Nobody has mentioned that some Germans, for whatever purpose, travelled to Scandinavian ports to migrate to USA, Canada, etc. Unfortunately I've lost the link to a few websites I used to have but here is one which is still operating.
From testing with the surnames 'Ehlers' and 'Meier' it can be seen that some
didn't give their origins, only the latest address when applying for passage but I saw some had travelled from Holstein 'Holsteen' to the port:
http://www.emiarch.dk/search.php3?l=en
This website mentions other Scandinavian online databases but I haven't checked whether the links are still working: http://sydaby.eget.net/swe/emi_ref.htm
Good luck,
Rena in England
D'not forget also Rotterdam many went up the Rhine, and then shiped out thru
The Holland-American Line HAL, they had a hotel so that the people could
rest and recoup from their sometimes long trips, up to 6 weeks, this way
they started out healthy on the sea voyage and any contagious sickness
screened out, as the rule was a ship had to take back those who were denied
entree into the US. Also some families emigrated first to the Netherlands
and after a few years decided to emigrate further. Remember the peligims
also went to Leiden, North Holland first and lived there 7 years before
they went to America, also many Hugenotes did likewise. plus many ships
would depart Rotterdam and make a stop in La Harve, or Plymouth first before
crossing the ocean ,people got off and some got on in those ports. Ehlers
and Meier is a name that also comes forth in Holland, in the east of
Holland , provances, Groningen,Drente, Limburg and Overijzel almost 30% or
more of the population were German. Just a thought to keep in mind when
looking for German ancestors. Anna Marie Schmitz