Ortenburger 1520 - 1775

From von Ortenberg to Orttenburger / Ortenburger

The research shown on this page documents the "direct" Ortenburger family line from Matthaus Ortenberg to the children of Johan David Ortenburger. Some of the direct line birth, baptism, marriage, death, tax or occupation records are shown (scans) on this page. The Ortenburger family line starts in the town of Ortenberg, in the State of Hessen, with people who migrated to Giessen, Germany, also in the State of Hessen.

The family information presented on these web pages is a direct result of the research done by Kurt Ortenburger (1911-1943), Karl August Horst Ortenburger, Christl Ortenburger, Rick Ortenburger, Siegbert Ortenburger, Arnold Ortenburger, Marek Kociszewski, Dolores Semon & others. I have been blessed with relatives that were very generous in providing information for our book & this web site. I wish to thank them all!

In my research, I found families from Ortenberg, Germany in the State of Hessen who had migrated to Giessen, Germany in the early to mid 1500's. They were Hans von Ortenberg (born about 1520) (translated as Hans from Ortenberg), Magnus von Ortenberg (born about 1520), Peter von Ortenberg (born about 1520), Matthaus Ortenberg (born about 1548) & Johan Ortenbergk (born about 1550). Wolfgang Ludwig von Ortenberg (born about 1556) is found at the University of Marburg, near Giessen in the year 1574.

Matthaus Ortenberg (born about 1548) is the earliest ancestor of my direct Ortenburger line that I have documented. One of the following men could be the father of Matthaus Ortenberg (born about 1548); Hans von Ortenberg (born about 1520), Magnus von Ortenberg (born about 1520) or Peter von Ortenberg (born about 1520). Magnus von Ortenberg was a Godparent to the birth of Lugrecia Ortenberg on October 1, 1579 in Giessen, Germany, the daughter of Matthaus Ortenberg & Gertrud. Did Magnus von Ortenberg only come to the town Giessen & know Matthaus Ortenberg from the town of Ortenberg? Or was Matthaus Ortenberg the son of Magnus Ortenberg?

But Matthaus Ortenberg also named one of his sons Peter, who was born & died in 1575. Did Matthaus name this son after his father Peter von Ortenberg (1520)? In a baptism on June 1, 1600 for Susan Ordenburg, daughter of Johann Ortenberg (1550) & Orthi Dorothea, the Godparents were Susann, Peter Ordenburg's "hindelassene" daughter and Jorg, Matthias Ordenburger's "nachgelass" son. This baptism shows that Peter von Ortenberg, Matthias Ortenberg & Jorg (Georg) Orttenburger could possibly be related to each other. Was Johann Ortenberg (1550) a son of Hans von Ortenberg (1520)? Perhaps more research will show who the father of Matthaus Ortenberg is.

Hans von Ortenberg (1520): Hans von Ortenberg was born about 1520 & is shown in the partial document below in the 1543 Giessen, Germany Bede Tax register. (FHL INTL 1195736 Giessen, Germany tax records & Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

Magnus von Ortenberg (1520): Magnus von Ortenberg was born about 1520 in Ortenberg, Germany & migrated to Giessen about 1546. His wife, who was known only as Hausfrau from the Giessen records, died October 23, 1595 in Giessen, Germany. The Giessen records show no children from them while together in Giessen. Magnus is shown below in two partial documents, one from the 1553 Stadt Rechnung tax register (as Magnus von Ortenberg) & the other one as Magnus Ortenburck from the 1585 Buergermeister Register, both from the city of Giessen Germany. Magnus von Ortenberg (Magnus from Ortenberg) later was referred to in the Giessen records as Magnus Ortenberg. (FHL INTL 1195735 & 1195737 Giessen, Germany tax records & Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

Peter von Ortenberg (1520): Peter von Ortenberg was born about 1520 in Ortenberg, Germany (Hessen). Peter is shown below in the 1546 Rechnung tax register (as Peter von Ortenberg) from the city of Giessen Germany. The Peter shown in the second scan may be a son of Peter von Ortenberg (1520) as these tax records shown are 40 years apart. (FHL INTL 1195737 Giessen, Germany tax records & Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

Peter Ortenbergk may have been a son of the Peter von Ortenberg born in 1520. Peter is shown below in the 1583 soldier tax register. Peter von Ortenberg married Barbara (Barb) & they had 5 children together from the years 1581 until 1589. (FHL INTL 1195737 Giessen, Germany tax records & Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

Johan Ortenbergk (1550): Johan Ortenberg married Orthi Dorothea, her surname is unknown, but she died on August 08, 1642 in Giessen, Germany. They had 11 children while living in Giessen, Germany. The documents below are from the year 1610 Buergermeister Rechnung in Giessen, Germany & show the same man as Johanchen Orttenberger & Johann Orttenburgk. (FHL INTL 1195735 Giessen, Germany tax records & Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

Wolfgang Ludwig von Ortenberg (1556): Wolfgang was born about 1556; it appears in Kreuznach, Germany. He registered at the University of Marburg, Germany in the year 1574. (LDS Europe Book 943.41/M2 J2F Person & Name Register for Registration at the University of Marburg 1527-1652)

Direct line of Ortenburger

Matthaus Ortenberg (1548): Matthaus Ortenberg was born about 1548 in either Ortenberg or Giessen, Germany (Hessen) & married Gertrud, surname unknown. We do not yet know who the father of Matthaus was but he could be the son of Peter von Ortenberg, Magnus von Ortenberg or Hans von Ortenberg, all born about 1520 (as explained previously).

Matthaus Ortenberg & Gertrud had 7 children together, 5 of them were born in Giessen, Germany. Matthaus Ortenberg was also found in the Giessen records as Matthaus Ortenberg (Matthias Ordenburger). (Matthaus Ortenberg is the 9th Great Grandfather of Rick Ortenburger)

Matthaus Ortenburger was a Wall guard in the year 1585 in Giessen, shown in the document below. (FHL INTL 1195735 Giessen, Germany tax records & Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

Matthaus Orthenberg is shown in the document below in the year 1573 Bede Register in the Seltersport district of Giessen, Germany. (FHL INTL 1195736 Giessen, Germany tax records & Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

Matthaus Ortenberg & Gertrud had one son named Georg Orttenburger, who was born about 1570 in either Ortenberg or Giessen, Germany in Hessen & is part of the direct line.

Georg Orttenburger (1570): We know that Georg Orttenburger is the son of Matthaus Ortenberg & Gertrud. An entry in the Giessen Evangelical church book states that Georg Orttenburger is the son of Matthaus Ortenburger. Georg Orttenburger married Susanna, surname unknown. Georg Orttenburger & Susanna had 9 children born in Giessen, Germany. (Georg Orttenburger is the 8th Great Grandfather of Rick Ortenburger)

Georg Orttenburger was a Night Watchman in the year 1596 in Giessen, Germany & is paid 8 Kreuzer per year for guard duty in the tower shown in the document below. (FHL INTL film 1195736 Giessen, Germany city & tax records / Mikrofilm aufgenommen vom Manuskripten im Stadtarchiv, Gießen)

This scan below depicts the death of my 8th Great Grandfather Georg (Jorg) Orttenburger, who died in Giessen, Germany in the year 1635 of the “plague”, the entry read "an der Pest gestorben". (FHL INTL film 1193418 Giessen, Germany, Evangelical church book / Mikrofilme aufgenommen von Manuskripten im Zentralarchiv der Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau, Darmstadt)

Georg Orttenburger & Susanna had one son named Just Orttenburger who was baptized Evangelical Lutheran on November 6, 1619 in Giessen, Germany & is part of the direct line.

Just Orttenburger (1619): Just Orttenburger is the son of Georg Orttenburger & Susanna. Just Orttenburger & Anna had 7 children in Niederkleen, Germany. Just Orttenburger was a School Teacher in Niederkleen. (Just Orttenburger is the 7th Great Grandfather of Rick Ortenburger)

The November 6, 1619 baptism of Just Orttenburger in Giessen, Germany to the father Jorg (Georg) Orttenburger & Susanna shown below. (FHL INTL film 1193404 Giessen, Germany, Evangelical church book Stadtkirche Gießen & Mikrofilme aufgenommen von Manuskripten im Zentralarchiv der Evangelischen Kirche in Hessen und Nassau, Darmstadt)

The April 13, 1704 death of Just Orttenburger in Niederkleen, Germany is shown in the scan below. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

Just Orttenburger & Anna had one son named Johannes Orttenburger who was born about 1639 in Niederkleen, Germany & is part of the direct line.

Johannes Orttenburger (1639): Johannes Orttenburger & Anna Maria Althens had 7 children in Niederkleen, Germany. Johannes 1st wife, Anna Maria Dittert was accused of poisoning Johannes Orttenburger in February 1668 shortly after their marriage. Johannes found out she was pregnant by another man. Johannes became very sick from a cookie that Anna Maria Dittert had supposedly laced with poison. She bought the poison in Butzbach, Germany. But Johannes took an antidote to ward off the poison, survived & recovered. Anna Maria Dittert denied trying to poison Johannes & said she threw the poison away. The church granted Johannes Orttenburger a divorce in 1668 & ordered that Anna Maria Dittert marry the other man who made her pregnant. He was an official from a Church in another town. She was lucky she was not tried as a witch. Johannes remarried in Pohlgöns, a few miles away from Niederkleen. (Johannes Orttenburger is the 6th Great Grandfather of Rick Ortenburger)

The 2nd marriage of Johannes Orttenburger August 04, 1668 in Pohlgöns, Germany to Anna Maria Althens is shown below. It was a double wedding for the family with Anna Catharina Orttenburger's marriage to Johann Langdroff. (FHL INTL film 1195311 Pohlgöns Evangelical church & Mikrofilme aufgenommen von Manuskripten im Zentralarchiv der Evangelischen Kirche in Hessen und Nassau Darmstadt)

The March 29, 1710 death of Johannes Orttenburger in Niederkleen, Germany scanned below. He was 71 years old. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

Johannes Orttenburger & Anna Maria Althens had one son named Johann Conrad Orthenburger, who was born in 1671 in Niederkleen, Germany & is part of the direct line.

Johann Conrad Orthenburger (1671): Johann Conrad Ortenburger & Anna Dorothea Messerschmidt had 5 children in Niederkleen, Germany. (Johann Conrad Ortenburger is the 5th Great Grandfather of Rick Ortenburger)

The Confirmation of Johann Conrad Orthenburger is shown below in 1685 in Niederkleen, Germany. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

The marriage of Johann Conrad Orthenburger August 29, 1703 in Niederkleen, Germany to Anna Dorothea Messerschmidt depicted below. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

The death of Johann Conrad Ortenburger September 15, 1754 in Niederkleen, Germany is shown below. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

Johann Conrad Ortenburger & Anna Dorothea Messerschmidt had one son named Johannes Orthenburger who was baptized Evangelical Lutheran on December 16, 1711 & married Anna Margarete Schmitt (1713) on February 09, 1736 in Niederkleen, Germany.

Johannes Orthenburger (1711): Johannes Ortenburger & Anna Margarete Schmitt had 2 children in Niederkleen, Germany. (Johannes Ortenburger is the 4th Great Grandfather of Rick Ortenburger)

The baptism of Johannes Orthenburger December 16, 1711 in Niederkleen, Germany. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

The marriage of Johannes Ottenburger February 09, 1736 in Niederkleen, Germany to Anna Margarete Schmitt depicted below. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

The death of Johannes Ortenburger December 28, 1781 in Niederkleen, Germany. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

Johannes Ortenburger (1711) had one son named Johannes Ottenburger, born on April 15, 1742 in Niederkleen, Germany who married Catharina Johanne Jung in 1766.

Johannes Ottenburger (1742): Johannes Ortenburger & Catharina Johanne Jung had 11 children in Niederkleen, Germany. Johannes Ortenburger is the 3rd Great Grandfather Rick Ortenburger)

Johannes Ottenburger was baptized April 18, 1742. His Godparents were Johann Georg Frey, Johannes Messerschmitt, Anna Elisabetha Ludwig & Catharina Messerschmitt. Catharina Johanne Jung was baptized March 17, 1746 in Kirchgöns, Germany. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

Johannes Ortenburger & Catharina Jung were married June 20, 1766 Niederkleen, Hessen, Germany depicted below. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

The document below shows that Johannes Ortenburger emigrated to Galizien in 1785. (German text reads 1785 nach Galizien ausgewandert) Johannes Ortenburger somehow made his way to Schlesien. (Hessisches Hauptstattsarchiv, Wiesbaden, Germany)

Johannes Ortenburger died on September 25, 1790 in Erdmannshain, Schlesien. Catharina Johanne Jung died on February 03, 1804 in Erdmannshain, Schlesien.

Johannes Ortenburger (1742) had one son named Johann David Ortenburger who married twice in Schlesien, part of the German Empire.

Johann David Ortenburger (1775): Johann David Ortenburger married twice & fathered 13 children with his 2 wives. His occupation was District Mayor in Erdmannshain, Germany. He was also a farmer. (Johann David Ortenburger is the 2nd Great Grandfather of Rick Ortenburger) His birth on May 18, 1775 in Niederkleen, Germany is shown below. (Archiv der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland - Archivstelle St. Martin/Boppard, Germany)

The children from the 1st wife of Johann David Ortenburger, Thekla Myrzik (born September 21, 1774 in Strzebin, Schlesien) were Franziska Ortenburger (1806) & Karl Eduard Ortenburger (1812). According to an official document from the Evangelical archive in Schlesien, David Ortenburger was a widower when he married Johanne Eleonora Nier.

The children from the 2nd wife of Johann David Ortenburger, Johanne Eleonora Nier (born May 11, 1793 in Ludwigsthal, Schlesien) were Sophie Henriette Ortenburger (1816), Johann Josef Balthasar Ortenburger (January 06, 1818), David Johann Ortenburger (1820), Rosina Ortenburger (1822), Julius Ortenburger (March 31, 1824), Pauline Johanne Ortenburger (1826), Antonia Eleonore Ortenburger (1828), Christian Friedrich Ortenburger (1829), Heinrich Anton Ortenburger (October 30, 1831), August Eduard Ortenburger (December 15, 1833) & Auguste Emilie Ortenburger (October 08, 1835).

The links below will take you to the Family Tree (Stammbaum) researched by Kurt Ortenburger (1911-1937) in 1937 & given to Karl August Horst Ortenburger in1937 in Braunschweig, Germany. The tree is scanned into 7 pages so that it can be viewed on this web site.

Kurt Ortenburger family tree page 1. Kurt Ortenburger family tree page 2. Kurt Ortenburger family tree page 3. Kurt Ortenburger family tree page 4.

Kurt Ortenburger family tree page 5. Kurt Ortenburger family tree page 6. Kurt Ortenburger family tree page 7.

Rick Ortenburger

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©Copyright Rick Ortenburger - Site updated by Rick Ortenburger in August 2007