Researching 10 Midwest German Immigrant Groups

 

The American Midwest is rich with the cultural footprints of German-speaking immigrants. These settlers didn’t just come from Germany itself, they arrived from former German colonies in Eastern Europe and other regions with strong German communities. As a family historian, understanding these unique groups can help you identify your ancestor’s origins and migration patterns more accurately. Here are ten of the most influential German-speaking groups that shaped the Midwest, but don't forget your Kansas German Settlers: 8 Tips - Researching Midwest German Ancestors 

Major Kansas German Settlements 

1. Volga Germans

Volga settlement 

Origin: Volga River region, Russia (originally emigrated from Germany in the 1760s)
Midwest Settlement: Kansas, Nebraska, North/South Dakota, Colorado
Religion: Lutheran, Catholic
Genealogy Tip: Look for church records, immigration rosters, and village name indexes.

2. Black Sea Germans
Origin: Southern Russia and Ukraine (Schwarzmeerdeutsche)
Midwest Settlement: North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska
Religion: Mixed (Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite)
Genealogy Tip: Check Russian imperial records, EWZ files, and Dakota church registers.

3. Bukovina Germans
Origin: Bukovina (now in Ukraine/Romania, part of former Austro-Hungary)
Midwest Settlement: Wisconsin, Illinois, North Dakota
Religion: Catholic, Lutheran
Genealogy Tip: Explore Austrian military records, Galician censuses, and passenger lists.

4. Banat Swabians
Origin: Banat region (Romania, Serbia, Hungary)
Midwest Settlement: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana
Religion: Roman Catholic
Genealogy Tip: Use Danube Swabian village maps and local parish archives.

5. Donauschwaben (Danube Swabians)
Origin: Settled in Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia; originally from Swabia, Bavaria, Austria
Midwest Settlement: St. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago
Religion: Catholic, Lutheran
Genealogy Tip: Explore German expellee databases and village family books (Ortsfamilienbücher).

6. Silesians
Origin: Silesia (now in Poland, formerly Prussian territory)
Midwest Settlement: Wisconsin, Minnesota
Religion: Primarily Catholic
Genealogy Tip: Search Prussian Catholic parish registers and immigration manifests.

7. Pomeranians and Mecklenburgers
Origin: Northeast Germany (Pomerania, Mecklenburg)
Midwest Settlement: Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas
Religion: Lutheran
Genealogy Tip: Explore Lutheran church records and Pomeranian Heimat books.

8. Swiss Germans
Origin: German-speaking Switzerland
Midwest Settlement: Indiana, Ohio, Illinois
Religion: Mennonite, Amish, Lutheran
Genealogy Tip: Use Mennonite Heritage Centers and Swiss civil registers.

9. Bavarians
German Settlements in Missouri
This is nicknamed the Rhineland Counties of MO. In Missouri, the early settlers of the “Rhineland” region covered 11 counties

Figure 1 Image: Ozark Watch website

Origin: Bavaria (southern Germany)
Midwest Settlement: Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Religion: Roman Catholic
Genealogy Tip: Search German Catholic diocesan records and brewery directories!

10. Pennsylvania Germans (Pennsylvania Dutch)
Origin: Originally settled in Pennsylvania; many migrated west
Midwest Settlement: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
Religion: Amish, Mennonite, Lutheran, Reformed
Genealogy Tip: Look into Amish directories, Pennsylvania Dutch Bibles, and land grant records.

Final Thought: Knowing which German-speaking group your ancestors belonged to can open the door to the right records, the correct language or dialect, and even their cultural values. Whether your ancestor was a Volga farmer or a Bavarian brewer, their journey helped shape the American Midwest, and your story.

Have you discovered your own German-speaking heritage? Share your findings or questions in the comments!