[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Schillemore

[Jerry Frank]

Louise,

Someone posted to our former bulletin board about this surname with similar info.  I believe you were in touch with him via Rootsweb.

In general, this mailing list and our related website do not deal with Jewish ancestry.  If you are looking for some connection in that regard, a posting to a Jewish list might be more appropriate.

As I browsed through some GOOGLE hits for the surname I noted that the earliest info about this surname in Great Britain appears to be the late 1700s.  Since much of our ancestral research is associated with church records, can you identify what religion they might have been at that time?  I ask that question because Jews typically did not use surnames until obligated to do so under the rule of Napoleon in the late 1700s.  It may therefore be more likely that a Jewish family adapted or adopted the Schillemore surname than that you have Jewish origins.

Furthermore, I would suggest that an assumption of Russian origin based solely on one non-related family's passenger list is tenuous at best.  Even if a Russian connection can be established, you would still have to deal with the vastness of the country and the millions of Germans and Jews that lived there.

Your conjecture that the surname may be associated with one of the tribes of Israel MAY be valid but that does not necessarily imply Jewish origin.  Christians could also have adopted such a Biblical reference for their surname.  For example, my surname is FRANK but it is not Jewish (even though lots of Jews have that surname) and I cannot prove that I descend from the Frank tribe of Charlamagne fame.  My ancestors may simply have adopted the surname out of need and simplicity.

There is certainly no question that your surname is quite unique, even when considering some possible variant spellings.  Unfortunately that may not help you find the documentation you need to confirm your origins.  You may still have to trace the documents generation by generation to find some clues.

Jerry Frank




----- Original Message -----
From: Louise Arruda <larruda at rogers.com>
Date: Monday, January 29, 2007 11:18 am
Subject: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Schillemore

> Hello
> 
> I am new to this list. However, it appears that my family name- 
> Schillemore-
> is connected to Russia and Germany. However, I have only been able 
> to verify
> information about our history in England, Canada and some USA. 
> Additionally,an Ellis Island passenger list indicates a Lube 
> Schillimore and her children
> as Russian Jews on their way to Baltimore where he spouse, Michael
> Schillimore had already established residence.
> 
> There are today some Schillemore names in Germany. However, I am 
> at a loss
> to connect them. Our name is quite unusual. I suspect that our 
> family may
> have come from the Jewish tribe Schillem, and came to Germany and then
> Russia via the Crimea.
> 
> So far, I have not been able to find and information to verify or 
> disprovemy hypothesis.
> 
> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Many Thanks
> 
> Louise
> 
> 
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