This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: GEIGER Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JOY.2ACEB/902.1 Message Board Post: I don’t know if you’ve given it a try, but sometimes you can find some interesting information in the census listings. Other times it doesn’t turn out as well as you’d like. This seems to be leaning more toward the second option, though I think I’ve found one good listing for you. 1920 Census Elmhurst Borough, Queens County, New York Edelbert Geiger, Head, age 73, born in Austria, immigrated 1870, naturalized 1884?, father born Germany, mother born Austria, occupation: none [[YES, it says “Edelbert” - without a doubt!]] Phillopina Geiger, Wife, age 63, born Germany, immigrated 1871, naturalized 1873, father & mother born Germany, occupation: none Bertha C. Geiger, Daughter, age 27, born Texas, father born Austria, mother born Germany, occupation: Clerk, Tobacco Industry Office Cecile Geiger, Daughter, age 24, born Texas, father born Austria, mother born Germany, occupation: Clerk, Insurance Co. J. William Geiger, Son, age 25, born Texas, father born Austria, mother born Germany, occupation: Supervisor, ?? [some short abbreviation like ‘Sip’ that I can’t make out] In addition the census taker was a bit too obsequious in her duties when it came to recording the birthplaces of those who were foreign born. She originally recorded a location that was too specific and this was later lined out and the country was written in. For Edelbert it looks like Steinmark. It starts with Stein and ends with a K, but it’s got two lines through it, so it’s hard to be certain. For Phillopina it says Burgen. This census was taken 12 JAN 1920, so (assuming people counted correctly) it gives you some information on these people regarding their year of birth. I had no luck locating a 1900 or 1910 census listing. And as far as 1880 on LDS there are very few foreign born Geigers in Texas. A search in Galveston County only comes up with only JAEGER variations. A Max Jager in Harris Co. (Huston area) has a wife named Philipina, but is it just coincidence? You might want to look into the possibility of getting copies of their naturalization papers or marriage license. Your local library may subscribe to HeritageQuest, which provides census information online.