The furthest back that I can take my Schönlaub ancestors is to my fourteenth great-grandparents. Yes, my 14th great-grandparents! They were Steffan Schönlaub and his wife, Barbara ____ of Minfeld, Germany. These are the ancestors of my great-grandmother Alice Elizabeth Nutick Armstrong. Her mother was born near Klingenmünster. All of her mother’s ancestors were from the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, all hailing from villages and towns near to each other. Steffan Schönlaub and Barbara ____ were her 11th great-grandparents.

Minfeld is the homeland of my Schönlaub ancestors. It is in Minfeld that, up until the early 1900s, most people with the surname were located. It was also found in smaller numbers in the nearby villages and towns of Kandel, Ilbesheim bei Landau in der Pfalz, and Doerrenbach. Minfeld is positioned on the southern edge of the Palatinate region and is known for its proximity to Alsace, France. The surname is also found in Strasbourg and Wissembourg in the Bas-Rhin region of France. The two cities, Strasbourg, France, and Minfeld, Germany, are connected by the border formed by the Rhine River. Wissembourg, France, is also very near to Minfeld, Germany.

Minfeld is situated in the county of Germersheim in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. It has a long history, with mentions of the village dating back to 982. Minfeld is known for its historic Protestant church with medieval wall paintings and a famous Winterhalter organ, as well as its proximity to nature reserves like the Bruchbach-Otterbachniederung nature reserve and the Palatinate Forest. The region offers outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling along the Wine Route and is also a center for viticulture, local delicacies like Saumagen, and the annual Bienwald-Marathon. As of 2023, the population of Minfeld was 1,708 residents. As of the year 2000, there were only seven residents left with the surname Schönlaub living in Minfeld.

Saumagen is a traditional German dish from the Palatinate region, consisting of a pig’s stomach stuffed with a filling of pork, potatoes, and spices.

This dish was a favorite of German chancellor Helmut Kohl. He had it made and served to high-profile guests such as Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan, and François Mitterrand. It is typically served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. Most Americans will find this a bit off-putting, as the meat is cooked in a pig’s stomach. The literal translation of saumagen means “sow’s stomach.” (2)

This dish is a specialty of the Rhinland-Pfalz region in Germany. It is as important to the Pfälzer people as Haggis is to the Scots. Nowadays, the butcher shop sells it in a plastic casing, not the traditional stomach. Some cook it in an oven bag instead of the traditional pig’s stomach. (2) If you scroll to the bottom of this blog entry, you will find a recipe for making Saumagen.

The tower, choir, and nave of the Protestant church of Minfeld were constructed in the middle of the eleventh century. The foundation stone for the Minfeld parish church’s Romanesque Hall church was set by monks from Seltz Abbey. At this time, the church would have been Roman Catholic. It wasn’t until 1556 that Minfeld joined the Reformation movement.

This would have been the church of my Schönlaub and related ancestors. First as Catholics, then later as part of the Lutheran faith. The church dates back to around 1053 and features medieval wall paintings uncovered during renovations. It houses a unique Winterhalter organ from 1752-1763, the façade of which is still a significant feature of the church interior.

Around 1500, the church was then extended and rebuilt in the Gothic style. Since then, two side chapels have been erected inside the church. The northern one was first devoted to Saint Anne, a well-known saint in medieval times. The Romanesque choir arch was replaced by a larger pointed arch. A bigger pointed arch took the place of the Romanesque choir arch. The choir room windows were also extended to pointed arches with tracery, and the choir room itself was fitted with a ribbed vault. During this time, the inside of the church was artistically painted, and a sacristy was also erected. This is evident in the ‘heavenly garden’ that adorns the ceiling of St. Anne’s Chapel, as well as the painted apostles, prophets, and their banners in the choir room. (1)

Since the Reformation, the Minfeld church has been Protestant. Nevertheless, both denominations began using it for worship. It was established as a simultaneous church on July 25, 1686, and it stayed that way until 1930, when the current Catholic church was dedicated.

Schönlaub is a German surname. It is taken from the German words schön, which means lovely, and laub, which means leaf or foliage. This implies a relationship to nature, perhaps suggesting that the original bearers of the name were employed in forestry or agricultural industries or resided in regions with lush surroundings.

So, how do you pronounce Schönlaub? SHOE-enn-lowb. Like the English word “shoe”, then “enn”, and “low” (like the sound ow in the English word how), the ending letter “b” is not really heard very strongly.

My 14th great-grandfather Steffan Schönlaub was born about 1515 in Kandel, Germersheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He married Barbara (maiden name unknown) in Minfeld, and it is in Minfeld that she died on 12 November 1586. Her church death record reflects that they were of the Lutheran faith at the time of her death.

In the church records for Minfeld, Steffan is listed with the occupation of Zensor. In 1500s Germany, a censor was an official, often working for the Church or government, who examined books, pamphlets, and other printed materials. With the invention of the printing press, censorship shifted from correcting handwritten manuscripts to regulating printed works to control public discourse, especially during the upheaval of the Reformation. The role of a church censor was primarily to suppress books and writings deemed heretical or dangerous to religious doctrine.

We learn a bit about Steffan from his occupation. One, he was literate; he could read and write, rather well, I would venture to guess based on his occupation. It is estimated that the population of the area only had a literacy rate of around 5% or even less. The fact he was a censor, and the occupations of many of his descendants in the 1500s and 1600s, show that they were of an educated family.

We know that Steffan and his wife, Barbara, had at least one child, a son, named Erhard Schönlaub.

Erhard Schönlaub was born about 1536. He married Catharina (maiden name unknown) in Minfeld. From church records, we learn that at the time of his death, he was the mayor of Minfeld. He was mayor from 1596 until his death in Minfeld on 19 November 1598. His wife, Catharina, died in Minfeld on 11 March 1604.

Known children of Erhard Schönlaub and Catharina:

1. Caspar Schönlaub was born about 1560 in Minfeld and died about 1616 in Minfeld. The name of his wife is unknown, but he had at least four sons: Hanß Conrad, Hanß, Stephan, and Johann Jacob Schönlaub.
2. Ursula Schönlaub was born about 1570 in Minfeld and died 20 September 1596 in Minfeld. She married, in Minfeld, to Hanß Contzelmann. The couple had 2 known children: Gertrudt and Hanß Jacob Contzelmann.
3. Johannes Schönlaub was baptized on Christmas Day, 25 December 1572, in Minfeld, and died 11 November 1603 in Minfeld. He married Apollonia (maiden name unknown) in Minfeld. The couple had at least three children: Hannß Conrad, Valentin, and Ruprecht Schönlaub.
4. Elisabetha Schönlaub was born in January 1577 in Minfeld.

My line continues with the son, Johannes Schönlaub. As listed above, he was baptized on Christmas Day in 1572 and died on 11 November 1603 in Minfeld. He married in Minfeld to Apollonia ____.

In church records, it states his occupation was an Einnehmer (Collector). “Einnehmer,” as an occupation, refers to a person who collects payments or takes in money, such as a tax collector, rent collector, or anyone responsible for collecting fees or dues. An Einnehmer served in a variety of roles, primarily working for a lord, government, or merchant.

Johannes Schönlaub and his wife, Apollonia, had three children:

1. Hanß Conrad Schönlaub was born about 1594 in Minfeld and died 16 February 1663 in Minfeld. He married Anna Apollonia (maiden name unknown) in Minfeld. The couple had six children: Hanß Adam, Hanß Jacob, Anna Gertrud, Johannes, Sophia, and Johann Ludwig Schönlaub.
2. Valentin Schönlaub was born 14 September 1600 in Minfeld.
3. Ruprecht Schönlaub was born as a posthumous child on 18 March 1604 in Minfeld.

Johannes Schönlaub was stabbed by Hannß Gammel on St. Martin’s Eve. Below is an account (translated from German) of the church register describing his murder:

The church register reports on his murder: "Hannß Gammel, a resident here, stabbed him in the chest at 11 o'clock in the night, which was St. Martin's Eve, ... while he was drinking wine, and killed him in such a murderous manner that he could not speak another word after receiving the stab. The murderer immediately escaped, leaving the knife and the hat behind."

My ancestor Johannes Schönlaub was murdered on St. Martin’s Eve (the eve of the feast day of St. Martin of Tours). In Rhineland, Germany, bonfires were lit on Saint Martin’s Eve. Was his murderer, Hannß Gammel, a friend? Or was he someone disgruntled with Johannes due to his occupation as a collector?

We do not get those answers in what is reported in the church register. We do learn he was stabbed in the chest at 11 o’clock at night, on St. Martin’s Eve. They were drinking wine. He was killed in such a manner that he could not speak another word after being stabbed in the chest, and his murderer fled and left behind the murder weapon, a knife, and his hat.

My line continues with the son, Hanß Conrad Schönlaub. He was born about 1594 in Minfeld; some records state he was born in nearby Barbelroth. He married Anna Apollonia _____ in Minfeld. He died in Minfeld on 16 February 1663.

According to the church register, his occupation was that of a lawyer and court judge in Barbelroth and Minfeld. It is 5.4 miles between Barbelroth and Minfeld. As the crow flies, it is a distance of about 2 miles.

In 17th-century Germany (which at the time was part of the Holy Roman Empire), lawyers were well-educated, undergoing extensive training at universities. However, their education and professional function differed significantly from that of modern lawyers. They were expected to be masters of both Roman civil and canon (church) law, as well as local customs and statutes.

Hanß Conrad Schönlaub and wife, Anna Apollonia, had the following children:

1. Hanß Adam Schönlaub was born 6 January 1623 in Barbelroth, Germany, and died 19 February 1689 in Minfeld. He married Anna Apollonia Matthess. In the church register his occupation is listed as follows: From 1651-1660 he was a collector of the Guttenberg estate; 1655 to 1677, he was the host of zur Krone (in German, “zur Krone” means “to the crown” or “at the sign of the crown”). The phrase is most commonly associated with the names of inns, restaurants, or guesthouses in Germany). From 1663 to 1664 he was a lawyer in Minfeld; from 1666 to 1689 he was the mayor of Minfeld.
2. Hanß Jacob Schönlaub was born 31 October 1624 in Barbelroth. His occupation is listed as farmer. He married first to Catharina ____ and second to Apollonia ____.
3. Anna Gertrud Schönlaub was born 23 September 1627 in Barbelroth and died 21 September 1690 in Minfeld. She married first to Wendel Beyer in Minfeld and second to Johann Nicolaus GROß on 17 November 1687 in Minfeld.
4. Catharina Schönlaub was born 25 April 1630 in Barbelroth.
5. Johannes Schönlaub was born 23 July 1632 in Barbelroth. He married Anna Apollonia ____. In the church register it states the following (translated from German): He is mentioned as a godfather in church records in Minfeld from 1650 to 1655; he presumably married Anna Apollonia; whether he was the one who became mayor of Steinweiler is uncertain.
6. Sophia Schönlaub was born about 1635 in Minfeld. She died 21 February 1686 in Kandel. She was buried two days later on 23 February. She married Hanß Wilhelm Föder on 13 February 1655 in Kandel.
7. Johann Ludwig Schönlaub was baptized on 23 April 1643 in Minfeld and died 5 April 1703 in Minfeld. He married first to Anna Barbara ____ before 1667 in Minfeld and second to Susanna Wüst on 13 September 1695 in Minfeld. The church register lists his occupation as Wirt Minfeld zur Krone meaning innkeeper at The Crown in Minfeld. (my direct ancestors).

My line continues with the youngest son, Johann Ludwig Schönlaub. He was baptized on 23 April 1643 in Minfeld and died 5 April 1703 in Minfeld. He married first to Anna Barbara (maiden name unknown). She was the mother to all of his children. He married second to Susanna Wüst on 13 September 1695 in Minfeld. He was in his fifties at the time of his second marriage; Susanna was aged twenty-five when they married. No children were born to the second marriage.

The church register lists his occupation as Wirt Minfeld zur Krone, meaning innkeeper at The Crown in Minfeld. In German, “zur Krone” means “to the crown” or “at the sign of the crown.” The phrase is most commonly associated with the names of inns, restaurants, or guesthouses in Germany.

Inns had an important role within society —they provided lodging and food and drink to travelers, merchants, the military, and any others who needed them. They were important centers for social interaction, political discussion, and news dissemination within their towns and villages, thus making innkeepers prominent figures in their local societies. 

His older brother, Hannß Adam Schönlaub, was the host of zur Krone from the years 1655 to 1677. Johann Ludwig was aged about thirty-three years old when he took over the zur Krone from his brother. At the time of his death, he was the innkeeper of zur Krone. What his occupation was prior to 1677 is not known, but he was the innkeeper until his death in 1703.

But we are able to glean a bit more information regarding Johann Ludwig Schönlaub and his social status from the baptism record of his son Johann Michael Schönlaub on 17 September 1684 in Minfeld. The church record states he was the son of Hannß Ludwig Schönlaub, relative of the council and guest at the town hall.

In 17th-century Germany, being a relative of the town council and a guest at the town hall would signify high social status, influence, and very likely wealth, as it would connect you to the ruling elite of the town and provide access to centers of local power and discourse. Such a position would imply you were part of the established families who held authority and were likely involved in trade or other prosperous enterprises that allowed them to engage with the town’s governance. Being a guest of the council suggests a formal invitation or recognition of your importance.

Children of Johann Ludwig Schönlaub and first wife Anna Barbara:

1. Hannß Ludwig Schönlaub was baptized on 12 August 1667 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church.
2. Anna Apollonia Schönlaub was baptized on 2 May 1669 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 16 July 1669 in Minfeld.
3. Hannß Nicolaus Schönlaub was baptized 12 June 1670 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 20 October 1670 in Minfeld.
4. Anna Apollonia Schönlaub was baptized 14 January 1672 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church. She was married first to Hannß Georg Jäger on 12 November 1689 in Minfeld. They had seven children. Her first husband died on 28 May 1705 in Minfeld. She married second to Hannß Erhard Wener on 13 October 1705.
5. Johann Nicolaus Schönlaub was baptized 1 September 1675 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 13 December 1766 in Minfeld. He married first to Maria Eva Lutz about 1701 in Minfeld. They had one child, a son, before she died. He married second to Maria Catharina Lutz (kin to his first wife) on 29 January 1704 in Minfeld. Eleven children were born to the second marriage. According to the church register, his occupation was a lawyer, and he was the host of zur Krone in Minfeld. His uncle was the host of zur Krone, his father was the landlord and host of zur Krone. It appears that the inn stayed within the family.
6. Johann Conrad Schönlaub was baptized 15 July 1677 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 10 January 1678 in Minfeld.
7. Johannes Schönlaub was baptized 22 January 1679 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 5 March 1768. He married Anna Elisabetha Zimmer on 25 January 1705 in Minfeld. (My direct ancestors).
8. Maria Margretha Schönlaub was baptized and died on the same day on 30 January 1681 in Minfeld. There is a note in her church baptism record that reads as follows (translated from German): Emergency baptism by the midwife due to her great weakness in the house.
9. Juliana Magdalena Schönlaub was baptized on 13 August 1682 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church. She married Johann Valentin Trauth on 6 May 1704 in Minfeld.
10. Johann Michael Schönlaub was baptized 17 September 1684 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 11 February 1685 in Minfeld.
11. Maria Margaretha Schönlaub was baptized 25 April 1686 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church. She married Johann Adam Forster. Her husband’s occupations are listed as follows: 1715 he was an innkeeper in Freckenfeld at the “Grüner Baum” (Green Tree); from 1697 to 1698 schoolmaster in Winden, Palatinate; from 1698 to 1701 schoolmaster in Mühlhofen, Palatinate.
12. Johann Adam Schönlaub was baptized 11 July 1688 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 22 February 1689 in Minfeld.
13. Hannß Adam Schönlaub was baptized on 6 January 1680 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died on 11 November 1705 in Minfeld.
14. Georg Michael Schönlaub was baptized 1 January 1693 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 25 November 1766 in Minfeld. He married Maria Eva Binckler on 06 January 1722 in Minfeld. The couple had nine children. His occupation is listed as a master baker.

My line continues with the son, Johannes Schönlaub, and his wife, Anna Elisabetha Zimmer. They married on 25 January 1705 in Minfeld. She was the daughter of Wendel Zimmer and ‘Anna’ Margaretha Ulm. Her father’s occupation was listed as innkeeper in Minfeld at zum Schwanen (The Swan) and a farmer.

The occupation of Johannes Schönlaub is not noted in the church records. But we do know he was of a family of good standing, with influence and wealth.

Johannes Schönlaub and his wife, Anna Elisabeth Zimmer, had the following children:

1. Anna Apollonia Schönlaub was baptized 15 November 1705 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 12 January 1782 in Minfeld. She married Johann Christophel Schäffer on 17 November 1722 in Minfeld. (My direct ancestors).
2. Maria Veronica Schönlaub was baptized 18 September 1707 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church. She married Johannes Hauck on 26 August 1727 in Minfeld.
3. Anna Eva Schönlaub was baptized 26 December 1709 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 27 May 1770 in Minfeld. She married Johann Adam Ulm (her 2nd or 3rd cousin via her mother’s family) on 20 January 1733 in Minfeld.
4. Anna Elisabetha Schönlaub was baptized 28 February 1712 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 16 December 1781 in Minfeld. She married Johann ‘Ludwig’ Grahn on 1 May 1735 in Minfeld. A note in the church record states regarding this couple, “According to the inscription, they built the half-timbered house at Hauptstrasse 85 in 1788.”
5. Johannes Schönlaub was baptized on 15 May 1718 at the Minfeld Lutheran Church and died 2 March 1810. He married Maria Elisabetha Beyer on 29 November 1746 in Minfeld.

My line continues with the daughter, Anna Apollonia Schönlaub. It is at this point that we lose the Schönlaub surname, and it becomes Schäffer. She married on 17 November 1722 in Minfeld to Johann Christophel Schäffer, the son of Hannß ‘Stephan’ Schäfer and Anna Maria Daub.

In the church records, Johann Christoph Schäffer’s occupation was listed as a butcher in Minfeld and the innkeeper of zur Sonne in Minfeld. “Zur Sonne” (meaning “To the Sun“) was and is a common name for hotels, inns, and guesthouses in German-speaking countries.

There is an interesting note included in the church records regarding the recording of the death of Anna Apollonia Schönlaub Schäffer. It states, “This entry was not made by the pastor but by the school janitor Breyttingk.”

At first, I didn’t know what to think regarding the school janitor recording her death instead of the pastor of the church. But then I discovered that in 18th-century German villages, it was common for the school janitor, or Küster, to assist the pastor with church record-keeping. The note about janitor Breyttingk’s entry likely means the pastor was unavailable, and Breyttingk’s entry served as a temporary or provisional record. 

Johann Christophel Schäffer and Anna Apollonia Schönlaub had thirteen children, including my ancestor, Anna Elisabetha Schäffer, who married Johannes Adam Propheter, the son of Philipp Jacob Propheter and Anna Magdalena Lambach.

Phillip Jacob Propheter was the son of Johann Hanß Philipp Propheter and Maria Katharina Sixt. Anna Magdalena Lambach was the daughter of Hanß Lambach.

My direct line:

1. Steffan Schönlaub and Barbara ____.
2. Erhard Schönlaub and Catharina _____.
3. Johannes Schönlaub and Apollonia _____.
4. Hanß Conrad Schönlaub and Anna Apollonia _____.
5. Johann Ludwig Schönlaub and Anna Barbara ______.
6. Johannis Schönlaub and Anna Elisabetha Zimmer.
7. Anna Apollonia Schönlaub and Johann Christophel Schäffer.
8. Anna Elisabetha Schäffer and Johannes Adam Propheter.
9. Johann Adam Propheter and Katharina Elisabetha LeBeau.
10. Johann Jacob Propheter and Anna Margaretha Weinmann.
11. Margaretha Propheter and Johann Georg Fried.
12. Margaretha Fried and Heinrich Weiss.
13. Margaret (Margarethe) Weiss and Elias W. “Eli” Nutick (Wegt).
14. Alice Elizabeth Nutick and George Pendleton Armstrong. (My great-grandparents).

You will find a recipe below for Pfälzer Saumagen (Palatinate Saumagen). Please let me know if any of you use the recipe and make the Pfälzer Saumagen and how you like it. It is a recipe of the Palatinate region, and something my ancestors from Minfeld, Klingenmünster, and nearby areas would have made and enjoyed as a meal.

Recipe for Pfälzer Saumagen:

1. 1 1/2-pound pork roast cut into cubes
2. 4 large potatoes diced even smaller than you see here
3. 32 oz. spicy minced pork sausage (you could use Jimmy Dean sausage). You could also use pork sausage from bratwurst, just take off the casing.

Seasoning:

1. 1 tablespoon salt
2. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3. 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
4. 1 teaspoon dried marjoram 
5. 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
6. 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
7. 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
8. 2 Ground bay leaves
9. 3 tablespoons diced onions (or 1 teaspoon onion powder)

Directions:

1. Cut the pork meat into cubes. Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes. Now mix the pork cubes, potatoes, and sausage together.
2. Add your seasonings and mix well.

This recipe is from mimisadventuresineurope.blogspot.com and she uses an oven roasting bag instead of a pig stomach to cook her saumagen. It’s much harder these days to get a pig’s stomach to cook the saumagen.

After you have mixed your ingredients, place them in an oven roasting bag. It should look like the photo above. Now place it inside ANOTHER roasting bag and seal. It is very important to double bag.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Reduce heat and place the stomach into the water. Simmer for 3 hours. Don’t let the water boil. Turn the bag every hour so the other side cooks evenly.

After 3 hours, remove the stomach from the pot, drain, and serve, cutting it into slices at the table.  Serve with mashed potatoes, pork gravy, and sauerkraut. Add a green salad, and you have an authentic German Pfälzer Saumagen dinner.

References:

1. Protestant Church Minfeld – Protestant Parishes Minfeld-Winden
2. Pfälzer Saumagen Recipe/Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s favorite

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.