When researching the Guthmiller/Guthmüller family name you will soon learn that there are several spelling variations. Most of this is the need to deal with the umlaut, “ü” that exists in German but not in English. The most common spelling of the name in USA records is Guthmiller but you will also occasionally find it spelled Guthmueller or Guthmuller. Of course there are also many misspelling variations such as,Gutmiller and Goodmiller. Good miller is the literal English translation for Guthmüller.
The other thing that you will learn about is German naming traditions. During the period before the Guthmillers left Germany and for a while after leaving Germany it was very common for all the boys or almost all of the boys in a family to have the same first name. This obviously would not work in day to day life except for the fact that they had different middle names that they went by.
Another practice that was common was that if an older child died at birth or while he was young the next child of the same gender would be given the same name. And last, the list of acceptable given names was very small. Numerous fathers, sons, cousins, uncles and aunts would end up with the same first, last and middle names. I’m sure they figured out ways to deal with this in day to day life but it sure does not make it easy when you are doing research.
There are a few Guthmillers that came directly to the USA from France and Germany but I believe that about 99% of the Guthmiller in the USA are descendants of Guthmillers that came from German Colonies in South Russia (now Ukraine).
As best I can I will try to lay out the orgin of these descendants. My primary reference source is a book that Loranne (Guthmiller) Asmus put together about 20 years ago.
My great great grandfather Jacob Guthmiller born 2/3/1846, Neudorf, Russia
My great grandfather John J. Guthmiller born 2/13/1884, Tripp, South Dakota
My grandmother Thelma Guthmiller born 10/20/1915
This is the extent of the information I have. I’d very much appreciate any resources anyone could share so I can learn more about my family’s history.
Thanks!
Thelma is my aunt and the daughter of John J. Guthmiller. My father is Thelma’s brother. I used to have contact with your family and particularly with Rosemary who was named after John J. Guthmiller’s wife, Rose. I would very much like to connect again with your family so write if you get this. By the way, you may know that my Uncle Junior or John Guthmiller is still living and recently lost his wife.
I’m trying to reconnect with your family and especially, Rosemary who once spent a summer vacation with me at our Grandfathers farm in Tripp, South Dakota. Respond to my email if you get this.
Many thanks, Don
jayson Trierweller,
I grew up northeast of Tripp, SD. My grandmother was Maria Guthmiller and I have a double Guthmiller great grandparents line since Maria’s parents were Ludwig Guthmiller and Katharina Guthmiller. Give me a few days to look at my database and I’ll let you know what I have entered. I’m definitely familiar with the John J. Guthmiller family.
Allyn Brosz
I seen your post about your family history being guthmiller in Tripp south Dakota… That rang a huge bell from what my grandmother told me years back her name was Phyllis guthmiller and I know her dad’s name was David and her mom was Maggie.
I know they also lived in the same town and were nieghbors at some point as the man that carved mt Rushmore. my grandmother wouldn’t lie about that but one thing I always wondered was if she was actually German like she claimed as she didn’t speak English until first grade, only German… But she looked very Jewish.. Very big pointy nose and dark hair.. And very stingy lol!! And a pack rat lol.
Just curious if we’re related??
Thanks, Chasity.
Hi! Not sure if this is still an active post, but thought I’d add that my Great Grandmother, Margaretha Guthmiller, born 1861, was a sister of your Great Great Grandfather Jacob born 1846. Margaretha married Fred Hoff, 1857-1895. They had a daughter, Lydia who married Fred Aman (1889-1958). Their daughter Rose Aman (1921-2011) was my mother. We come from a long line of Guthmiller’s and Hoff’s. I have much information if you’re interested.
The family Michelsohn are descending from Michel Hindriksson and his wife Walba Toennisdotter who came to the Swedish Colony of Alt-Schwedendorf in Kherson in 1782 and left this colony in 1794 with the people from Danzig who had been staying some years in Alt-Schwedendorf before moving to Alt-Danzig. They had the sons Andreas and Johan.
The Swedish farmer Mickel Hindriksson was born Sep 27 1761 on the island of Dago/Hiiumaa off the Estonian coast. He arrived and founded Alt-Schwedendorf May 1 in 1782 along with 535 other Swedes. He 1784 married Walba Toennisdotter born Jan 10 1765 (also on Dago/Hiiumaa). Their sons; Andreas (born Aug 16 1786) and Johan (born March 18 1789) were both born in Alt-Schwedendorf. Somehow the family decided to move to Alt-Danzig in 1793/94.
On my website you will find several Guthmiller families.
Ingrid Reule
http://www.kloestitzgenealogy.org/www/IG0000001.htm
Hello,
My name is William Schlecht. Wilhelm and Dorothea (ROSIN)
SCHLECHT are my great grand parents. I am currious if you have any information about Adam SCHLECHT Bauer u. Maurer, specifically the suffix Bauer u. Maurer.
Thank you.
Hi,
greetings from germany. Nice work you have done, Eva Katharina Elisabeth Guthmiller (*1813 Neudorf) married my Grand-Grand-Grand-Grand-Grand-Grandfather Friedrich Eberhardt.
My family lived in Tripp, SD, David Guthmiller married Elizabeth Hauck (sp?), children, Melvin, Bernice, Janet, Janice, Phyllis. Does anybody remember the 1949 blizzard?
I’m Leona Tesky Koth Hix I grew up at Tripp,S.D. and am
grandaughter of Ludwig Guthmiller brother to John J.
Got to know the John J Guthmiller Family.
would like to get in touch with you.
Hello, Leona–I am Lillian (Buchholz) Hauck–I have a curiosity about my family heritage. Please contact me. Thanks
I just read your comment and John J Guthmiller was my Grandfather. His son, Benjamin, was my Father. We lived in Sioux City, Iowa but I spent summers on his farm near Tripp. My Father’s generation is now completely gone and much of our history is lost forever. One of my Dad’s brother, John Jr. sent several letters from Guthmillers living in Ukraine before WWII. I made a career of the Army and had the chance to visit Ukraine but their homes had been destroyed in the war.
I’m trying to run down my heritage. Johann George Klein and Elisabetha Margaretha Herzog. Do you have any further information on this people? My grandmother was Weltz which her mother Schenkenburger and down to these descendants. I would appreciate all the help I can get. Phillipina Klein was their daughter I follow through on. Thanks
I am writing a book about the people of Neudorf, including the Guthmillers! It would be great to hear more about the Guthmillers and see photos to include in my book. 🙂
Justin
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the family book “Guthmiller Family Genealogy from Wingen, Alsace, France to Neudorf, Cherson, Russia to the Dakotas”? printed in 1984
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the family book “Guthmiller Family Genealogy from Wingen, Alsace, France to Neudorf, Cherson, Russia to the Dakotas”? printed in 1984.
My mother Pauline (Paulina)E. Guthmiller was born south of Tripp SD to Caroline Frey Guthmiller and Frederick Guthmiller. Thank You
Greetings from Germany (Bavaria).
The Name of my Grandmother was Amalia Guthmueller and she was married with my Grandfather Johann Hieb but I dont know when they were born or died.
What I still know is my Grandfather was Soldier in the second world war and died in captivity.
My name is Ryan Patrick Guthmiller. I was born Ryan Patrick Morris but I took my mothers name. Her parents were from South Dakota. Lavern R Guthmiller. Anyone got anything else?
Hello fellow Guthmiller’s. While reading these posts, I started reading my Centennial books from Roscoe and Hosmer, SD. Many of the names you wrote were in them. Some didn’t give the birth’s. Ludwig I found was from Tripp (parents-Theobald n Christine Ehmann Guthmiller). These people I’m not related to that I know of.
However, George Guthmiller Sr. married Kathrina Wagenman have children named George Jr.(born-1877), Theobald(1879), Phillip(1885), Fredrich(1887), Ludwig(1888). If you are related to any of these, thanks to Phillip, we’re related. I’m also looking for more Guthmiller relatives. My book says George Sr. came from Neudorf, Russia. They came as far as Marion SD, bought a wagon n oxen and mos’ied north to Hosmer. Other relatives talk of them being in the Tripp area also.
Hope this helps who reads this post and even if we’re not related, I’d still be interested in meeting another Guthmiller. My dad was Roger, granddad was Alvin, great-granddad was Phillip.
Thanks n Have a great day n Good Luck with your search.
Hi, my name is Donald L. Guthmiller, email: dong478@hotmail.com. John J Guthmiller was my Grandfather and his wife, Rose, was my Grandmother. My Father was Benjamin Guthmiller one of the four sons of John J.
I’d like to get in touch so write if want and we’ll see where it goes.
Hi Michael R.,
I am from the Theobald/Christina line as well He would be my Great Grandfather. My Grandfather was George/Christine (Landenberger) Guthmiller . They lived in Hosmer. My mother Lillian was a daughter of George/Christine.
My husband grew up in Avon, which is south and a little west of Tripp, maybe 10-15 miles. I had heard about Ludwig living in Tripp as well but I never stopped to visit. I grew up in Huron, SD.
I would love to hear from any family members.
Thanks,
Ann (Guthmiller) Oliver
George Sr was my 2nd cousin 4xremoved and was married to Katherina Wagenmann. Their children:
Geo Jr 1877- married Christina 1878-1961
Theobald 1879-1951 married Katherina Mayer 1884-1961
Phillip 1885-
Fred 1887-1948 married Mary Schumacher 1892-
Ludwig 1888- married Katherine Schumacher 1897-1972
Katherine A 1875-1964
Daniel 1876-1956 married Karolina 1881-1961
Margaretha 1890-1898
Christina 1892-1898
John 1894-1986 married Anna Dusel 1903-1942
George Sr’s father’s name was also George and was married to Caroline Hieb.
Alvin, married to Marie Mohr and daughter Hulda?
Hope this helps. Happy sleuthing Cuz.
Hi Micheal and everyone posting on this site.
My Grandmother was Irene Guthmiller, Parents Ludwig Guthmiller and Eva Frey. Ludwig’s parents were Christian Guthmiller and Margaritha Sifferman. Christian’s parents were Johann Ludwig Guthmiller & Margaretha Marzolf. I’d love to get in touch with you and especially would love to see the pages of those books you have. ahafso@hotmail.com
Our family lines have intersected somehow. My line is Bamesberger and Schlecht from Hoffnungstal, Odessa, Ukraine.
My Grandmother was Ernestine Bamesberger, daughter of Wilhelm Bamesberger and Karoline Barbara Schlecht (sp). Schlacht. I am wanting to know more about the Schlecht Family who came from Germany to Odessa, Ukraine. Judith Person
My Uncle John sent me letters of our relatives living in Odessa, Ukraine. I was career Army and lived in Ukraine for three years and had the opportunity to go to the state of Odessa and looked up their address. Their town was completely destroyed during WW2 but some of the people living in the Ukrainian part of the village told me they remembered Germans neighbors who were forced to leave by the Russians.
Some of the Germans in South Russia (Ukraine) were starved to death. They had no knowledge of collectivized farms and had difficulty making the transition. Some died while working at forced labor. Some were sent to “special camps”. Many were executed. During WWII the Germans forced many to relocate to Poland. Some fought for Germany and others fought for Russia. After the war many were able to relocate to Germany. I’m not explaining all this very well but the end result was there are not of descendants of German Colonies left in what is now Ukraine.
My name is Mat Guthmiller and I’m trying to do some family history. My dad’s name was Vern Guthmiller, his parents were Edwin and Annie Guthmiller, Edwin’s parents were Christian and Katherina Guthmiller. My email is matguthmiller@gmail.com.
Hello, My name in Tim Morgan. My grandmother was Christina Guthmiller from somewhere in the Dakotas. Her Mother I believe was from Germany. Her Family moved from the Dakotas to Farragut on Lake Pend Oreille during WWII then moved to Fairfield WA then to Boise and remaired the to Kent Washington. I don’t know anything past my grandmother.
Timothy,
Most of the people in the Dakotas who are of German decent are called Germans from Russia. They lived in an area near the Black Sea that is often referred to as South Russia. The area is now part of Ukraine. They went to South Russia because the Russian Czar at the time recruited settlers by promising land to people willing to move South Russia. Much of this took place around 1800. They lived in colonies of Germans and maintained there German language, identity, traditions and religion. I envision this as being very much like Amish and Mennonite colonies in the US.
As their families expanded they ran out of new land to give their sons so they stared to look elsewhere. I just so happened that the US was looking for settlers to settle in the western territories so around 1850 to about 1915 many of the came to the USA and homesteaded land in the Dakotas.
OK, that should give you a better idea about who your Grandmother was. The next thing you need to know is that the name Christine was a very popular name among the Germans from Russia. I don’t think it is to say that almost every family had a Christine, Christina or Kristina in it. In order find out exactly where your grandmother fits I would need to know more about her. Is Guthmiller her birth name or her married name? About when was she born? Family member names and thing like that.
Hi , my name is Maurice Reiner. My mother’s maiden name is Eileen Guthmiller. Her father was Chris, Christian, Guthmiller who farmed south of Tripp, SD. My grandfather’s, Chris, wife’s maiden was Hamburger. Any information of the Hamburger and Guthmiller family will be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi, Maurice,
We’ve known each other for a long time, My grandmother was Maria Guthmiller Stoebner, so I have quite a bit on the Guthmiller family. Your mother and I are second cousins. Our common ancestors are Ludwig Guthmiller (1840) and Katharina Guthmiller (1840), so we have a double Guthmiller line. You can email me at allyn.brosz (at) gmail.com if you’d like more information.
Hi I am traveling to Germany and want to find our family roots.
My grandparents are Victor and Pauline (Stoebner) Guthmiller of Tripp South Dakota. I know that grandma and grandpa said their parents came from Prussia to South Dakota.
Where do I even start to figure out where to start.
I believe now there is no Prussia as it would be part of the Ukraine ? I am not a geography expert so forgive me if I have this wrong!
The Guthmillers from Trip immigrated from an area they called Odessa or South Russia. This area is now part of Ukraine. They were Russian citizens but spoke German because they lived in colonies where German was the primary language.
All of the Guthmillers in South Russia and thus Tripp can trace their ancestry back to a single man who lived in an area of Germany called Alsace-Lorraine. This area is now located in France and has been a part of France since about WWI. There are still families in that area with the original Guthmiller name.
There are many people you could talk to that can give you a better history of your ancestors but I hope this helps
I’m unable to view the links on web page. Do I need to use a certain browser?
This website didn’t work out in the way I intended so I gave up on it rather than spend more time and money on it. I have a lot of research on this family line and would be happy to help you if you need it.