Hello,
I am new to this list, but have been searching for my family's history for years. There are few Rokahrs here in the States, and I am trying to find the link between us (or anywhere for that matter). I also desperatly am interested in the story behind our name, as are my brothers. People do not seem to know the history of our name other than we originated from the Hanover region. My father passed away two years ago and I was going through his things and found some letters, one from a Gustav Rokahr from Ohio to my grandfather (Theodore Rokahr) in 1916 and he says his father's name was Carl Rokahr with a C from Davasa born in 1834. He told my grand father that there was also a Ernest Rokahr (Ernest with an E) living in Nebraska, but those where all he knew at that time. My Grandfather's father was also Ernst Rokahr, but apparently with no E. According to my grandfather's correspondence to a George Rokahr in a 1944 letter, his dad was Ernst Rokahr born at Amt Neuhaus an der Oste in the Provence of Hanover on March 12, 1866. He said to his knowledge he had one brother, Theodore, and two sisters, Anna and Erna. He married Margarethe Raab (I have all of her paperwork, though I can not translate it, but things are obvious like birth certificate, one is marked confirmation, their marriage, and several in German I have no idea what they are) I think I have my grandfather's birth certificate too but it does not say Ernst, it does have the correct date, but the writing is very hard to read and it is definitely not Ernst. I have later documents for him showing him as Ernst though, including when he became an American citizen. Although on the boat he came over on Dec 18, 1888 (the Rhaetia) I believe he was listed as an Ernest. I am very confused. To make it more confusing. My Grandfather's father's name was Karl Rokahr with a K. (many in Germany were with a C) That is all he was told about him. My grandfather's dad died when he was only a boy and he grew up without a dad, so for my whole families life it's been a search. I hope someone knows something. Basically we have no relatives and would love to find some. Thanks to anyone who can help.
Anne Rokahr Ashline
Anne,
The inconsistencies in spelling are something we have to live with. Many
of our forebears could not read or write and probably didn't know how their
names should be spelt. When census records, birth certificates etc were filled
in, the person holding the pen would spell the name the way he thought it
should be spelt, so Carls sould become Karls and Ernests could become Ernsts
and so on. For this reason, when doing internet searches on your family names,
you should try a few likely variants just in case.
Regards,
Keith Sturges (researching KLINKER, HOEPFNER, HAUPTMANN and KAUFNER from
Hannover early 1800s)
From: "Anne Ashline" <arts2523@hotmail.com>
To: hannover-l@genealogy.net
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2006 09:07:59 -0400
Subject: [HN] Information on Rokahr
Reply-To: Hannover-L <hannover-l@genealogy.net>Hello,
I am new to this list, but have been searching for my family's history foryears. There are few Rokahrs here in the States, and I am trying to find
the
link between us (or anywhere for that matter). I also desperatly am
interested in the story behind our name, as are my brothers. People do
not
seem to know the history of our name other than we originated from the
Hanover region. My father passed away two years ago and I was going throughhis things and found some letters, one from a Gustav Rokahr from Ohio to
my
grandfather (Theodore Rokahr) in 1916 and he says his father's name was
Carl
Rokahr with a C from Davasa born in 1834. He told my grand father that there
was also a Ernest Rokahr (Ernest with an E) living in Nebraska, but those
where all he knew at that time. My Grandfather's father was also Ernst
Rokahr, but apparently with no E. According to my grandfather's
correspondence to a George Rokahr in a 1944 letter, his dad was Ernst Rokahrborn at Amt Neuhaus an der Oste in the Provence of Hanover on March 12,
1866. He said to his knowledge he had one brother, Theodore, and two
sisters, Anna and Erna. He married Margarethe Raab (I have all of her
paperwork, though I can not translate it, but things are obvious like birthcertificate, one is marked confirmation, their marriage, and several in
German I have no idea what they are) I think I have my grandfather's birth
certificate too but it does not say Ernst, it does have the correct date,
but the writing is very hard to read and it is definitely not Ernst. I have
later documents for him showing him as Ernst though, including when he
became an American citizen. Although on the boat he came over on Dec 18,1888 (the Rhaetia) I believe he was listed as an Ernest. I am very confused.
To make it more confusing. My Grandfather's father's name was Karl Rokahr
with a K. (many in Germany were with a C) That is all he was told about
him.
My grandfather's dad died when he was only a boy and he grew up without
a
Thank you Keith, for your reply. I agree with you that they must have several spellings on record, and I am happy to say I found a site with German scripts and translated the name on the certificate I have and it is, in fact Ernst Rokahr.(in altdeutsche 2) It is not however a birth certificate; it says Husar Ernst Rokahr with his birth date on it. I looked up Husar and I believe that is his military service. So I am still looking for an Ernst Rokahr (born March 12, 1866) and a Karl Rokahr (his father) from Hannover.
Thanks again Keith, I will keep a more open mind when searching and not rule out the other spellings... especially for Karl.
Best regards,
Anne
Hello Anne,
Have you looked at the passenger lists from www.castlegarden.org?
I don't know that it will tell you anything new, but perhaps it may.
Go to that address and run a search for Rokahr. Put the dates broad enough
so it will include other Rokahr names. Ernst (Theodore?) is there as you
said - ship Rhaetia arr. Dec 1888. It lists his last place of residence as
Hamburg--saddler as occupation. There are also listings of Marie and August
(different dates). Marie comes from Cadenberge which is very near the
Rokahr of Neuhaus (Oser).
There are some Rokahrs listed here--don't know if they connect at all.
http://www.kreibaum.net/gene/surname.htm
If you run a search on the LDS site with the Rokahr name alone, you will
find quite a few!
Good luck,
Barbara
Hello,
I am new to this list, but have been searching for my family's history for
years. There are few Rokahrs here in the States, and I am trying to find the
link between us (or anywhere for that matter). I also desperatly am
interested in the story behind our name, as are my brothers. People do not
seem to know the history of our name other than we originated from the
Hanover region. My father passed away two years ago and I was going through
his things and found some letters, one from a Gustav Rokahr from Ohio to my
grandfather (Theodore Rokahr) in 1916 and he says his father's name was Carl
Rokahr with a C from Davasa born in 1834. He told my grand father that there
was also a Ernest Rokahr (Ernest with an E) living in Nebraska, but those
where all he knew at that time. My Grandfather's father was also Ernst
Rokahr, but apparently with no E. According to my grandfather's
correspondence to a George Rokahr in a 1944 letter, his dad was Ernst Rokahr
born at Amt Neuhaus an der Oste in the Provence of Hanover on March 12,
1866. He said to his knowledge he had one brother, Theodore, and two
sisters, Anna and Erna. He married Margarethe Raab (I have all of her
paperwork, though I can not translate it, but things are obvious like birth
certificate, one is marked confirmation, their marriage, and several in
German I have no idea what they are) I think I have my grandfather's birth
certificate too but it does not say Ernst, it does have the correct date,
but the writing is very hard to read and it is definitely not Ernst. I have
later documents for him showing him as Ernst though, including when he
became an American citizen. Although on the boat he came over on Dec 18,
1888 (the Rhaetia) I believe he was listed as an Ernest. I am very confused.
To make it more confusing. My Grandfather's father's name was Karl Rokahr
with a K. (many in Germany were with a C) That is all he was told about him.
My grandfather's dad died when he was only a boy and he grew up without a
dad, so for my whole families life it's been a search. I hope someone knows
something. Basically we have no relatives and would love to find some.
Thanks to anyone who can help.
Anne Rokahr Ashline_________________________________________________________________
Try the new Live Search today!
http://imagine-windowslive.com/minisites/searchlaunch/?locale=en-us&FORM=WLM
Barbara,
There is so much I don't know yet, and am finding out all of the time, including search sites. I just went to the LDS site as I hadn't tried that one before, I was amazed and am very anxious to get more in depth. Thank you. I did find the link you gave me previously, and do not think any of the people listed are connected to us, but thank you for that also. And I am going to look at the castlegarden site next. I think I have seen that information already also, but want to make sure. Thanks again!
Best Regards,
Anne