Swedish and Ellis Island? (find, search, free, surname) - Genealogy -Ancestry research, historical records, genetic analysis, sharing data, locating family - City-Data Forum

Thyra · 12-28-2009, 10:43 AM

Does anyone know if the Swedes that came over in the late 1800's usually pass through Ellis Island? I have a "brick-waller" who immigrated in 1880 and I have not been able to find what ship he came on. My Grandson recently toured Ellis Island and found people with the same surname as ours, so maybe it's a start

Does anyone have a link to Ellis Island to research names and dates?
Thanks

TravisW · 12-28-2009, 12:51 PM

If it was prior to 1890, it could have been at any number of points of entry, as immigration wasn't under Federal control until then.

Chava61 · 12-28-2009, 01:41 PM

Ellis Island - FREE Port of New York Passenger Records Search

bjh · 12-28-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisW

If it was prior to 1890, it could have been at any number of points of entry, as immigration wasn't under Federal control until then.

Even after 1890 the port of entry can vary depending on the destination. My grandfather's ship entered Charleston SC when his family was headed to Texas.

BigSwede · 12-29-2009, 05:06 AM

I think the swedes passed through Ellis Island,but I am not entirely sure.

Honeycrisp · 12-29-2009, 05:39 AM

http://www.ellisisland.se/english/

Just google 'swedes and ellis island' or something like that and you should find other links as well.

bjh · 12-29-2009, 04:24 PM

Don't count on every immigrant of a nationality going through just one port. That's a very limiting way of researching.

harald · 12-29-2009, 04:38 PM

i think they do as many of the Norwegian too, and landed in Boston,like my great grand dad did in 1904

Thyra · 12-30-2009, 07:21 AM

I think it would help to know where he left from also. Just because he came from Sweden dosen't mean he left from a port in that country. I have poured over ship passenger lists and have not found him. His wife and child came over about 8 years later and no luck with her and the child either...just have to keep on looking

It is also possible that he first went to Canada and crossed to the US by land.. the only thin I know for sure is that he did not take a plane!!!

Honeycrisp · 12-30-2009, 08:08 AM

Something else to keep in mind is that their last names may have been changed when they entered the US - they c/h/b mispelled or in the case of my great-grandfather, 2 syllables were deleted, shortening it a lot (it's still Swedish but just a lot shorter).