The Genealogy of the Thienemann Family
This genealogical archive is based on the works of Heinrich Gottfried Thienemann (1735-1793) and Otto Wilhelm Thienemann (1859-1941). The records include families that have married into the Thienemann family. This has been a collaborative effort over many years. We welcome you to our shared history.
In the vicinity of the towering Jizera Mountains where a mill was run by the downward rushing waters of the River Queis (now known as the river Kwisa) lay the small, old village Holzkirch (now known as Koscielnik, Poland). Here lived in the first half of the 16th century our family father Nickol Duhnemann as a simple farmer. He had two sons with his wife Magdalene. It is not known exactly whether the elder was the biological son of Nickol Duhnemann; however, from the younger one (the Matz) it is completely certain.
Matz Duhnemann (a.k.a. Matthes Dienemann)
Matz Duhnemann, whose name became Matthes Dienemann, learned the shoemaker's trade and became a Master Shoemaker and Citizen in Lauban (now known as Luban, Poland). In the summer of 1632 the plague raged through Lauban. This epidemic slew Matthes as a seventy-year old. His two sons, son-in-law and two of his grandsons also died in the plague.
Johannes Caspar Dienemann (a.k.a. Johann Thienemann)
Johannes Dienemann was the first member of our family to take on the name Thienemann as "Johann Thienemann." Johann led a long and prosperous life, first as a carpenter and then as a teacher in Röpsen. As the years moved along, his skills in economic matters became apparent and eventually became the Court Actuary at the Court of Brand. His very full life came to an end in Schöngleina in his 80th year.
There are a number of versions of the family crest. The one shown here was used on the title page of Otto Thienemann's 1933 genealogy and has been widely used in Germany. Other variations will be posted.
The family name “Thienemann” originated as the surname “Duhnemann”, which then over time became “Dienemann” and finally “Thienemann”. The family name in German is spelled with two final “n’s” — many in our family in America go by the spelling “Thieneman” with one final “n”, the anglicized form of the name (a change that happened to many European immigrants when they came to America). But we are all of the same family.
There are 1,328 people born Thienemann or Thieneman in the Archive: 1043 born with the spelling "Thienemann" with 289 alive and 285 born with the spelling "Thieneman" with 218 alive. So as of today, the Archive knows of 507 people living worldwide with the name Thienemann/Thieneman.
The oldest known ancestor of all of these family members is a man named Nickol Duhnemann who was born circa 1526 in Holzkirch, District of Upper Lusatia, Bohemia — this is now Koscielnik, near Luban, Poland. And no, the family isn’t Polish — that region swung back and forth in control of different empires, hence the Germanic named city of Nickol’s birth. There are 1,263 descendants of Nickol Duhnemann on file in 14 generations.
In the words of Otto Thienemann from his 1933 genealogical work, “Genealogy is a science that is very close to us, because it contributes to awakening and deepening our love of our homeland and our attachment to our family. Our family tree should therefore not only satisfy our curiosity about the lineage of our ancestors, but also stimulate reflection. It must become clear to everyone who seeks to recognize himself that many of his peculiarities and also essential aspects of his character are 'in his blood' — or are innate. Thus, our self-knowledge includes - in addition to listening into our own souls — researching the way of life and destinies of our ancestors.”
An Archive such as ours is not static — it changes daily as new information is discovered. Your help in this is vital. Any assistance you could provide in documenting our shared genealogy would be appreciated.
A genealogy needs data to prove the events of its history. This genealogy presents documents either donated to the archive or found online — certificates of births, baptisms, marriage and deaths to name a few. Also collected have been wills, obituaries, death notices, newspaper articles — a grand host of family history. Do you have a document you would like to have included in the archive? If so, contact us.
Photographs are treasures — we all have photographs that are special to us - pictures of family members gone too soon. The Thienemann Archive has been collecting images for many decades. An archive is a perfect repository to preserve these precious memories for generations to come. Please send us your images to put faces to the names of our ancestors and relatives.
It is said that cemeteries hold the untold stories of families past. Visiting a grave or tomb, in a cemetery or mausoleum is a solemn act of caring and respect for those who have preceded us in death. Help us keep their memory alive by documenting your family's burials and sharing that information here in the Thienemann Archive.
Every record that comes to the Thienemann Archive is coded with a unique number and date. An offline database is kept and physical copies (or originals) of the records/photos are then filed away. If you wish your own family's documents preserved for time, this archive would welcome their inclusion.
Heinrich Gottfried Thienemann (1735-1793) was the author of the first genealogy published of the Thienemann family. His chronicle, "Das seltne Mütterglück" — "The Rare Joy of Motherhood", was published on 30 Jun 1790 in Gera, Thüringen. His portrait, as the last mayor with "Prussian Braids", hangs in the old town hall of Gera.
Recording the MemoriesThe Ancient Egyptians believed we all die twice. First, when we take our last breath. Second, when our names are spoken for the last time. Remember that every time a person dies, it is as if a library has burned down. This is why recording family history is important. Help us save your family's history so that the future may learn from the past.
Every family has a story . . . welcome to ours.
Uwe Thienemann (1941-2023) and Jutta Stender née Thienemann (1915-2006) examine an original copy of Hugo Thienemann's family tree.
My name is Keith Thienemann, the genealogist of the Thienemann Archive. I was born in New Orleans in 1958, a member of the Louisiana line of the family. I've been working on our Thienemann ancestry since the 1970's. When I was 20 I traveled behind the Iron Curtain to meet our Thienemann relatives in Budapest, Hungary and filmed Otto Thienemann's book, page by page, on a window sill. Over the decades I have travelled and met with scores of our relatives who provided me with records, photographs, stories and hospitality. I was fortunate that I could do my genealogical research during my work as a professional photographer and choral singer. Now retired, I wish to leave behind this record for our future generations to read, learn, and enjoy. The work continues to this very day and hopefully you will join me in recording our shared history.
If you have something you would like to add to or correct or if you would like to submit documents, photographs or stories for inclusion on this website, please let us know. Thank you.
Keith G. Thienemann
Here are the major surnames appearing in the Thienemann Archive
Every effort is made to verify the information in these records but errors and omissions occur. If you have something you would like to add (births, marriages, deaths, etc.), please use the contact form to the left. And if you wish your information to be shown online (if it is now marked "living"), let us know and it can be displayed.
Nickol Duhnemann
The Family Crest
Documents
Photographs
Cemeteries and Headstones
Files
