United States Jewish Research

Introduction
The United States does not have many records specific to the Jewish people. However, researching Jewish ancestors is possible in the United States through the use of many different records. The following will detail important record types to look in and research strategies to try in order to find Jewish ancestors.

Cemetery Records
Find the cemetery where the ancestor was buried. This information may be found in a death record or obituary. If the cemetery is unknown, search all the cemeteries located near where the ancestor died. A cemetery record or tombstone may list parents or children and may even include where the ancestor was born.

Census Records
In the United States, search the census for all years the Jewish ancestor was in the country. Search both national and state censuses. It is important to search for variant spellings of the given name and surname. Check the following books for alternate spellings:
 * Beider, Alexander. A dictionary of Jewish surnames from the Russian Empire. Bergenfield, New Jersey: Avotaynu, 2008. (FHL call no. 947 D46)
 * Beider, Alexander. A dictionary of Jewish surnames from the Kingdom of Poland. Teaneck, New Jersey: Avotaynu, 1996. (FHL call no. 943.8 D46)
 * Beider, Alexander. A dictionary of Jewish surnames from Galicia. Bergenfield, New Jersey: Avotaynu, 2004. (FHL call no. 943.86 D46)

If the ancestor cannot be found in the index, check the City Directory. If they are in the directory, locate someone with an address near the ancestor. Then find that person in the census. The ancestor should be located on the same page or within a few pages from this neighbor.

Court Records
Change of name or assumed name certificates may be found in court records.

Naturalization Records
Declaration of Intent. This document sometimes gives the name of the town the ancestor immigrated from. Petition. Beginning in 1906, this record usually gives: date of arrival and port, name of ship, name of town of birth, birth date, and date of naturalization. Before 1906, the record sometimes gives date and port of arrival and the name of the ship. Oath of Allegiance. This document will give the date of naturalization.

Obituaries
Obituaries are found in newspapers. While some newspaper have been digitized and made available online, other newspapers can only be found in libraries or archives. Contact libraries and archives located in the town where the ancestor died. Also check the FamilySearch Catalog. For example, the Catalog has an index to death reported in The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.

Passenger Records
You must know the port of arrival. Some records are indexed. You will need to check the first and last names and their variant spellings. The following is a list of records that can be searched:
 * United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956
 * Germany, Bremen Passenger Departure Lists, 1904-1914
 * Ancestry Passenger Lists ($) - Ancestry has many passenger records that can be searched here. Some important ones include:
 * U.S., Atlantic Ports Passenger Lists, 1820-1873 and 1893-1959 ($)
 * U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s ($)
 * New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 ($)
 * Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934 ($)
 * Philadelphia Bank Immigrant Passage Records, 1890-1949 ($)
 * JewishGen USA Database
 * Netherlands Passenger Lists Holland-America Line, 1900-1974 (images)
 * Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society: Immigrant records, 1884-1952 (images)

US passenger records from 1893 had a form listing: name, age in years and months, native country, and last residence. Beginning 16 June 1897, the form asked for: final destination in US (state, city, or town); if they were in the US before and if so, when and where; and if they were going to join a relative and if so, their name and address. From 1907, the form asked for the city and country of birth.

Passport Records
The FamilySearch Catalog may also have some passports.
 * U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 ($)
 * Border Crossings and Passports ($)

Probate Records
To find probate records, search in the FamilySearch Catalog by County under the word PROBATE. Probate records give the names of the heirs, including married names of the children and their location.

Social Security Death Index
The Social Security Death Index contains over fifty million records of deaths reported to the Social Security Administration from 1937 to 1998. The bulk of the records are from 1962 and later. The index provides the decedent’s names, birth date social security number, state where the social security card was issued, month and year of death, state of residence at death, zip code, and state where the death benefit was sent. For more information see the U.S. Social Security Death Index Wiki page.

Vital Records
Also search for birth, marriage, and death certificates. Birth certificates generally give the parents' names and ages and often give the parents' birthplaces. Look for birth certificates of brothers and sisters also. Marriage certificates could contain names of parents and the mother's maiden name. Check marriage records of all siblings or other relatives. Death certificates can help locate the cemetery records or tombstone. Check with the funeral home if the information is available. Also check obituaries, probate records, and land and property records.

World War I Draft Records
Everyone had to register for the draft, even "aliens." In 1917, men between the ages of 21 and 30 had to register and in 1918, men between the ages of 18 and 45 had to register. They give the exact birth date, and the name and address of nearest kin. They may also give the city or town of birth.

Research Strategies
For detailed information on how to search for Jewish ancestors, see Search Strategies. One important step to talk to all relatives and gather information. Relatives may have letters, passports, photos, naturalization records, etc. with names, dates, and places. Also remember to surname search for written genealogies on the ancestor.

Locate Town of Origin
It may be difficult to locate the town of origin. Search through all of the above record types to find clues or the exact town of origin. Also talk to living relatives, who may have documents listing the town of origin. Check out gazetteers and maps to help narrow down or locate the town (see Gazetteers and Maps for more information).

Check out these books:
 * Mokotoff, Gary et al. "Where once we walked : a guide to the Jewish communities destroyed in the Holocaust." Bergenfield, New Jersey: Avotaynu, 2002. (FHL call no. 940 E5ms)
 * Cohen, Chester G. "Shtetl finder : Jewish communities in the 19th and early 20th centuries in the pale of settlement of Russia and Poland and in Lithuania, Latvia, Galicia, and Bukovina, with names of residents." Los Angeles, California: Periday Co., 1980. (FHL call no. 947 F24s)

Meaning of Family Name

 * Rottenberg, Dan. "Finding our fathers : a guidebook to Jewish genealogy." Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1995. (FHL call no. 929.1 R747f)
 * Stahl, Abraham et al. "Jewish family names : material for discussion and work in the school and community center." Tel Aviv, Israel: Society for Jewish Family Heritage, 1987. (FHL call no. 929.4 St14j)

Websites
Some general websites to search:
 * FamilySearch
 * Cyndislist.com
 * USGenWeb
 * WorldGenWeb

Some websites specific to Jewish research:
 * JewishGen
 * FEEFHS