Stephanie, Basing origins on region or occupation is a 50/50 chance, at best. It's a shotgun in the dark. Instead, you need to find more information in records of your gr-grandfather's adopted country. If you look hard enough, there's a better than 3 to 1 chance you'll find the names of his parents and/or siblings (maybe even his church name in the old country). You'll need that to verify that you have the correct family once you get into BMD records over there . . . LDS has microfilmed a ton of records for Danzig that you can go rent at your nearest Family History Center. Here's a link to those holdings (cut and paste the entire thing into your browser if it 'breaks' in this posting) . . . http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitydetails&subject=51761&subject_disp=Germany%2C+Preu%C3%9Fen%2C+Westpreu%C3%9Fen%2C+Danzig&columns=*,0,0 BUT, before you go searching in those records, you need to develop more information about your gr-grandfather in records of his new country, first. Otherwise, you'll be grasping at straws . . . Good luck LGO -----Original Message----- >From: "Stephanie P." <animalloverz@comcast.net> > >MabelHello Everyone.. Hope the New Year is treating everyone well. > >Might anyone have an idea where the name PITTROFF originated? I understand that names could come from a region or an occupation. My great grandfather was born in Danzig West Prussia in 1861 but I can find ZERO trace of him and/or his family. He died in Paterson New Jersey in 1943 after working in the silk mills (like everyone else at the time I guess!) and I'm wondering if that may be a link to his history in Prussia. > >Thanks to anyone and everyone who may have a clue.. 'cause I sure don't! > >Sincerely, >Stephanie W. Pack