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Family history Family history
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My 8th great-grandmother Anna Margretha
Zimmerman was born in 1653 at the
town of Seeheim, which is now located within the present German state of Hesse. Up to 1978 Seeheim
was its own separate municipality; after that it became known as Seeheim-Jugenheim. Around 1683 she married Johan Peter
Wambold a
native of nearby Pfungstadt
which like the aforementioned Seehiem
is also located in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg in the
state of Hesse. To this union at least 12 known off-spring
were born between 1684 and 1707. Ann
Margaretha was 75 years old when she died at Zwingenberg, in the Hessen district of Bergstrasse. Zwingenberg is located approximately 4
miles from Seeheim. My ancestral
lineage continues through her daughter Anna Elizabeth
Wambold,
born in 1693. |
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Origins of the
surname
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An Introduction to the Name
The practice of inherited family surnames began in England and France
during the late part of the 11th century. Surnames were first utilized in the
Germanic region of central Europe during the second half of the 12th
century. The custom of taking on
surnames began in the southern areas of Germany, and gradually spread
northward during the Middle Ages. It
took about three hundred years for this tradition to apply to most families
and become constant part of one’s identity.
With the passing
of generations and the movement of families moved from place to place many of
the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we
are familiar with today. Over the
centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an
unchangeable part of their lives. Thus
people rarely changed their surname.
Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary
act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an
error in transcription. Research into the record of this Zimmerman family
line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname is
most likely linked to that area of Europe where German linguistic traditions are commonly found. |
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Meaning of the Name
Most modern
family names throughout Europe originated from with of the following circumstances:
occupation (i.e., Carpenter,
Cooper, Brewer, Mason); locational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or
topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise,
Armstrong); status (i.e.
Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply
made up. Zimmerman is an Americanized or Jewish spelling of the surname Zimmermann. Zimmermann is a German and Jewish
(Ashkenazic) occupational name for a carpenter or a dealer in
timber. The name originated from the Middle High German word zimbermann
that is a compound of zimber, zim(m)er meaning ‘timber’, or ‘wood’ and the German word mann meaning ‘man’ . |
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History of the Name
The
German surname Zimmerman, and its variant
spellings, have traveled widely in
many forms throughout Europe. First
found in Prussia, where the name
was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which
would become prominent throughout European history. Zimmermann is a very early
Germanic occupational surname is one of the very first recorded in that
country. This is not surprising as it describes a Carpenter or a Master
Carpenter, one of the most important jobs of the medieval period. These early
recordings include such examples as Cunrod Zimmermanin of Tailfingen, in the
charters of Balingen
for the year 1200, and slightly later in 1245 Heinricus Zimbermann, in the
records of Zurich,
Switzerland. Other recordings include Cunrat Czimerl who was recorded at Wurttemberg
in 1335, and Simon Zimmermeister at Stadt Samosch, Lublin, in 1582. The Zimmerman name does tend to be
confused with the English versions, and particularly so in the United States
where immigration from both countries was at its height in the 18th
century. In any case the name from
both countries is often in the same spelling, which is perhaps not surprising
as they share similar pre 7th century "Anglo-Saxon"
roots. |
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Early Immigrants
to North America
During the 17th, 18th and 19th
centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage
to North America. For many it was an
escape from economic hardship and religious persecution. For most it was an opportunity for to
start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their
descendents. Immigration records show
a number of people bearing the name of Zimmerman, or one of its variants, as
arriving in North America between the 17th and 20th
centuries. Some of these immigrants
were: Maria Margaretha and her four children, who came to
Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1694. Gerhard Zimmermann came to America in 1740;
Elizabeth Zimerman came to Philadelphia in 1789. The Zimmerman surname appeared also quite early into the former British colonies of North America, especially William Penn’s colony of Pennsylvania. One reason for this was that after the kings of Hanover, Germany, also became kings of England in 1715, German emigration to America was greatly encouraged. Many of these German immigrants, particularly those with easy English equivalents, were encouraged and in some case required to change to an English spelling. Also many German surnames were re-spelled in America because of the close relationship between the English and German languages. In some cases Germans are able to transform their names to the English form just by dropping a single letter. This was the case with many sea captains or their agents who, when making up the ships passenger lists, found it easier to use a more familiar English spelling. After the start of the first World War, Germans in great numbers Anglicized their names in an effort to remove all doubt as to their patriotism. Hence it is said that many Zimmer(man)'s became recorded in the USA as Carpenter, but it is also true that many Zimmer(man)s remained Zimmer(man)s, and areas of the country remained predominently German speaking for many decades. |
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Use
the following links to find more early
immigrants with this surname: |
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$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com |
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More About Surname Meanings
& Origins
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German Surnames Many German names have their roots in the
Germanic middle ages. The process of forming family names began around the
year 1100 and extended through 1600. All social classes and demographic
strata aided in the development of names. First Names (Rufnamen) identified
specific persons. Over time the first name began to be applied to the
bearer's whole family. At first through verbal usage, family names
(Familiennamen) were later fixed through writing. Until the 17th century,
first names played a more important role. The earliest family names derived
from the first name of the first bearer (Patronym). Later names derived from
the place of dwelling and location of the homestead. If a person of family
migrated from one place to another they were identified by the place they
came from. Of more recent origin are names derived from the vocation of
profession of the first bearer. These names comprise the largest group and
the most easily recognizable, for they tell what the first bearer did for a
living. Another group are names derived from a physical or other
characteristic of the first bearer. Finally, there are names that tell you
the state or region a first bearer and his family came from; the age old
division in tribes and regions (low German, middle German and upper German)
is often reflected in names. |
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Variations
of the surname
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Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have
continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of
variants. As such one can encounter great
variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in
general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized. Later on spellings would change with the
branching and movement of families. Spelling variations of this family name include: Zimmer, Zimmerle, Zimmerling, Zimmerman, Zimmermeister, Timmerman, Cinnerman, De Timmerman, Timmermans, Zimmerer, Zimmermann, Zimerman, Timmer (northern
Germany), Timmermann, the patronymic Zimmermanns and many others. |
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The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled. This is especially true when searching census documents. The Soundex system was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname. Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research. The Soundex Code for Zimmerman is Z565. Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code: ZIMMERMAN | ZIMMERMANN | |
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Searching
for more Information about this and other surnames? |
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Then
take a look at our: |
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Family
coat of arms
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In the Middle Ages
heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices
used to distinguish the armored warriors in tournament and war, and was also
placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry
began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously
in several countries of Western Europe.
Heraldry spread to the German burgher class in the 13th
century, and even some peasants used arms in the 14th century.
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Fig. 1 |
Fig. 2 |
Fig. 3 |
There are at least 15* known associated armorial bearings for Zimmermann recorded in Reitstap’s
Armorial General. The following additional information has been found
regarding the coats-of-arms shown at the left: Figure 1: arms granted to a Zimmerman of Prussia
in 1786; Figure 2: coat-of-arms granted in 1629 to a Zimmerman
of Bavaria;
Figure 3: Zimmermann of unknown origin; Figure 4:
Zimmermann arms of unknown origin it displays a red shield with a gold fesse between a falcon holding a crampon
in chief and three blue roses in the base; Figure 5: these arms were originally established in Amsterdam under the name
Timmerman. They were also granted to Zimmermanns of Livonia and Estonia in 1550, Sweden in 1672, and Russia in 1778; Figure 6: This
coat of arms are attributed to a Jewish Zimmerman as denoted by the six pointed gold stars; Figure 7: coat-of-arms granted to
Zimmerman of Switzerland; Figure 8: coat-of-arms granted to a
Zimmermann of Fribourg; Figure 9: same arms as in figure 8 without the mantling
and crest; Figure 10: arms granted to Zimmerman of Silesia; Figure 11: this coat-of-arms exhibits a
rather intricate design and is attributed to a Zimmerman of Germany; Figure
12: Zimmermann arms of unknown origin it shows a blue shield with
a gold fesse between a falcon holding a crampon in chief and three red roses
in the base.
One Zimmerman family motto is
known. It is “Labor ispe voluptas”. * Reitstap, J.B., Armorial General, Volume II, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore,
Maryland, 1965, pages 1144-45. |
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Fig. 4 |
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Fig. 6 |
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Fig. 7 |
Fig. 8 |
Fig. 9 |
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Fig. 10 |
Fig. 11 |
Fig. 12 |
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A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution. Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname. A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname. Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee. The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry. Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a coat of arms are : |
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Crest - The word crest
is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms. The
crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry. Initially the crest consisted of charges
painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet. Wreath or Torse – The torse is a
twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six
twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second
the tincture of the metal, and so on. Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above
the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield. Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield
and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according
to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with
the development of actual military helmets. Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms. At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object. The items appearing on the shield are known as charges. Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms. |
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Direct
Ancestors
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Descendant Register Generation 1 |
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Anna
Margretha Zimmerman-1 was born on 1653 in Seeheim-Jugenheim,
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen,Germany. She died on 1723 in Zwingenberg, Hessen,
Germany. She married Johan Peter Wambold on Abt. 1683 in Darmstadt-Dieburg,
Hessen,Germany. He was born on 16 Oct 1651 in Pfungstadt, Darmstadt-Dieburg,
Hessen, Germany. He died on 1727 in Zwingenberg, Bergstrasse, Hessen,
Germany. Children of Anna Margretha Zimmerman
and Johan Peter Wambold are:
Anna Margaretha Wambold, B: 08 Feb 1684 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany.
Jacob Wambold, B: 26 Jan 1686 in Darmstadt-Dieburg,
Hessen, Germany.
Anna Wambold, B: 29 Jan 1687 in Darmstadt-Dieburg,
Hessen, Germany.
Catherina Elizabeth Wambold, B: 1691 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. 3.
v.
Anna Elizabeth Wambold, B: 18 Nov 1693 in Pfungstadt,
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany,
D: Aft. 1737 in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, PA, M: 26 Feb 1714/15 in Pfungstadt,
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. vi.
Johan Dalton Wambold, B: 13 Aug 1696 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. vii.
Johan Peter Wambold, B: 22 Feb 1698 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. viii.
Sophia Wambold, B: 25 Jun 1702 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. ix.
Johan Peter Wambold, B: 17 Jul 1703 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. x.
Johan Henrich Wambold, B: 07 Sep 1704 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. xi.
Christoph Wambold, B: 20 Jan 1706 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. xii.
Elisabetha Margaretha Wambold, B: 25 Dec 1707 in
Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany. |
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Additional information about our DIRECT
ANCESTORS as well as a complete listing of
individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on the
following LINK. |
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Free Genealogy Surname
Search Help from Google |
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Use
this free genealogy site to help you get the best genealogy searches from
Google™ by using your family tree, for your research. It will create a series
of different searches using tips or "tricks" that |
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will likely improve your results. The different searches will
give you many different ways of using Google and the Internet to find
ancestry information about this or any other Surname. |
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Ancestral
locations
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Researching the locations
where my ancestors lived has provided me with valuable evidence needed to
fill-in the gaps in my family trees.
It has also led me to many interesting facts that enhance the overall
picture of each family group. The
names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the
known places where the persons in the “Direct Ancestors” list (see above)
were born, married, and / or died. |
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COUNTRY |
STATE |
COUNTY / SUBDIVISION |
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GERMANY |
Hesse |
Pfungstadt;
Seeheim-Jugenheim; Zwingenberg |
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Use this LINK to find out more about the locations listed above. |
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Where in the World are My Ancestors? |
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Resources which enhance our
knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as
their names. The
LINK
to the left will take you to Maps, Gazetteers, and
other helpful resources that |
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will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations. These web sites comprise only a small
portion of what is available for researchers
interested in learning more about the areas in which their ancestors lived. |
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Source
documents
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The documents and headstones contained within the “Source Documents
Archives” have been located during my research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the
facts contained within the database of this family’s record. Most of these documents can be considered as
primary or secondary evidence. Primary
evidence is usually defined as the best available to
prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record. Secondary evidence is in
essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary
evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there
is a greater chance of error.
Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original
record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents. Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary
evidence. Classifying evidence as either primary or
secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value. This is especially true of secondary
evidence. Thus it is always a good
idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is
it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What
was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?;
and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what
interest did they have in its accuracy? SOURCE: Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide
to American Genealogy, 2nd edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63 You are welcome to
download any of the documents contained within this archive. Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in
touch with us via the contact information found at the end of this page. |
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Use the following LINK to view the source documents pertaining to this family. |
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Web
resources
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This search
engine may provide you
with additional |
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information to
assist with your research
about this topic. |
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General Surname
Resources |
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Your genealogy research of this surname can be facilitated by use of SURNAME WEB. This website links to the majority of the surname data on
the web, as well as to individual family trees, origin and surname meaning if
known, and many other related genealogy resources. |
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SURNAME
FINDER provides easy access to
free and commercial resources for 1,731,359 surnames. On each surname
specific "finder" page, you can search a variety of online
databases all pre-programmed with your surname. |
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Use ALL
SURNAMES GENEALOGY to get access to find your surname
resources . There are almost 1300 links in this
directory. |
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Additional Sites That We Recommend |
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Linkpendium Surnames - Web
sites, obituaries, biographies, and other material specific to a surname. Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family
Associations & Family Newsletters Index - Sites or resources
dedicated to specific, individual family surnames. Free Genealogy Search Help for Google
- This free genealogy site will help you use
Google™ for your research. It will create a series of different searches
using tips or "tricks" that will likely improve your results. The
different searches will give you many different ways of using Google to find
ancestry information on the Internet. FamilySearch.org - Family History and Genealogy Records - The largest collection of free family history, family
tree and genealogy records in the world. Top Genealogical Websites - These mighty roots resources compiled by “Family Tree
Magazine”, will give you the power to bust through research brick walls and
find answers about your ancestors—all from your home computer. SurnameDB
Free database of surname meanings - This site
SurnameDB.Com contains a large FREE to access database (almost 50,000
surnames) on the history and meaning of family last names. |
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OUR GENEALOGY REFERENCE
LIBRARY |
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The
following Link
will take you to our library of genealogy reference books. Here you will find bibliographies, family histories and books about names. In addition, there are texts that pertain
to ethnic
and religion groups, history, geography as well as other books
that will assist you with your research. Research
Library – Table of Contents |
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Images
gallery
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During my research I have collected images
and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family. Some of them are presented on this website
because I believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information
which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives. If you have any
photographs or other images relating to this ancestral family we would greatly appreciate hearing from you. |
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Use the following LINK to ascertain whether we
have any images that pertain to this family. |
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Free Image Search Help from Google |
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Use the power of
Google™ to find more interesting images about this topic. A Click on this
button will link you to the Google Images Search page. |
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Enter the topic you are
searching in the box and click “Search Images”. At the “Images” display
page you will see the image, as well as the website of which it is
associated. |
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Snail Mail: Fred USA |
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Snail
Mail: Fred USA |
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