Update and message of 26 February 2024: I was able to finally locate the baptism record for my 3rd great-grandfather Heinrich Weiss. This brought some changes to my tree and his parentage. I will provide the updated and correct information below and remove the lines that are now incorrect. These only change part of my tree, I am still part of the same Weiss family of Klingenmünster, but on the female Weiss lines is where you will see the biggest change. My Fried, Propheter, and related lines remain the same. There was so much intermarriage between the families in and around Klingenmünster, that I find that I have more than one line or connection with many of my DNA matches related to these lines. After locating this baptism record, I looked at my DNA matches again, very closely, and it became obvious this was his family line. I found numerous Bohrer, Zwipf, Wendel, and Häcker DNA matches. I am very grateful for the German genealogy website genealogienetz.de that has the Ortsfamilienbuch Klingenmünster (Klingenmünster Local Family Book) which contains church records, death and burial records that I have been unable to locate elsewhere, this is where I found his baptism record and a plethora of family information.

Pictured above are my great-grandparents George Pendleton Armstrong and Alice Elizabeth Nutick. He was the son of Bradford Carroll Armstrong and Martha A. Knight Lyons. His family, for the most part, have been in the United States a long time. Almost all of his lines are found living in Colonial America. I have a multitude of interesting ancestors on his side that I will be writing blog entries about in the future. However, she was the daughter of two German immigrants Elias “Eli” Nutick and Margaret (Margarethe) Weiss.

Margaret/Margreth (Margarethe) Weiss came from Germany to the USA in 1865 and settled in Hamilton County, Ohio.

Elias Nutick and Margaret (Margarethe) Weiss were married on 3 March 1870 in Hamilton County, Ohio.

Children born to Elias “Eli” Nutick and Margarethe Weiss:

1. Valentine Nutick born 11 Apr 1868 in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, he died 15 May 1919 Madisonville, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. He never married.
2. Alice Elizabeth Nutick born March 1871 in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, she died 28 August 1949 in Seattle, King County, Washington. She married 22 June 1889 in Hamilton County, Ohio to George Pendleton Armstrong (son of Bradford Carroll Armstrong and Martha A. Knight Lyons). – My direct ancestors.
3. Carrie Nutick born 8 July 1873 in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, and she died 17 October 1952 in Indian Hill, Hamilton County, Ohio. She married 1892 in Hamilton County, Ohio to David Newton Muchmore.
4. George Jacob Nutick born 22 November 1875 in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, he died 1946 in Washington, D.C. He married Anna Louise Wein.
5. Emma Mae Nutick born 12 September 1880 in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, she died 27 May 1946 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. She married in Cincinnati, Ohio to Frank John Huddleston.
6. Charles Nutick born 26 June 1883 in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, he died 22 June 1913 at the Tuberculosis Hospital in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. He never married.
7. Harry Henry Nutick born 10 June 1885 in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, he died 29 November 1961 in Mason, Warren County, Ohio. He married Lillian Myrtle Armstrong on 5 February 1906 in Hamilton County, Ohio. Lillian was the daughter of Ennis Turpin Armstrong and Marelda Elsa “Elma” Stevens. Lillian and George Pendleton Armstrong (husband of Alice Elizabeth Nutick) were 1st cousins. Creating a double connection between the children of the two couples.

A few explanations as to why their first-born Valentine Nutick was born prior to their marriage. One option is that his year of birth is incorrect. But he is listed as aged 1 year in the 1870 Census. His father may have been married prior and Margaret Weiss was his stepmother that raised him from the time he was a baby. It appears that Eli was much older than Margaret, so it’s quite possible he was married prior, but I have found no other marriage record for him. On Valentine’s death certificate his parents are listed as Eli Nutick and Margaret Weiss. The informant was his sister-in-law. Valentine never married and has no descendants, so DNA is of no help in this situation. Also, most (but not all) of the marriage records for this time period in Hamilton County, Ohio were destroyed by fire. People were asked to re-register their marriage record, this was done by the groom or bride or the person that married them. Also, some records were re-created by using marriage announcements from the newspaper. So, it is possible they really married a few years prior to 1870.

To learn more about Elias “Eli” Nutick, his real surname, his parentage and the mystery solved regarding his homeland, please see my recent blog post: 52 Ancestors, Week 15. How Do You Spell That? My 2nd Great-Grandfather Elias “Eli” Nutick.

Margaret (Margarethe) Weiss was born 23 June 1846 in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße (Southwest Wine Route), Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Her baptism record of 28 June 1846 is found in the nearby parish of Heuchelheim-Klingen. She died 31 December 1919 in Madisonville, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Heinrich Weiss and Margaretha Fried.

Klingenmünster is found within the Southwest Wine Route district in Germany. It is near the border with France. Its current population is about 2,200 people.

Heinrich Weiss was born 10 February 1820 in Klingenmünster, Germany. He was the son of Johann Jakob Weiss and Katherina Wendel. His baptism record is found in the Klingenmünster church records. I have not located a death record for Heinrich Weiss, but his wife Margaretha Fried died and was buried in Klingenmünster.

Johann Jakob Weiss was born 29 May 1785 Klingenmünster, and died there on 11 June 1852. He was the son of Johann Heinrich Weiss and Katharina Häcker, they married on there on 24 May 1773.

Johann Heinrich Weiss was born 30 Mar 1750 in Klingenmünster, and died there in 1798. He was the son of Johannes Weiss and Maria Elisabetha Bohrer, they were married there on 18 April 1746.

Johannes Weiss was born on 17 September 1694 in Klingenmünster, and died there on 31 August 1772. He was the son of Michael Weiss and Maria Elisabetha ____.

Michael Weiss was born about 1658, he died on 2 February 1713 in Klingenmünster. His parentage is unknown. The maiden name of his wife Maria Elisabetha is unknown. They are my 7th great-grandparents.

Meaning of the surname Weiss, Weiss or Weiß, also written Weis or Weisz, pronounced like “vice”, is a German surname, meaning ‘white’ in both Germa It comes from Middle High German wîz (white, blonde) and Old High German (h)wīz (white, bright, shining). (3)

Katharina Wendal was born was born 18 July 1786 in Gleiszellen, and died 21 MAY 1856 in Klingenmünster. Gleiszellen is 1.1 miles from Klingenmünster. She was baptized on 19 July 1786 in Klingenmünster. She was the daughter of Peter Wendel and Maria Katharina Sambach. She married Johann Jakob Weiss on 1 December 1811 in Gleiszellen.

Peter Wendel was born 8 June 1758 in Klingenmünster and died 27 May 1816 in Gleiszellen. He married on 11 Oct 1785 in Klingenmunster to Maria Katharina Sambach. He was the son of Johannes Wendel and Anna Maria _____.

Johannes Wendel was born 30 May 1720 in Klingenmünster, and died there on 11 November 1776. The maiden name of his wife Anna Maria is unknown. He was the son of Johann Martin Wendel and Christina _____.

Johann Martin Wendel was born 1 July 1682, and died 27 October 1763 in Klingenmünster. His parentage is unknown. The maiden name of his wife Christina is unknown.

Meaning of the Wendel surname: German occupational name for a turner, from Middle High German wendel ‘to turn’ or Middle Low German wendelen ‘to turn, twist’. (4) The definition of a turner is a worker in wood who used a lathe to make curves in the wood. See etching above.

Maria Katharina Sambach was born 1 June 1765 and died 29 January 1832 in Gleiszellen. She was baptized in Klingenmünster. She was the daughter of Johannes Sambach and Maria Magdalena Fünfstuck/Fünfstocks. 

Johannes Sambach was born about 1741 in Klingenmünster. He married there on 11 Oct 1761 to Maria Magdalena Fünfstuck/Fünfstocks. His parentage or date of his death is unknown. They are my 6th great-grandparents.

Meaning of the German surname Sambach: It is a habitational name from any of various places so called in Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden. (5) Since my family were not from these areas of Germany, it most likely is a surname linked to the placename Sambach, Otterbach, Landkreis Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate, which is 38.2 miles from Klingenmunster.

Maria Magdalena Fünfstuck/Fünfstocks was born about 1742. She was the daughter of Georg Fünfstuck/Fünfstocks, he would be my 7th great-grandfather.

The surname was incorrectly read in German church records by some researchers as Funstrocks/Funstercke, it was a German cousin that correctly read and listed her maiden name in his tree as Fünfstuck/Fünfstocks.

The surname Fünfstuck is a rare surname, in German it means five pieces or five parts. The exact meaning of the name has been lost to time, but it thought to be a nickname related to something involving the number five. 

Spelled with umlauts as Fünfstück, it is found mainly in Germany where there are 422 people with the surname, six in Austria, and one in Switzerland. Without the umlaut, spelled as Funfstuck, it is found only in the United States, where twenty-seven people carry the surname.

Katharina Häcker was born 3 October 1749 in Klingenmünster, and died there on 21 November 1811. She was the daughter of Johannes Häcker/Hecker and Anna Maria Wendel. The Häcker surname is sometimes found as Hecker, which is just a variation of the surname Häcker.

Anna Maria Wendel was kin to my other Wendel ancestors I discussed prior. She was born 27 December 1724 in Klingenmünster and died there 13 September 1780. She was the daughter of Johann Martin Wendel and Christina _____. I descend twice from this couple.

Johannes Häcker/Hecker was born 5 February 1723 in Klingenmünster, and died there 30 October 1783. He married on 27 February 1743 in Klingenmünster to Anna Maria Wendel. He was the son of Georg Nikolaus Häcker and Anna Juliana ____.

Georg Nikolaus Häcker was born on 1 October 1688 in Klingenmünster, and died there on 5 February 1740. He married on 30 Apr 1715 in Klingenmünster to Anna Juliana _____. He was the son of Hans Georg Häcker.

The maiden of Anna Juliana is unknown. She was born 11 January 1696 in Klingenmünster, and died there on 13 January 1781.

Hans Georg Häcker was born 1659, he died 12 February 1750 in Klingenmünster. The name of his wife is unknown. His parentage is unknown.

Meaning of the surname Häcker: an occupational name for a butcher or a woodcutter, from a derivative of Middle High German hacken and Dutch hakken ‘to hack, to chop’. (5) The surname Hecker is just a variant of Hacker meaning ‘butcher, woodcutter’. Another source states the connetion to butcher and woodcutter, but also includes that Häcker can also be from the Middle High German word “hecke”, meaning “fence”. Generally believed meaning someone who lived near a fence or had fences as part of their occupation. (16)

Maria Elisabetha Bohrer was born 5 December 1718 in Klingenmünster. and died there on 28 November 1773. She married there on 18 April 1746 to Johannes Weiss. She was the daughter of Johann Heinrich Bohrer and Maria Elisabetha Zwipf.

Johann Heinrich Bohrer was born 29 February 1692 in Klingenmünster, and died there 11 March 1722. He married there on 27 September 1716 to Maria Elisabetha Zwipf. Although his parentage is unknown, we do know that he had at least four siblings: Anna Eva Bohrer (married Abraham Wiessing/Wissing), Hieronymus Bohrer (married Anna Catherina Willem), Johann Georg Bohrer (married Anna Apollonia Lutz), and Elisabetha Bohrer (married Johann Martin Röhm).

Bohrer surname meaning: A German (also spelled Böhrer) and Swiss German occupational name from Middle High German born ‘to bore or drill’. (17)

Maria Elisabetha Zwipf was born about 1683 in Klingenmünster, and died there 20 April 1764. She was the daughter of Johann Richard Zwipf and Anna Maria ____.

Johann Richard Zwipf was born 1636 and died 26 December 1713 in Klingenmünster. He married there on 20 August 1719 to Anna Maria; her maiden name is unknown. His parentage is unknown.

Meaning of the Zwipf surname: a nickname for a lively energetic person, from Middle High German wipfen ‘to spring, vault, or bound’. (18)

Margaretha Fried Weiss was born 25 April 1819 in Klingenmünster and her baptism record of 28 April 1819 is found in the nearby parish of Heuchelheim-Klingen. She died 21 April 1853 in Klingenmünster and is buried there. She was the daughter of Johann Georg Fried and Margaretha Propheter.

The surname Fried is pronounced Freedt and sounds similar to the English word Freed. Fried is almost always a Jewish surname, but in the case of my family that are found in the Lutheran church records in Klingenmünster and nearby parishes, it most likely was actually Freed which is a German surname from a short form of the personal name Friedrich.

Johann Georg Fried was born 24 May 1796 in Klingenmünster and his baptism record of 25 May 1796 is found in the nearby parish of Heuchelheim-Klingen. He died after 1881 in Hamilton County, Ohio. He married 12 September 1820 in the nearby parish of Bad Bergzabern to Margretha Propheter. He was the son of Johann Adam Fried and Maria Barbara Schmitt.

Johann Adam Fried was born 30 April 1755 in Heuchelheim, Bergzabern, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He was baptized on 4 May 1755 in the same place, as the son of Heinrich Fried and Margaretha Röhm/Roehm.

In the Reformed Lutheran church, Johann Adam Fried married on 9 January 1787 in Heuchelheim, Bergzabern, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany to Maria Barbara Schmitt.

Heinrich Fried was born about 1734 in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and died there on 15 May 1781. He married Margaretha Röhm/Roehm. He was the son of Johann Valentin Fried and Anna Barbara Kuhn.

Anna Barbara Kuhn was the daughter of Christoph Kuhn and Anna Barbara Hentz/Heinz.

Christoph Kuhn was the son of Johannes Valentin Kuhn. Anna Barbara Hentz/Heinz was the daughter of Andreas Heinz.

Maria Barbara Schmitt was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church on 6 June 1758 in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, as the daughter of Peter Schmitt and Katharina Hahn.

Prior to her marriage to Johann Adam Fried, Maria Barbara Schmitt gave birth to a child, out of wedlock, which was not as uncommon as your think during this time period in Germany. Her son, Nikolaus Schmitt, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church on 6 August 1781 in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He died two days later on 8 August 1781 in Klingenmünster. The name of the father of the child is not listed.

According to church records, Peter Schmitt was born about 1731 in Wernersberg, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and migrated to Klingenmünster, where he married twice, first to Katharina Hahn, four children were born to the first marriage. He married second to Katharina Stortz, there were two children born to the second marriage.

The distance between Wernersberg and Klingenmünster is 7.1 miles (11.5 km). The parentage of Peter Schmitt is unknown.

Katharina Hahn was baptized on 4 March 1729 in the Roman Catholic Church in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, as the daughter of Johann Adam Hahn and Anna Maria Mayer.

According to church records, Johann Adam Hahn was born in Birkweiler, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and migrated to Klingenmünster. He was the son of Jakob Hahn and Margaretha Elisabetha ____. There were at least two other children born to Jakob Hahn and Margaretha Elisabeth ____; Heinrich and Kasper Hahn.

Anna Maria Mayer Hahn died in Klingenmünster on 2 December 1771. Her parentage is unknown. But we know she had at least six siblings; Anna Margaretha Mayer (married Peter Haar), Anna Katharina Mayer (married Joseph Stephen Leidemann), Johann Michael Mayer (married Anna Katharina Leemann), Philip Mayer (married Elisabetha Weber), and Johann Georg Mayer (married Anna Maria Emmerich).

Margaretha Röhm/Roehm was baptized on 4 February 1738 in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, as the daughter of Benjamin Röhm and Anna Margaretha Bernzott.

Benjamin Röhm was the son of Johann Jakob Röhm and Maria Susanna (Anna Susanna) Sartor.

Johann Jakob Röhm was the son of Hans Georg Röhm and Anna Maria ____.

Anna Margaretha Bernzott was baptized on 31 January 1717 at the Roman Catholic Church in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, she died in Klingenmünster on 4 July 1764. She married Benjamin Röhm.

She was the daughter of Sebastian Bernzott and Anna Katharina Lämel.

Sebastian Bernzott was born about 1680 and died 28 August 1737 in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. His parentage is unknown. He had at least four brothers; Magnus Bernzott (married Maria Anna Bieler and Anna Johanna Schafft), Michael Bernzott (married Anna Apollonia Weiss – who is my Weiss 6th great-grandaunt), Johannes Bernzott (married Maria Eva Meister), and Anton Bernzott (married Maria Eva Spönler).

Anna Katharina Lämel was born about 1684 and died 13 March 1742 in Klingenmünster, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Her parentage is unknown. The surname Lämel only appears in Klingenmünster church records in direct relation to her.

Lämmel, a variant of the surname Lämel, is found only twice in the same church records, but much later. I find a Franz Lämmel born 20 January 1884 in Münchweiler, he married in Klingenmünster to Louise Mehlem. Just by happenstance, Louise Mehlem is my distant Weiss cousin. Gertrud Lämmel was also born in Münchweiler about 1876. She married Karl Ballweber.

Münchweiler is about 22.7 miles (36.5 km) from Klingenmünster. It is possible that Anna Katharina Lämel‘s roots are also found in Münchweiler, but I cannot say for sure. All her children were born in Klingenmünster, and she died there.

The name Sartor is sometimes listed in German church records as Satter, and I found it listed once as Satorius.

Maria Susanna (Anna Susanna) Sartor Röhm was baptized on 28 February 1686 in Annweiler, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and died on 22 March 1742 in Klingenmünster. She married Johann Jakob Röhm on 24 June 1711 in Klingenmünster. She was the daughter of Daniel Sartor and Maria Magdalena Rübel.

Daniel Sartor was born 7 December 1663 in Annweiler, Sudliche Weinstrasse, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He married Maria Magdalena Rübel on 28 April 1685 in Annweiler. Daniel Sartor was the son of Johann Peter Sartor and Sara Noe.

Johann Peter Sartor was born and died in Annweiler. He married Sara Noe on 9 September 1656 in Annweiler. There were three children born to this first marriage. He married second to Anna Elisabetha Pasquay, and there were numerous children born to this second marriage. He was the son of Hanß Peter Sartor and Judith Langsontags.

Johann Peter Sartor died 16 November 1645 in Annweiler. His parentage is unknown.

Judith Langsontags died 17 May 1676 in Annweiler. She was the daughter of Daniel Langsontags. Nothing more is known about the Langsontags family.

The surname is actually two surnames together, Lang and Sontag(s). Her maiden name is listed only in one church record.

Maria Magdalena Rübel Sartor was born on 19 March 1665 in Annweiler. She was the daughter of Jacob Rübel and Maria Magdalena Fickeÿsen/Fickeisen/Fickeissen.

Jacob Rübel was the son of Wilhelm Rübel. Maria Magdalena Fickeisen was the daughter of Nicolai Fickeÿsen.

The surname Rübel is also found as Riebel in church records.

Sara Noe Sartor died on 5 April 1665 in Annweiler. She was the daughter of Tobias Noe and Maria Elisabetha Blacks/Blocks. The parentage of Tobias Noe is unknown. Blacks is a very uncommon surname in Germany. Blocks is a German surname. The parentage of Maria Elisabetha Blacks/Blocks is unknown.

Annweiler (aka Annweiler am Trifels) and Klingenmünster, Germany are approximately 8.5 miles (13.7 km) apart by road travel.

The German surname Sartor is humanistic name and is a variant of Sartorius meaning Tailor. From the Latin Sartor. (12)

Back to Margaretha Propheter, wife of Johann Georg Fried.

Margaretha Propheter was born 22 Mar 1795 in Heuchelheim-Klingen and died before 1880. She married 12 Sep 1820 in Heuchelheim-Klingen to Johan Georg Fried. She was the daughter of Johann Jacob Propheter and Anna Margaretha Weinmann.

Johann Jacob Propheter was born 2 December 1769 in Kapellen-Drusweiler, and died 2 December 1846 in Heuchelheim. He married Anna Margaretha Weinmann on 16 October 1792 in Heuchelheim. He was the son of Johannes Adam Propheter and Katharina Elisabetha LeBeau.

Johannes Adam Propheter was born 16 January 1742 in Barbelroth, and died 3 March 1815 in Bad Bergzabern. He married Katherina Elisabeth LeBeau on 16 August 1763 in Kapellen-Drusweiler. He was the son of Philipp Jacob Propheter and Maria Elisabetha Scherer. Other than they lived in Barbelroth, nothing more is known about his parents.  

Scherer is a German occupational name for a sheepshearer or someone who used scissors to trim the surface of finished cloth and remove excessive nap, from German Scherer, agent derivatives of Middle High German scheren ‘to shear’. (9)

 Barbelroth, which is 6 miles (9.6 km) from Klingenmünster.

Meaning of the Propheter surname: It is found in several European counties including England, France, and Germany, and it is derived from the occupation of a prophet or seer. It is a variant spelling of the surname Prophet, which ultimately comes from the Middle English word “prophete” or the Old French word “prophete,” both meaning “prophet.” The surname Propheter likely originated as a nickname or occupational name for someone who was believed to have the ability to predict the future or possess divine insight. (20)

Anna Margaretha Weinmann was born 9 August 1763 in Heuchelheim, and died there 26 November 1834. was the daughter of Michael Weinmann and Felicitas (Felizitas) Grosshans. Nothing more is known about her father.

Weinmann, this unusual name is of German origin and is a metonymic occupational name for someone who produced and or sold wine. The derivation is from the medieval German “win”, in modern German “wein”, meaning “wine” or “vine”, with “mann”, man. (7)

Felicitas (Felizitas) Grosshans was born about 1742 in Godramstein, and died in Edesheim. She was the daughter of Johann Jacob Grosshans and Anna Felicitas ___.

Johann Jacob Grosshans was born on 8 October 1693 in Godramstein, and died there 4 February 1761. He married Anna Felicitas; her maiden name is unknown. He was the son of Emanuel Grosshans and Anna Catharina Werner.

Anna Kathrina Werner died 29 May 1733 in Godramstein. She was the daughter of Thomas Werner. Nothing more is known about him, and the name of her mother is unknown.

Emanuel Grosshans was born 11 June 1669 in Godramstein, and died there 15 March 1737. He married there on 12 October 1692 to Anna Catherina Werner. He was the son of Johann Friedrich Großhans and Anna Margaritha Bertsch.

Johann Friedrich Großhans was born June 1629 in Godramstein, and died there 21 September 1679. He married there on 16 August 1668 to Anna Margaritha Bertsch.

Anna Margaritha Bertsch was born 11 October 1650 in Godramstein. She was the daughter of Johann Ludwig Bertsch and Catherina _____.

Johann Ludwig Bertsch died 25 November 1658 in Godramstein. His parentage is unknown. He married Catherina; her maiden name is unknown. Catherina died 21 October 1677 in Godramstein.

Godramstein is 6.7 miles from Heuchelheim-Klingen.

Johann Friedrich Großhans was the son of Philipp Großhans and Anna Barbara Schwebel.

Philipp Großhans was the son of Nicolaus (Nicklaß) Großhans and Barbara Trierers.

Anna Barbara Schwebel was the daughter of Johann Henrich Schwebel and Anna Margaretha Pastor.

Johann Henrich Schwebel was the son of Heinrich Schwebel.

The parentage of Barbara Trierers is unknown.

The parentage of Anna Margaretha Pastor is unknown.

Grosshans is a German surname a compound name from Middle High German groz ‘large’ + Hans, a pet form of the personal name Johann(e)s (see John), hence a nickname used to denote a large man called Hans or to distinguish between two bearers of this personal name. (8)

Schwebel is a German habitational name from a diminutive of Schwab ‘Swabian’. Possibly also from Middle High German swebel and Yiddish shvebl ‘sulfur’. Its application as a German surname is obscure. (21)

Trierers is an obsolete form of the German surname Trier.  It is a habitational surname from the city of Trier on the Mosel Germany named in Latin as Augusta Treverorum ‘city of Augustus among the Treveri’ a Celtic tribal name of uncertain etymology. (22 & 23)

Pastor is an occupational surname for the profession of a religious (usually Christian) pastor and the profession of a shepherd pastor. In German and Dutch, it is a humanistic surname a translation into Latin of German Schäfer or any other surname meaning ‘shepherd’ (24 & 25)

Katharina Elisabetha LeBeau was born 31 March 1743 in Kapellen-Drusweiler and baptized 3 April 1743 in the Kapellen-Drusweiler parish. She died before 1778 in Kapellen-Drusweiler. She was the daughter of Johann Georg Jacob LeBeau and Maria Juliana Först.

Johann Georg Jacob LeBeau married on 29 May 1742 in Kapellen-Drusweiler to Maria Juliana Först. He was the so of Abraham LeBeau. Nothing more is known about his father, nor do we know the name of his mother.

LeBeau / Le Beau is a surname of French origin and is a nickname for a handsome man (perhaps also ironically for an ugly one), from Old French beu, bel ‘fair’, ‘lovely’ (Late Latin bellus), with the definite article le. Compare Beau, Lebel. (10) My LeBeau / Le Beau ancestors lived in an area of Germany very close to the border with France, and it appears their roots were French.

Maria Juliana Först was born 6 April 1720 in Klingenmuenster, and was baptized there on 21 April 1720, she died 3 October 1770. She was the daughter of Johannes Först and Juliana Elisabetha ____. Nothing more is known about her father, nor do we know her mother’s maiden name.

Först is a German surname and is a shortened form of Foerster or Förstner. The name Foerster is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a person whose occupation is forestry, or a person who lives near a forest. (11)

Evangelical Reformed Lutheran Church records of my Propheter, Weinmann and other ancestors going further back LeBeau/Le Brea, and Först/Fuerst are found in Klingenmünster and in nearby parishes of Kapellen-Drusweiler, Bad Bergzabern, and Heuchelheim-Klingen. My Grosshans ancestors are mostly found in Godramstein and Heuchelheim-Klingen.

A little information about Barbelroth:

Half-timbered village in the Bergzaberner Land

The 650-soul community of Barbelroth is located one kilometre east of Bad Bergzabern. Here you can still experience real South Palatinate charm, which is not to be found anywhere else in the world. Half-timbered houses characterize the village and give the village in the Bad Bergzaberner Land its very special character – like its inhabitants, who radiate peace and serenity. (1)

Back to my fourth great-grandparents. The marriage of Johann Georg Fried and Margaretha Propheter is recorded 12 September 1820, but the baptism record of their daughter Margretha Maria Fried is recorded 28 April 1819. Both are found in the Evangelical Reformed Lutheran church records of the parish of Heuchelheim-Klingen. It appears there may be a dating error of the year in one of both of the records, since it puts her birth at 17 months before their marriage. I have been unable to view the actual church records and what is available is the transcribed text by others, so it may actually be an error made when the records were transcribed, or she was born before they married, but they are listed as her parents in the baptism record. Also, there is very strong DNA evidence linking me and other descendants to these Fried and Propheter families. I have many Fried DNA matches in the USA, and Propheter DNA matches in the USA and Germany.

Known children of my 4th great-grandparents Johann Georg Fried and Margaretha Propheter:

1. Margretha Fried born 25 April 1819 in Klingenmünster and died 21 Apr 1853 in Klingenmünster. She married Heinrich Weiss. (My direct ancestors).
2. William Fried was born about 1821 in Heuchelheim-Klingen, Bergzabern, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and died before 25 July 1880 in Louisiana, USA. He married Catherine _____. (I am a DNA match to descendants of this couple).
3. Frederick (Friedrich Jacob) Fried born 2 February 1824 in Klingenmünster and died July 1889 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana. He married Anna Maria (Mary Ann) Weis. (I am a DNA match to descendants of this couple).
4. George Jacob Fried born 16 March 1837 in Heuchelheim-Klingen and died 3 November 1898 in Ohio. He married 5 January 1862 in Hamilton County, Ohio to Katherina Weis. (I have DNA matches that are descendants of this couple).
5. Barbara Fried born 23 April 1838 in Bad Bergzabern and she died 20 June 1926 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. She married 1st to Valentine John Miller and 2nd to ____ Renschler. (I have a DNA connection to descendants of she and her husband Valentine John Miller).

As you can see some of the Fried siblings came to Cincinnati, Ohio. Two brothers went to New Orleans, Louisiana. Some of our Propheter kin also came to Cincinnati, Ohio.

A bit of information about the village of Kapellen-Drusweiler which is 4 miles from Klingenmünster:

The wine village Kapellen-Drusweiler in the district of Südliche Weinstraße belongs to the municipality of Bad Bergzabern and lies between the Palatinate Forest Biosphere Reserve and the Rhine. 1800 hours of sunshine spoil this particularly favorable spot on the “Southern Wine Route”. Despite its proximity to the spa town of Bad Bergzabern, Kapellen-Drusweiler has retained a quiet, village character. On a well-developed cycle path or hiking trail you can be in a few minutes in the old town centre of Bad Bergzabern. Spas and parks, restaurants, shops and a variety of leisure activities invite you to linger. The district town of Landau, an old garrison fortress with listed buildings, is also just a few minutes’ drive away. A special feature of Kapellen-Drusweiler is the Rosengarten hiking trail in the vineyards south of the village, which clearly shapes the townscape and sets an event highlight in the region with the annual rose hike – a wine hike with tasting in the vineyards.” (2)

Known children of my 3rd great grandparents Heinrich Weiss and Margaretha Fried:

1. Margaret (Margrethe) Weiss born 23 June 1846 in Klingenmünster. Her baptism record of 28 June 1846 is found in the parish of Heuchelheim-Klingen. She died 31 December 1919 in Madisonville, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. She married Elias “Eli” Nutick in Hamilton County, Ohio. (My great-great grandparents)
2. Charlotta Weiss born 4 June 1848 in Klingenmünster and baptized 9 June 1848 in the Klingenmünster church parish.
3. Barbara Weiss born 5 May 1849 in Klingenmünster and baptized 13 May 1849 in the Klingenmünster church parish.
4. Katharina Weiss born 16 April 1851 in Klingenmünster and baptized there on 21 April 1851, she died there on 28 March 1915. She remained in Germany. She married 28 February 1878 in Klingenmünster to Johannes Stübinger. They had five known children. Two of these children married and at least one has descendants today via a daughter, the children have the surname, Gensinger. All remained in Germany.

Nothing is known about Charlotta and Barbara Weiss other than their baptism records being found in Klingenmünster. So far, I have not found any marriage records for them in Germany, or the USA and I have not found any descendants or DNA matches related to them. They may have died young.

So, other than possible Gensinger kin in Germany today, the only other one to have descendants from this couple is my 2nd great grandmother’s line.

References:

1. Barbelroth in der Pfalz. 100% Pfalz • Barbelroth in der Pfalz (100prozent-pfalz.de)
2. Kapellen-Drusweiler in der Pfalz. Kapellen-Drusweiler in der Pfalz | http://www.pfalz-info.com
3. What Is White In German (questionfun.com)
4. Wendel Family History – Wendel Name Meaning (FamilySearch.org)
5. Häcker Family History – Häcker Name Meaning (FamilySearch.org)
6. Surname Database: Weinmann Last Name Origin (surnamedb.com)
7. Scherer Name Meaning & Scherer Family History at Ancestry.com®
8. Grosshans Name Meaning & Grosshans Family History at Ancestry.com®
9. Lebeau Name Meaning & Lebeau Family History at Ancestry.com®
10. Foerster Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms, German (houseofnames.com)
11. Sartor surname meaning – (Ancestry.com)
12. Barth surname meaning – (Ancestry.com)
13. Acker surname meaning – (Ancestry.com)
14. Gleich surname meaning – (4crests.com)
15. Surname Häcker – Meaning and Origin (www.igenea.com)
16. Bohrer Family History – Bohrer Name Meaning (FamilySearch.org)
17. Zwipf Family History – Zwipf Name Meaning (FamilySearch.org)
18. Propheter – Propheter Meaning & Origin (namediscoveries.com)
19. Schwebel – Surname Meaning & Origin (Ancestry.com)
20. Trier Family History (Ancestry.com)
21. Trier – (en.wiktionary.org)
22. Pastor Family History (Ancestry.com)
23. Pastor (surname) (en.wikipedia.org)

If you use any information from my blog posts as a reference or source, please give credit and provide a link back to my work that you are referencing. Unless otherwise noted, my work is © Anna A. Kasper 2011-2025. All rights reserved. Thank you.