Original Settlers

Below is a list of all the Volmer Original Settlers and the location of their previous origin before coming to Volmer.  Typed in black are the locations as they were translated for the book “The German Colonies on the Volga:  The Second Half of the Eighteenth Century” , by Igor R. Pleve.  *The spelling of these places may be wrong.  Below is a link to the region, district, city or town that I think may be applicable.

 

In the below list, keep in mind the place listed in the Original Settlers List may be a town/city or our ancestor may have been from any where within the district.  Many of the Districts have cities or towns within them with the same name.  In other words, it is very common that the District name will also be found as a City or Town within the district.

 

In cases when the terms Kurpfalz, Kurmainz are used I am assuming that they meant they were from the region or district of.  An example could be #1—Volmer Family—from: Dirkheim, Kurpfalz.  This doesn’t necessarily mean they from a town called Dirkheim, but they are from the Kurpfalz Dirkheim.  Remember Kurpfalz mean an electoral region (like a county).  We see the terms Kurpfalz, Kurmainz, and Pfalz used a lot and to some their meanings are confusing.  I have tried to define and explain each on the right hand side of the page.

 

The Surnames that are highlighted have a Family Page set up for them.

Kurpfalz - means Electoral Palatinate.  is a region around the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg today. In former times there was a German province called "The Pfalz," which had a "Kurfürst" (Elector over the region) as its leader, and was therefore known as the "Kurpfalz," (Kur - Pfalz). This is not one region anymore. Parts of it are found in Rheinland-Pfalz, Baden-Württemberg, and Hessen.

Alternative names: Rhineland Palatinate, Electorate, Kur-Pfalz, Rhine Palatinate

 

Kurmainz—means Electorate of Mainz.  In German: Kurfürstentum Mainz or Kurmainz).

 

If you refer to living in the Kurmainz area you are basically saying that you live with in the electoral area of Mainz, sort of like a county.

 

Mainz—Mainz is a city in Germany and the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate (also known as Rheinhessen).  It is also described by as an urban district of  the Rhineland-Palatinate State. The city of Mainz is further divided into 15 local districts.

 

Pfalz—the Palatinate (German die Pfalz) usually refers to one of two areas in Germany, each formerly ruled by a count palatine.

Vomler - Kopenka