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Family history

christman

The earliest known ancestor of this Christman lineage is our 13^th great-grandfather George Christman. George was likely born around 1549 in Steinthal, which was located on the western side of the Rhine River in a French valley called Ban de la Roche. Today the towns and villages in which our Christman (Christmann) ancestors lived are found in the French department of Bas-Rhin of the Alsace Region. These communities are now part of the Canton of Schirmeck in the Arrondissement of Molsheim.

The earliest Christman vital record dates to 1632 when Georg Christman of Fouday was given the nickname of “Salm” for his thirty years of service to the Count of Salm. During the Thirty Years War, which occurred in France from 1634 to 1648, the Christmans moved from Fouday and Waldersbach to the city of Barr where Christian Christman, also known as “Colas Colas”, was born in 1637.

In 1664 Christian relocated his family from Barr to the small village Solbach. While the family of Christian Christman resided in Solbach, they celebrated their baptisms in Waldersbach, and buried their dead in Fouday. This pattern continued until Jean Jacques Christman (1693-1721) moved to nearby Rothau in 1719. It was here that Jacques “Jacob” Christman, the immigrant, was born in 1720.

Jacob Christman came to America aboard the “Princess Augusta” along with his mother Odille Verly who was then married to Pierre Brullhard. They landed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 16, 1736. In 1742 Jacob married Barbara Heckendorn with whom he produced 6 children between 1743 and 1756. After the death of his first wife he again married to Barbara Kraemer in 1758. This union created 10 more children between 1759 and 1778. We are descended through their daughter Rebecca.

Rebecca Christman was born 1766 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She married Jacob Lineberry also a native of Guilford County with whom she had at least five known off spring. It is through her daughter Rosanna Lineberry, born c. 1800, that our family line continues.

Origins of the surname

christman

An Introduction

to the Surname

Source/Meaning

of the Surname

History of

the Surname

More About Surnames

An Introduction to the Surname

The practice of inherited family surnames began in England and France during the late part of the 11^th 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 a constant part of one’s identity.

With the passing of generations and the movement of families 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 Christmann family line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname are most likely linked to that area of Europe where German linguistic traditions are commonly found.

Source(s) & Meaning(s) of the Surname

Most modern German family names are a means conveying lineage. For the most part, German surnames were developed from four major sources: (1) Patronymic & Matronymic surnames most common in northern Germany are based on a parent’s first name, such as Niklas Albrecht (Niklas son of Albrecht); (2) occupational surnames are last names based on the person’s job or trade for example Lukas Fischer (Lukas the Fisherman); (3) descriptive surnames are based on a unique quality or physical feature of the individual like Karl Braun (Karl with brown hair); (4) geographical surnames are derived from the location of the homestead from which the first bearer and his family lived such as Leon Meer (Leon from by the sea), or derived from the state, region, or village of the first bearer's origin for example Paul Cullen (Paul from Koeln/Cologne).

Christmann is a German surname from a short form of the personal name Christian + Middle High German man ‘man’. Christian is English, German, and French from the personal name Christian, a vernacular form of Latin Christianus ‘follower of Christ’. This has been a popular font name which has been in use since the 12th century. This name was from the medieval given name which ostensibly means 'Bearer of Christ'.

History of the Surname

Christmann is a very early Germanic name and is one of the very first recorded in that country. Due to its popularity and duration this name, and its variant spellings, have traveled widely in many forms throughout Europe.

The name originated from Christianus around the 12th Century. It was first found in the Germanic country of Austria, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. This name was borne by a rather obscure 3rd century martyred saint. As such the name became relatively common among early Christians, who desired to bear Christ metaphorically with them in their daily lives, but it was later explained by a wholly legendary story in which he carried the infant Christ across a ford, and so became the patron saint of travellers. In this guise he was enormously popular in the Middle Ages, and many Inns providing accommodation for travellers were named with this sign; in some instances the surname may have derived originally from the residence at, or association with an inn.

This German surname appeared quite early into the former British colonies of North America, especially William Penn’s Province of Pennsylvania. One reason for this was that after the prince of the Electorate of Hanover, in Germany also became king of England in 1715, German emigration to America was greatly encouraged.

The Christmann German name does tend to be confused with the English versions due to the fact that 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. This is true in the case of the Christmann surname after the family emigrated to the United States when immigration from both countries was at its height in the 18th century, after which it was transformed into Christman. Many of these German immigrants, particularly those with easy English equivalents, were encouraged and in some cases 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. 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. Also after the start of World War One, Germans in the United States, in great numbers, Anglicized their names in an effort to remove all doubt as to their patriotism.

More About Surname Meanings & Origins

German Surnames

Many German names have their roots in the Germanic Middle Ages. The process of forming family names began early in the 12^th Century and extended through the 16^th century. 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.

Variations of the surname

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: Christman, Christmann, Cristman, Cristmann and many others.

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Coat of arms

christman

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. In the British Isles the College of Arms (founded in 1483) is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings.

Fig. 1

ARMORIAL BEARINGS

There are two associated armorial bearings for Christmann recorded in Reitstap’s Armorial General. The following additional information has been found regarding the coats-of-arms shown at the left:

FIGURE 1: This German coat-of-arms presents a blue shield with a silver swan surmounted by a blue star of five points, all within a gold border. These arms were granted to a Christmann who may have been from Basel a Swiss city located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet.

FIGURE 2: A coat-of arms attributed to a Christmann features a shield is gold containing a man clothed in blue with a blue hat, holding a torch in his right hand, on a green three-top hill. The three major colors included within these armorial bearings signify to following: gold - splendor and wealth; Blue - reputation and kindness; and Green - Love, honor, and courtesy.

FIGURE 3: This coat-of-arms has been ascribed to a Christman of English origin it shows a blue shield with a silver swan surmounted by a blue star of five points, all within a gold border.

Reitstap lists another coat-of-arms not shown here, for a Christmann from Kitzbühl, a medieval city in Tyrol, Austria. These armorial bearings feature a red shield containing a blue knight in full armor placed on a mound of money. He is lifting his visor with the right hand while holding a sword and silver shield with containing a cross in the left hand.

MOTTO(ES)

No Christmann family mottoes are known. It is unusual for a German Achievement to include a motto.

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

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 :

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.

Direct ancestors

Descendant Register

Generation 1

George Christman-1 was born on Abt. 1549.

1. i. Georges Christman, B: Abt. 1569 in Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: Abt. 1632 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Generation 2

Georges Christman-2(George Christman-1) was born on Abt. 1569 in Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He died on Abt. 1632 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

3. i. Nicolas Christman, B: Bef. 1590, D: Bef. 1647 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

ii. Chretienne Christman, D: Abt. 1648 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Generation 3

Nicolas Christman-3(Georges Christman-2, George Christman-1) was born on Bef. 1590. He died on Bef. 1647 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He married Dimanchette (Mongeatte) Christman (nee?). She was born on Bef. 1590. She died on Bef. 1647 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Children of Nicolas Christman and Dimanchette (Mongeatte) Christman (nee?) are:

4. i. Christian Nicholas Christman, B: Abt. 1608 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: Abt. 1664 in Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: Bef. 1637 in Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

ii. Jean Jacques Christman, B: Abt. 1610 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 31 Jan 1676 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: Abt. 1630 in Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Generation 4

Christian Nicholas Christman-4(Nicolas Christman-3, Georges Christman-2, George Christman-1) was born on Abt. 1608 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He died on Abt. 1664 in Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He married Catherine Cloue on Bef. 1637 in Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. She was born on Abt. 1604 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. She died on 02 Mar 1684 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Children of Christian Nicholas Christman and Catherine Cloue are:

5. i. Christian Christman, B: 14 May 1637 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 12 Nov 1699 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 01 Nov 1664 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

ii. Nicolas Christman, B: Abt. 1641 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 09 Mar 1676 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 14 Jun 1670 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

iii. Jehannon Christman, B: 04 Jun 1643 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France.

iv. Catherine Christman, B: Abt. 1644 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 14 Apr 1707 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

v. Jean Christman, B: 22 Nov 1648 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 10 Nov 1731 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 11 Feb 1673 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Generation 5

Christian Christman-5(Christian Nicholas Christman-4, Nicolas Christman-3, Georges Christman-2, George Christman-1) was born on 14 May 1637 in Barr, Bas-Rhin, France. He died on 12 Nov 1699 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He married Marguerite Mougenat on 01 Nov 1664 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, daughter of Claude Mougenat and Marguerite Mougenat (nee?). She was born on 03 Apr 1643 in Neuviller la Roche, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. She died on 09 Jul 1705 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Children of Christian Christman and Marguerite Mougenat are:

6. i. Nicolas Christman, B: 04 Feb 1666 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D:

22 Oct 1749 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: Abt. 1692 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

iii. Marguerite Christman, B: 13 Oct 1667 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

iv. Jean Christman, B: 18 Sep 1670 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 21 Mar 1737 in Neuviller la Roche, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 27 Apr 1694 in Waldersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

v. Christian Christman, B: 28 Sep 1673 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M:

19 Apr 1701 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

v. Catherine Christman, B: 13 Dec 1677 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

vi. Jeanne Christman, B: 29 Feb 1680 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: Bet. 1712-1716, M: 02 Nov 1700 in Fouday, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Generation 6

Nicolas Christman-6(Christian Christman-5, Christian Nicholas Christman-4, Nicolas Christman-3, Georges Christman-2, George Christman-1) was born on 04 Feb 1666 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He died on 22 Oct 1749 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He married Eve Loux on Abt. 1692 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, daughter of Nicholas Loux and Claudette Loux (nee?). She was born on 24 Feb 1666 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. She died on 02 Dec 1741 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Children of Nicolas Christman and Eve Loux are:

7. i. Jean Jacques Christman, B: 04 Aug 1693 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 15 Jan 1721 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 01 Aug 1719 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

ii. Nicolas Christman, B: 20 Oct 1696 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 29 Jul 1781 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 03 Aug 1728 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

iii. Marie Jeanne Christman, B: 22 Jan 1700 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 08 Apr 1766 in Wildersbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 12 Nov 1737 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

iv. Didier Christman, B: 29 Apr 1703 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 07 Jun 1768 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 16 Feb 1734 in Neuviller la Roche, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

v. Jean Michael Christman, B: 23 May 1708 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 27 Dec 1781 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, M: 15 Nov 1735 in Neuviller la Roche, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France.

Generation 7

Jean Jacques Christman-7(Nicolas Christman-6, Christian Christman-5, Christian Nicholas Christman-4, Nicolas Christman-3, Georges Christman-2, George Christman-1) was born on 04 Aug 1693 in Solbach, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He died on 15 Jan 1721 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He married Odille Verly on 01 Aug 1719 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, daughter of Johann Werli (aka. Jean Verly) and Margueritte Neuvillers. She was born on 01 Apr 1691 in Belmont, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. She died in Pennsylvania?.

Child of Jean Jacques Christman and Odille Verly is:

8. i. Jacques "Jacob" Christman, B: 04 May 1720 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France, D: 1785 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina, M: 11 Dec 1758 in First Reformed Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

Generation 8

Jacques "Jacob" Christman-8(Jean Jacques Christman-7, Nicolas Christman-6, Christian Christman-5, Christian Nicholas Christman-4, Nicolas Christman-3, Georges Christman-2, George Christman-1) was born on 04 May 1720 in Rothau, Molsheim, Bas-Rhin, France. He died on 1785 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina. He married Barbara Kraemer on 11 Dec 1758 in First Reformed Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. She died on Abt. 1805 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina. He married Barbara Heckendorn on 01 Oct 1742 in First Reform Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. , daughter of Hans Johann Heckendorn and Margaretha Heckendorn (nee?). She was born on 19 Nov 1718. She died on 13 May 1758 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

Children of Jacques "Jacob" Christman and Barbara Kraemer are:

i. Barbara Christman, B: 15 Sep 1759 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

ii. Balthaser Christman, B: 09 Dec 1760 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

iii. Elizabeth Christman, B: 1764 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina.

10. iv. Rebecca Christman, B: 1766 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina.

v. John George Christman, B: 1767 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina.

vi. Abraham Christman, B: 1773 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina.

vii. Joseph Christman, B: 1773 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina, D: 13 Nov 1825 in

Guilford County, North Carolina.

viii. Anna Mary Christman, B: 1774 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina.

ix. Henry Christman, B: 1775 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina.

x. David Christman, B: 1778 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina.

Children of Jacques "Jacob" Christman and Barbara Heckendorn are:

i. Johannes Christman, B: 03 Mar 1743 in Warwick, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

ii. Abraham Christman, B: 17 Sep 1747 in Warwick, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania,

D:1755 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

iii. Anna Marie Christman, B: 01 Feb 1749 in Warwick, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania,

D:1755 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

iv. Catharina Christman, B: 25 Nov 1751 in York County, Pennsylvania.

v. Theodora Christman, B: 04 Apr 1754 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania, D: Abt. 1756 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

vi. Daniel Christman, B: 25 May 1756 in Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

Generation 9

Rebecca Christman-9(Jacques "Jacob" Christman-8, Jean Jacques Christman-7, Nicolas Christman-6, Christian Christman-5, Christian Nicholas Christman-4, Nicolas Christman-3, Georges Christman-2, George Christman-1) was born on 1766 in Reedy Fork, Guilford Co., North Carolina. She married Jacob Lineberry, son of George Lineberger and Catherine Euliss. He was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. He died in Randolph County, North Carolina.

Children of Rebecca Christman and Jacob Lineberry are:

i. Elizabeth Lineberry.

ii. Margaret Lineberry.

iii. Jacob Lineberry Jr., B: Abt. 1790 in Guilford County, North Carolina, D: 03 Nov 1857 in Hardeman County, Tennessee, M: 12 Nov 1821 in Guilford County, North Carolina.

iv. Barbara Lineberry, B: 08 Feb 1792, D: 03 Dec 1854 in Knox County, Tennessee, M: 06 Sep 1811 in Orange County, North Carolina.

v. Rosanna Lineberry, B: Abt. 1787 in North Carolina, USA, D: Abt. 1873, M: Sep 1807 in Orange County, North Carolina.

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.

MMPS Surname Locator

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Ancestral locations

christman

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in our family trees. It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.

Locations of

Direct Ancestors

Locational Distribution

of this Surname

Where In the World

are my Ancestors?

Locatiof Direct Ancestors

The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the Direct Ancestors in the “Ancestral Lineage” (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

FRANCE

BAS-RHIN

Molsheim

UNITED STATES

PENNSYLVANIA

Lancaster Co., York Co.,

Lebanon Co.

NORTH CAROLINA

Orange Co., Guilford Co.

Use this LINK to find out more about the locations listed above.

ANCESTRAL LOCATIONS

Locational distributionstors

Knowing the geographical areas where the surname you are researching is clustered and distributed is an indispensable tool in deciding where to focus your research. We believe that the “Public Profiler” website will open up to you a wide range of solutions which implement current research in spatial analysis. This site provides an array of local spatial information tools useful to the genealogist. The information presented below shows where this surname is distributed within the United States as well as the country of origin of this family.

United States of America

Top Countries

European Countries of Origin

Country

FPM*

Christmann

GERMANY 94.77

FRANCE 34.91

Christman

U.S.A. 53.11

* = frequency per million

Key

Because the surname changed from the “Old World” spelling of Christmann to the current day spelling of Christman in the United States the maps of France and Germany show distribution of Christmann the U.S. distribution is for the Christman spelling. The highest frequency per million people of the Christmann spelling of this surname is found in the Germany primarily in the states of the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. In France a high FPM is found in the Alsace Region. The United States has the world’s highest frequency per million people for the Christman spelling. This surname is found to be highly concentrated in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of a surname. You can

get greater detail for any of the following maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

Wjere are my ancestors Ancestors

Where in the World
are My Ancestors?

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the right will take you to Maps, Gazetteers, and other helpful resources

that 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 where their ancestors lived.

Migration routes

christman

Tracing our own family’s paths of migration can prove crucial in identifying previous generations and eventually, figuring out where and how they arrived in the “New World” as well as where they eventually settled. Knowing the network of trails American pioneers traveled can help you guess where to start looking. The trail map(s) provided below may assist you in understanding the routes that our direct ancestors of this family may have taken to find new homes and opportunities in the vast area now encompassed by the United States.

During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America. For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution. For most it was an opportunity 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 Christman, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries. Some of these immigrants were: Daniel Cristman, who immigrated to Philadelphia in 1730; Heinrich Christman, who came to Pennsylvania in 1741 with his wife Anna Margaretha and his children Elisabetha Catharina, Maria Appollonia, Maria Elisabetha, Johann Peter, Catharina Barbara, and Anna Margaretha, Charles Christman, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1763.

Use the following links to find more early immigrants with this surname:

$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com

The Pennsylvania Years 1736 to 1763

In 1736 our Christman ancestor made the momentous decision to make the difficult voyage to the "New World". This choice was not made by themselves but by many persons from the localities around Rothau. Besides Jacques “Jacob” Christman his step-father and mother several of his uncles and cousins left the region. After a two week journey down the Rhine River they arrived in Rotterdam and joined over three hundred other souls seeking a new life in America aboard a ship named the "Princess Augusta". Twelve weeks later they arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 16, 1736.

After their arrival in Pennsylvania Jacob and his family moved west into Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Along with them came the Hans Johann Heckendorn family, fellow voyagers from the "Princess Augusta". On 1 Oct 1742 Jacob married Hans's daughter Barbara Heckendorn at the First Reform Church of Lancaster. For several years after this the young couple lived near town of Warwick located in Lancaster county. Four of their children were born here between 1743 and 1749.

Upon the death of his father-in-law John Heckendorn in November 1749 Jacob moved to York County along with his Heckendorn in-laws. Here he settled on the Codorus Creek about 10 miles southwest of the city of York.

In about 1753 Jacob and Barbara took their 5 children and moved to the community of Hebron where Jacob received a warrant for 150 acres of land. The old town of Hebron is now a part of the present day city of Lebanon in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The death of Jacob's wife Barbara occurred here in 1758. Seven months later Jacob married for a second time to Miss Barbara Kraemer. The ceremony took place on 11 December 1758 at the First Reformed Church of Lancaster. Soon after two children we born to and Jacob and Barbara while living at this location.

By 1760 the "Great Wagon Road" had passed through the Moravian settlement in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and extended as far as the town of Salisbury, in Rowan County. As such the Christman family would again be on the move to seek a new life in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Years 1763 to 1785

By 1763 the Christman family had joined the significant movement of Scots-Irish and German immigrants on the "Great Wagon Road" south from Pennsylvania into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and beyond. Upon his arrival in North Carolina he settled in Orange County and stayed for a short period of time near Hillsborough. By about 1765 he had moved on to the area of the Reedy Fork and settled on the waters of Travis Creek near the settlement of Stinking Quarter, also in Orange County. Here he eventually obtained grants for 400 acres of land. In 1771 the area of Orange County in which he lived became a part of the newly formed Guilford, County. Jacob Christman died in 1785 is buried in the Freiden's Lutheran Church Cemetery, located near Gibsonville, Guilford County, North Carolina.

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christman

The documents 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, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

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SOURCE DOCUMENTS

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