Early Umberger/Umbarger Families in Europe and America

Compiled by Beverly Repass Hoch


The European origins of the Umberger/Umbarger family are found to be Swiss and German. The earliest form of the name in Europe is Umberg and Umberger. The Umbarger spelling seems to be a later variation of the name which appeared in the United States during the 19th century and afterwards.

Sometime during the years 1650-1670, Swiss Umberg families probably emigrated from the Flums area of Canton St. Gallen to the Kraichgau in what is today western Germany located about 20 miles southeast of Heidelberg where they appear in the church records at Reihen and Kirchardt. This emigration was part of a large Swiss migration to areas of Germany where the population suffered near extinction during the Thirty-Year's War of 1618-1648.

Entries in the Reihen Reformed church book recorded the marriage on November 8, 1669 of Rudolf Umberg, son of Conrad Umberger. Herr Rudolph Umberger, "des Gerichts," died 28 August 1691, age 45 years. Rudolph married Elsbeth Wilhelm, daughter of Conrad Wilhelm from Saffenweil, Canton Bern. Their children were:

1. Maria Jacobina baptized 29 Aug. 1671; married Hans Rudi
2. Hans Conradt baptized 9 September 1673
3. Melchior baptized 12 November 1676
4. Barbara baptized 14 September 1679; married 3 February 1705 Joh. Henrich Hertzel
5. Hans Peter baptized 4 March 1683; died 27 September 1684
6. Anna baptized (?) 20 December 1685 (date faded); married Joh. Gorg Falckh (one Hans Gorg Falck on the Pleasant, 1732 with others from this area)
*7. Hans Henrich baptized 3 October 1688

[SOURCE: Annette Kunselman Burgert, Eighteenth Century Emigrants: The Northern Kraichgau (Breinigsville, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Germany Society, 1983) p. 371, hereafter cited as Eighteenth Century Emigrants].

The Kirchardt Reformed Church book recorded the marriage on 24 January 1713 of Heinrich Umberg, son of the late Rudolph Umberger, former citizen at Re hen, and Juliana, daughter of Hans Steeger, citizen and "des Gerichts." Their children were
[Eighteenth Century Emigrants, p. 371]:


1. Maria Elisabetha born 18 September 1713; died young
2. Hans Leonhart born 2 February 1715
3. Hans Michael baptized 21 March 1717
4. Juliana baptized 8 January 1719
5. Johannes baptized 30 September 1721
6. Anna Elisabetha baptized 16 May 1724
7. Anna Catharina baptized 14 March 1718

Heinrich Umberger, age 45, immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the ship Hope on August 28, 1733 with Hans Lenart, age 18, Micgel age 15, Julian(a) age 47, Julian(a) age 12, Jans age 10, Lisbat age 8. [Eighteenth Century Emigrants, p. 371]

Hill Lutheran Church book for North Annville Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania gives the record of children born to Leonhardt Umberger, and his wife, her second husband [Eighteenth Century Emigrants, p. 371-372]:


1. Joh. Leonhardt born 28 August 1743
2. Joh. Michael born 15 February 1757
3. Johannes born 4 May 1759


Additional Reading

Annette Kunselman Burgert, Eighteenth Century Emigrants: The Northern Kraichgau (Breinigsville, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Germany Society, 1983).

Mary B. Kegley, Glimpses of Wythe County, Virginia: Volume 2 (Pictorial Histories Publishing Co.: Charleston, West Virginia, 1988), pp. 95-105. Available from Mary B. Kegley, P.O. Box 134, Wytheville, VA 24382.

Ralph B. Strassburger and William John Hinke, Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia From 1727 to 1808 (Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.: Baltimore, Maryland, 1980), Volume 1, pp. 116-118, 120-121.

Arthur Umberger, The Umberger (Umbarger) Family Chart (privately published: Aldan, Pennsylvania, 3rd edition 1981).

Edmund H. and Theresa S. Umberger, Preliminary Report on Umberger Family Research (undated typescript, State College, Pennsylvania).