via San Francisco, CA, 1929-1930

Looking for other USA records? See USA GENEALOGY for searchable genealogy databases

Browse online FREE Ships Passenger Lists Choose by year of arrival in U.S.A.:
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* Search for Your Immigrant Ancestor in Ports of Arrival U.S.A. | Canada | Australia & New Zealand | South Africa | England * Find Ancestors on Ships Passenger Lists Outbound from USA & Canada * Find Ancestors on Ships Passenger Lists by Year of Arrival