The bountiful region surrounding the Rhine river is the birthplace of the name Ders. A single name was, at one time, all that people needed. However, an increasing ease of travel and the burgeoning populations forced people to adopt a hereditary surname to set themselves apart from others. A common form of surname found in the Rhineland is the local name. Originally denoting the proprietorship of the village or estate, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Ders was given to someone who lived on or near muddy land. The name Ders is derived from the German word "dehre," which refers to a muddy place. There are also numerous places in Germany named Dehre and Dehrn.
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Early Origins of the Ders family
The surname Ders was first found in the Rhine region, where the name could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an unstable territorial profile.
Early History of the Ders family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ders research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ders History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Ders Spelling Variations
One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Ders include Derr, Dehren, Der, Dair, Daer, Daere, Dehre, Dern and others.
Early Notables of the Ders family
More information is included under the topic Early Ders Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Ders family
Hundreds of thousands of Europeans, including many Rhinelanders, made the voyage to North America between the 17th and 20th centuries. It was an escape from religious persecution and poverty and also an opportunity for people to start over and own their own land. Most landed at Ellis Island, off New York before moving on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and California. Some also landed in Canada and settled in Ontario, while others headed west to the prairie provinces. A study of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of people bearing the name of Ders, or one of its variants, reaching North America shores very early: Julius Dehr came to Philadelphia in 1732; Conrad Derr arrived in Philadelphia in 1750; Jacob Derr settled in Philadelphia in 1879; Michael Derr settled in Pennsylvania in 1773.
