Germanic Genealogy Society

Translators

The persons below offer translation services from German to English and the reverse in some cases. Additional languages are offered as marked. Contact the translators directly to discuss your documents, their availability, and for an estimate of the cost of your request. You can also go to our partner, the International German Genealogy Partnership for lists of Translators and Researchers.
 
 
Before Contacting a Translator
  • In addition to the text to be translated, be prepared to send further samples of the handwriting to be translated. This may include the entire page where the text to be translated appears, or multiple pages. These can assist translators become familiar with the specific author's penmanship. Do not send the original document, copies only.
  • The English word script, or handwriting, is Schrift in German. The deutsche Schrift is found in several variations. Most common at the time of our German ancestors were Kurrent and Sütterlin. Fraktur is not a script, but rather a print or typeface. 
 
Alphabetical Listing  |  Last Updated June 2023
 
Esther Bauer, Ph.D
German Translations
Phoenix, AZ
 
 
Native German speaker, bilingual, German genealogy records both Gothic script and typed. Will also do LDS microfilm searches. 
 
Associated with a research team in Germany with expertise in Thuringia, Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony, Oldenburg and Hanover. (Most of these areas have not been filmed by LDS.) 
 
 
Professionally trained translator specializing in genealogy translation. A native German speaker with years of experience working with the English language, she transcribes documents written in the old German script and translates them into English for genealogy enthusiasts who have trouble reading the old script themselves.
Dr. Elke Hedstrom
Native German speaker from East Prussia and Lower Saxony, residing in Texas. Extensive knowledge of transcription and translation of documents, letters and texts in the old German Script (Kurrent, Suetterlin) and Fraktur. See website.
 
Wilma Hofmann 
Native German speaker born and raised in the German state of Thuringia (Thüringen), bilingual, residing in the USA for 15+ years.
 
Translates 15th to 21st century German handwritten documents and prints German-English and English-German, also offers Latin translations. Extensive knowledge regarding German history, culture, and conventions and can help you understand the meanings of your texts.
Jacobsen after
Uwe Jacobsen
 
Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
 
 
Native German will do research in the archives of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg-Altona, and neighboring regions, and translations of documents in the old German script. For more information please visit the website.
Ivan Klima
612-721-4235
2816 – 35th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55406-1710
 
 
Native Czech willing to translate Czech to English and English to Czech.
Ginny Lewis, Ph.D.
Professor of German
Northern State University
Aberdeen SD 57401
605-626-7696
 
 
Ph.D. in German with many years successful experience translating printed and handwritten documents and letters from German into English.
 
  • Can translate Fraktur type and the scripts: Kurrentschrift, and Sütterlinschrift.
  • Teaches translation skills at a regional university and can also translate from French and Hungarian into English, and from English into German.
  • Modest rates and fast turn-around on genealogical projects important to you.
 
Erika Neidert
German Language Service
German Specialty Imports
19580 Bernard Avenue
Prior Lake, MN 55372
952-226-2563 - Business
952-270-8095 - Cell
 
Native German speaker, bilingual. Will translate into German from English and English to German. Translates German script and Fraktur (old print), Will also do LDS microfilm searches.
Bryna O'Sullivan
Charter Oak Genealogy
860-316-8200
 
French to English genealogical translation, with an emphasis on handwritten documents. Strong background in regions that use both French and German, including Luxembourg.
 
German-English genealogy translator and author specializing in the old German handwriting.
 
Author of “The Magic of German Church Records” and “Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting”, as well as the creator of the online course “Reading the Old German Handwriting,” and "German for Genealogists."