Georgii in German History
Michael A. Messier
3 July 2016
Contents
Christian Eberhard von
Georgii,
Friederich Heinrich August von Georgii
Eberhard Friederich von Georgii
Eberhard Heinrich von Georgii,
Emil Wilhelm von Georgii-Georgenau
Eberhard Emil von Georgii-Georgenau,
Members of the Georgii side of my family might be interested in this information about where the family originates and what they did in German (and Swiss) history. Most of us know that we descend from Georgii families living in the Stuttgart area of the Baden-Württemberg state in Germany. While that has been true for several hundred years, it turns out that the Georgii family emigrated from Switzerland. The original family, who may have gone by the name Georgii or Schorsch, came from the northern Italian region of Lombardy. The names Schorch, Jörg, Georgi and Giorgi all are equivalent to the name George in English. They became the family names Georgii, Schorsch, etc.
The following information is taken from books and articles written in German. In most cases, they are written in the archaic German of the 19th century. This, plus the use of military, royal, and civilian titles, makes the translations difficult. One also has to remember that the map of Europe was quite different at the time of the early Georgii family from what it is today. In order for much of the history to make sense, the reader needs to have knowledge of such things as the Holy Roman Empire and the Thirty Years War. My goal, however, was simply to name a few notable members of the Georgii family throughout German history. Because of this, I was able to snatch a few relevant facts from the books and produce a translation for each person that makes some sense. The reader can “Google” most city and territory names encountered below.
I wish I knew how my branch of the Georgii family fits in with the individuals outlined below. However, I have not been able to extend my family tree back this far. However, we do know that the Württemberg Georgii families all extend from this Italian-Swiss heritage. There is another Georgii family in the north of Germany which extends from Russian-Polish roots. I know very little about them.
All of the books that I referenced can be downloaded from Google Books. If anyone can give me better translations, I would appreciate the help.
I hope my family members will enjoy what little I have accomplished here. Think of it as a few minutes of entertainment and a short journey into the past.
In the year 1298, a family by the name of Georgii, or Giorgi, or, maybe, Schorsch emigrated from Pavia, Italy to Splügen in Grisons, Switzerland. Grisons is the German name for the area; it is called Graubündten in Switzerland. Though now a canton in Switzerland, it was not a member of the Swiss Confederacy at the time. It was still part of the Holy Roman Empire. Graubündten translates to “Grey League”; it was part of a confederacy of three leagues. The name came from the color of the clothes worn by the residents of the area. By 1325, Georg Georgiis had moved his family to Rheinwald in Graubünden.
There were several wars involving religion (Protestant – Catholic) and control of the passes in Graubünden. Georg von Georgii, Governor of Graubünden, was a minister in the signing of the Second Müsso War Peace treaty in 1531. Another of these wars was called the Bündner Wirren (1618 – 1639). In 1622, there was a treaty involving Austria. Ritter (Knight) Georg von Georgii was sent as an envoy to the court of Archduke Ferdinand to sign on behalf of the high court of Rheinwald and Shams, Grisons. A later treaty was signed by Ritter Georg von Georgii and Ritter Jörg von Schorsch.
Descendants of these men were born in Germany and held important posts in the government and military. Some go by the name Schorsch in Switzerland and Germany.
By 1325, moved from Splügen to Rheinwald, Graubünden, Switzerland. He is the origin of Georgii families in Germany and Schorsch families in Switzerland.
In 1531, Governor and Minister of Graubünten, Switzerland, in the signing of the second Müsso war peace treaty with Johann Jacob de Medices. Shortly after, became envoy to Archduke Ferdinand of Austria.
Ritter (Knight) Georg von Georgii signed the January 1622 treaty ending the Bünder Wirren. Representing the districts of Rheinwald and Shams in Graubünten.
Minister of Graubünten for the signing of the Mailänder Kapitulates (Milan Capitulation) of 1639. Governor of Valtellina, Graubünten, Switzerland from 1647.
Born about 1540, Untermaiselstein, Bayern, Germany; died 18 March 1608, Strasberg.
Born 1582, son of Cyriacus; died 1658.
Born 1629, son of Martin; died 1702.
Württemberg
Baliff
In 1703, a Major; high criminal judge of Valtellina, Switzerland in 1713.
Envoy to renewed Mailander Kapitulates 1726; president of syndicators and Baliff of Maiendfeld, Graubünden, Switzerland in 1733.
Born 7 Jul 1658, Straßburg, son of Jacob Simon; died 20 Apr 1738, Urach.
Straßburg was then part of Germany, but is now part of the Alsace region of France and is spelled Strasbourg.
Baliff of Margraviate of Baden until defeat by French in 1689, when the region was taken over by France (including Straßburg). Governor of Urach.
Born 23 December 1692, Urach, son of Johann Martin; died 28 Aug 1755.
Political Consultant.
Born 21 Dec 1694, son of Johann Martin; died 20 Jun 1772, Stüttgart.
Württemberg State Minister; Extraordinary envoy to the Prussian Court of Friederich
the Great.
Born 22 Jul 1700, Urach, son of Johann Martin; died 11 Jul 1742 Tubingen.
General Council of Imperial Free City of Ravensburg.
Born 1702, son of Johann Martin; died 1771.
Württemberg Councilor and Baliff.
Born 1704, son of Johann Martin; died 1749.
Württemberg Governor.
Born 10 May 1722, Tübingen, son of Friedrich Heinrich; died 20 Mar 1794, Bittenfeld.
Born 1724, son of Johann Eberhard, died 1796.
Colonel in Dragoons of Degenfeld; Duchy of Württemberg , General; city commander of Stuttgart.
Born 22 Jul 1732, son of Eberhard August; died 1797.
Württemberg
Special Superintendent.
Born 10 Sep 1752,
Kusterdingen, son of Christian Heinrich; died 20 Feb 1834, Degerloch.
Born 18 Jan 1757, Stuttgart, son of Christian Eberhard; died 13 Apr 1830, Stuttgart.
Lawyer and professor; Royal Württemberg Upper Tribunal President; Württemberg ambassador to Radstadt Peace Conference, Radstadt, Saltzburg, Austria.
Born 2 Sep 1765,
Stuttgart, son of Heinrich August; died 26 May 1841, Stuttgart.
Auditor General Royal Wurttemberg Army; Upper Tribunal Director, Württemberg.
Born 27 July 1768, Montbéliard, France (part of Württemberg, at the time); died from car accident in Mantua and buried there 9 Mar 1826.
Austrian Brigade General in Mantua, Lombardy, Italy; Fortress Commandant of Gaeta, Lazio, Italy.
Born 1771, from Saxon line; captured by Russians 1812, died of effects of hunger and cold.
Captain in
Koseritz Regiment.
Born 9 May 1788, Bergrath, son of Eberhard Heinrich; died 4 Nov 1852, Stuttgart.
Estate owner and head of the “Calwer Haus in Stuttgart”.
Born 31 Mar 1795
Haubersbronn, Schorndorf, son of Friedrich Heinrich August; died 27 Jun 1855,
Esslingen.
Upper justice
attorny in Esslingen.
Born 1 Dec 1848, Calw, son of Eberhard Heinrich; died 23 Dec 1894, Stuttgart.
Raised to hereditary nobility in 1870 by King Karl and given surname change to Georgii-Georgenau; Dutch Consul General in Stuttgart.
Purchased an estate in Möttlingen in 1841. In 1862, received permission from King Karl to rename the estate Hofgut Georgenau. The estate was sold in 1931, but retains the same name.
Born 9 Jan 1826, Esslingen, son of Heinrich August; died 25 Sep 1892, Wilhelmsdorf.
Lawyer in Esslingen, Board of German Federal Gymnastics.
Born 3 Jun 1848, Stuttgart, son of Emil Wilhelm; died 1927.
Royal Greek Consul-General for Württemberg; historian and genealogist;
Author of Biographisch Blätter aus und uber Schwaben (Biographical Genealogical Papers from and about Swabia), 1879, Stuttgart.
Born 2 Aug 1900.
Worked as SS doctor; head of medical department of Reichsfuhrer SS in February 1934.
1. Von Georgii-Georgenau, Emil W., Sammlung von Lebensbeschreibungen, Briefen und Sonstigen Urkunden betreffend die Georgii’sche Familie, Zugleich Beiträge zur Geschichte Württembergs und Deutschlands, 1876, Druck von Emil Müller, Stuttgart. Collection of Biographies, Letters and Documents Relating Specifically to the Georgii family, at the same time Contributions to the History of Württemberg and Germany.
2.
Von Georgii-Georgenau,
Dr. Eberhard E., Biographisch Genealogische Blätter aus und uber Schwaben,
1879, Drük und Verlag von Emil Müller, Stuttgart. Biographical
and Genealogical Papers from and about Swabia.
3. Heyd, Wilhelm, Bibliographie der Württembergischen Geschichte, Im Auftrage der Württembergischen Kommission für Landesgeschichte bearbeitet, 1896, Verlag von W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart. Bibliography of Württembergische History, Edited By order of the Württemberg Commission of History.
4. Eisenring, Gregor, Die “von Schorsch” von Splügen, Bündnerisches Monatsblatt: Zeitschrift für bündnerische Geschichte, Lands- und Volskunde, Heft 9, 1942. The “von Schorsch“ of Splügen, Graubünden Monthly: Journal of Graubünden History, State, and Folklore, Volume 9, 1942.