Are you a Schwenkfelder?
As with many groups that have immigrated to the United States, the descendants of the first settlers have grown exponentially, with later generations having lost knowledge of their heritage. To help people interested in genealogy, the Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles https://schwenkfelderexilesociety.org/ was founded in 1921 and the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families was published in 1923. Society volunteers continue to keep the records up-to-date. The Heritage Center’s library and archive is a good place for people to conduct their own genealogical research. Click here for Genealogy Resources.
Heritage Tours
In addition, periodically the Heritage Center sponsors the Heritage Tour of the homelands of the Schwenkfelders. Heritage tours visit eastern Germany and those parts of Poland where Caspar Schwenckfeld and his followers lived in the 1500s through early 1700s. Highlights include exploring the grounds of the Schwenckfeld estate and church in Ossig (now Osiek, Gmina Lubin), walking where Schwenckfeld walked in Liegnitz (Legnica), and visiting the Viehweg Monument in Harpersdorf (now Twardocice). The tour then follows the Schwenkfelder immigrant route along the Elbe River starting downtown in the old city of Pirna and continuing through Dresden, Meissen, Torgau, Wittenberg, Magdeburg, and Tangermünde. For current information on tours, email info@schwenkfelder.org.
Your Family Name May Be the First Clue
If your family carries certain surnames and traces its roots to Pennsylvania's German communities, you may be part of one of the most thoroughly documented religious diaspora stories in American history. The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center holds the records to help you find out.
The Schwenkfelders who fled religious persecution in Silesia and arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734 brought their family names with them — and those names have been passed down through generations across the country. If any of the following appear in your family tree, Schwenkfelder ancestry is worth investigating:
- Anders
- Beyer
- Dietrich
- Dresher
- Groh
- Hartranft
- Heebner
- Kriebel
- Mentzel
- Schultz
- Weiss
- Yeakel
This list represents the core documented Schwenkfelder family surnames, but it is not exhaustive. Intermarriage, anglicization of names, and migration across generations mean that Schwenkfelder ancestry can appear in branches you might not immediately recognize. If your family has deep roots in southeastern Pennsylvania's German communities — particularly in Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, or Lehigh counties — the connection may be closer than you think.
The Record That Makes It Traceable
In 1923, Samuel Kriebel Brecht published the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families — a landmark work that traces Schwenkfelder descendants across multiple generations from the original 1734 arrivals through the early twentieth century. It remains one of the most comprehensive genealogical records of any Pennsylvania German community.
The Schwenkfelder Library holds Brecht's record along with supplementary documentation that extends the family history further: church records, family papers, correspondence, photographs, and manuscript collections that connect modern descendants to their earliest American ancestors. Even distant connections leave a paper trail. Our library staff and research team can help you follow it.
Why Schwenkfelder Heritage Matters Beyond the Name
The Schwenkfelders were followers of Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig, a sixteenth-century Silesian nobleman and reformer whose theology put him at odds with both the Catholic Church and the emerging Lutheran establishment. His followers faced decades of persecution before a group of 180 men, women, and children made the journey to Pennsylvania in 1734 — arriving on September 22, a date still commemorated today as Gedächtnis Tag, or Thanksgiving Day, in Schwenkfelder communities.
Their story is not a footnote. It is woven into the founding fabric of Pennsylvania's religious liberty tradition, into the agricultural and cultural landscape of the region, and into the lives of thousands of Americans who carry Schwenkfelder surnames today without knowing it. Understanding that heritage connects you to a specific, documented chapter of American history — one your ancestors helped write.
Common Questions About Schwenkfelder Ancestry
How do I know if I'm descended from Schwenkfelder immigrants?
The most direct indicator is a documented Schwenkfelder surname — Anders, Beyer, Dietrich, Dresher, Groh, Hartranft, Heebner, Kriebel, Mentzel, Schultz, Weiss, or Yeakel — combined with family roots in southeastern Pennsylvania's German communities. Brecht's 1923 Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families is the primary reference, and our library holds copies along with supplementary documentation that extends the record beyond its original publication date.
My family has one of these surnames but we're not sure we're Pennsylvania German. Could we still be Schwenkfelder?
It's possible. Schwenkfelder families migrated out of southeastern Pennsylvania across multiple generations, moving into Ohio, New Jersey, the Southeast, and beyond. If your family carries a documented Schwenkfelder surname and your earliest traceable American ancestors appear in the mid-Atlantic region, the connection is worth researching. Our staff can help you assess what you already know and identify the records most likely to confirm or clarify the link.
What if my connection is several generations back — is it still traceable?
Yes. The Schwenkfelder genealogical record is unusually deep and well-preserved because the community maintained detailed church records, family papers, and community documentation from their earliest years in Pennsylvania. Brecht's 1923 record alone traces descendants across more than eight generations from the 1734 arrivals. Connections several generations removed are routinely traceable through the library's holdings.
What is the Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles, and should I be a member?
The Society of the Descendants of the Schwenkfeldian Exiles is a formal organization for documented Schwenkfelder descendants. Membership is based on verified genealogical connection to the original Silesian exiles who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734. The Schwenkfelder Library maintains a formal partnership with the Society, and our research team can help you determine whether your family history supports an application for membership.
Can I do this research remotely, or do I need to visit in person?
Both options are available. Our library is open to the public and offers in-person research access, including staff-assisted appointments for more focused inquiry. For researchers who cannot visit Pennsburg in person, we offer remote research services. Contact us to discuss what your research requires and we can recommend the best approach for your situation.