Hi Morgan - I can identify with those Prussians who "don't want to be found", since I've been hunting one line forever! But I really think they are just sitting there grinning at all your efforts, waiting for you to find that one little key that will open the door to a dozen generations! They are Prussian, after all! Maybe it will help to go back over your documentation, looking for anything (preferably primary sources) in writing, naturalizations, military service, wills, even something like recipes, photographs (styles of clothing) notations in local histories, schools, and especially fraternal organizations, celebrations and centennials and whatever years for churches, towns, all sorts of groups; businesses, directories, local newspapers, especially the German language ones until WW I. Stuff that isn't on line yet. Scour all the places in the U.S. where they lived. You can also write out the names and dates you are sure about on this list, (and put one of them on the subject line, so people can find you later in the archives). There are many, many histories of Prussia and Germany and the world and the US - old ones, ancient ones, new ones, each one is enlightening. And look for Schmitt in its other spellings in Prussia. Schmidt, Schmid, Smid, Smits, Schmitz., DeSmet and many more Perhaps Schmidtke - the -ke ending is a diminutive and is prevalent along the northern seas. According to Hanks & Hodges' A Dictionary of Surnames. Schmitt is a Flemish spelling. There are also outfits which will sell you the "complete Schmitt Family History" for $29.95 and are 100% scams. The same goes for "Family Crests". And I hope you do read all those extensive and extremely knowledgeable papers written by Dr. Watson and Mr. Jensen. They will keep you off the streets for at least a month - and you will see light bulbs going off all the time - guaranteed! They are fluent in the language, culture, genealogy, computerese, and quirks. I learn from them all the time. As far as what route your people may have traveled to Rotterdam, you can see on a map that is the port at the mouth of the Rhine - which of course does not go anywhere near Berlin, but perhaps was the last leg of a trip. Depends on the time frame and how much money they had - were there trains in place then? Was it summertime (more apt to travel by horsecart, or horseback, or walking). Maureen Schoenky In a message dated 7/28/2009 11:44:21 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Thank you everyone who responded to my inquiry about German naming patterns. I'm just trying to discover every little tidbit that may help me learn about my SCHMITT family. I'm almost under the impression that they don't want to be found, of their lives in Prussia. Any records I can find on my line states nothing to where they came from. Only my g-grandfathers 1920/1930? census stated Berlin as his mothers birth place. Oh, well. Thanks again. Morgan EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377107x1201454434/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd =JulystepsfooterNO115)