A geneology question.?

Question

My mother always said her dad was of half french and half scotttish ancestry. I have done some geneology research and discovered that the "French" ancestors actually came from Germany or Prussia in the late 1700's to the early 1800's.

One of them was born in Wurttemberg in 1730 and died in Kentucky in 1804. Another was born in Prussia in 1790 and died in Indiana in 1880.

Why would my mom be lead to believe she was 1/4 French if she was really 1/4 German?

Answer 1

Some areas of Germany and France have traded back and forth in each major war between the two. There are people that consider themselves French descendants in Germany and vice versa.

Also, with ww1 & 2 many German-Americans renounced their ties to Germany, even if they were born there.

Also keep in mind, migration of famiies for religious reasons, non-Catholics left France, Catholics left N. German after Luther.

Answer 2

You never know; did you do a DNA test? Strassburg, in eastern France, was, at times, part of France, at other times part of Germany. The border was moved back and forth numerous times as the 2 countries battled. The German influence is strong there, although it is now part of France. One of my ancestors, a German, fled east and died after arriving to a safe location. He was fleeing the invading French army. That was centuries ago. I have ancestors from both France and Germany, as well as all over Europe.
No matter what "proof" you now have, dig farther; Europe was embroiled in wars, non-stop, for centuries; they are all related!
Check again; do a DNA test. You Mom is quite likely correct.
Prussia was one of those "funny" countries; I always thought of it as being "East Germany", until I started doing this genealogy reseach and then I found that, due to wars and alliances (even during wars, royalty of one warring country still maintained relationships with their enemy warring nation!), Prussia was, at times, in the area of Eastern France/Western Germany.
So, that may well be why she believed she was part French; because the borders moved around so much! Also remember that Germany was not a nation of states until the mid-1800s!

Answer 3

Benthebus is correct but sometimes the place of birth does not always reflect a person's background. Also when they immigrated was it during the reign of Napoleon?

Answer 4

Family legends are the curse of the genealogist, some Truth around a lot of myth, your mother told you what she thought was true you have done the work not her.