Voyage of Hope: The Steerage Journey of the SS Hohenzollern – 20 April 1881

📌 Explore the 1881 steerage passenger list of the SS Hohenzollern from Bremen to Baltimore—featuring over 500 immigrants. A vital resource for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians.

Front Cover of a Very Rare Steerage Passenger List from the SS Hohenzollern of the North German Lloyd, Departing 20 April 1881 from Bremen to Baltimore, Commanded by Captain R. Sander. GGA Image ID # 1ff74e2096

🌍 Review and Summary of the SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List – 20 April 1881 🌍

🚢 Route: Bremen, Germany to Baltimore, Maryland
📅 Departure Date: 20 April 1881
🧭 Operated by: Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)

The SS Hohenzollem, 3,092 GRT was built in 1873 and was in service for the Norddeutscher Lloyd until 1899, when she was sold.

The SS Hohenzollem's capacity was Crew 107 people. Passengers: First Class 44, Second Class 18, Third Class/Steerage: 540 people. In this voyage, they carried more steerage passengers than their stated capacity.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain R. Sander
2. First Officer: W. Schmölder
3. Second Officer: A. Petermann
4. Third Officer: W. Bodenstedt
5. Fourth Officer: K. Wernsing
6. First Engineer: F. Spormann
7. Second Engineer: D. Rohe
8. Third Engineer: G. Kaulitz
9. Fourth Engineer: A. Roth
10. Physician: Dr. G. Emont
11. Purser: J. Fastenau
12. Steward: C. Lückermann
13. Cook: O. Schoppe

Steerage Passengers

1. Martin Goe with Family
2. Mariane Barnika
3. Wojceh. Barnika and Wife
4. Fritz Voss with Children
5. Marie Jasker and Kind
6. Carl Klaushermeier
7. Herrn. Fitgemeyer
8. Martin Nickel
9. E. A. Knorr
10. August Hebel
11. Johann Rietz
12. N. Rodruba
13. Bogenkagen with Family
14. Fritz Bringe with Family
15. Franz Zymrok with Family
16. Anna Flenker
17. Vincenty Hillebrandt with Family
18. Thomas Gollowitz with Wife
19. Agniszka Barczak and Children
20. Carl Wentzel mit Famille
21. Jacob Mange with Family
22. Florentine Röske
23. Johanna March
24. Ernst J. Nobis
25. August Scheller with Family
26. Franz H. Jantner
27. Ernst A. Löscher with Family
28. Franz R. Hänsler
29. Andreas Tauer with Wife
30. Joh. Engel
31. Minna Halg
32. Wilh. Zimmermann
33. Wilh. Wegner and Wife
34. Wilh. Nähr with Family
35. Alb. Wegener with Family
36. Carl Gahnz and Wife
37. Louise Rühmer
38. Louise Gottmann
39. Marie Skolnik and Child
40. Joh. Bialke
41. Herrn. Friedrich
42. Albert Pietsch
43. Peter Masur with Children
44. Fr. Huskeraeyer with Family
45. Fr. Stühmeyer with Children
46. Carl Unverfert
47. Rieke Unverfert
48. Harry Heuer
49. Elise Bannenberg
50. Carl Thiele

51. August Henne
52. Johann Berndt
53. Ernst Manthey
54. Sivilla Menge
55. Theresia Boro
56. Herrn. Knoll with Children
57. Alb. Schwantes with Family
58. Carl Dumann
59. Aug. Groth with Family
60. Fr. Fuchtenhagen with Family
61. Fack Placko
62. J. Mach,
63. Jos. Kolb with Family
64. Bertha Otto
65. Carl Otto
66. Heinr. Fehlhaber with Family
67. Carl Ed. Claassen
68. Eilert Mehring and Children
69. Cath. Bickhold
70. Sigmund Pfister
71. Matheus Allgaier
72. Jadwiga Bartozeck
73. Andreas Kaszmarek
74. Minna Engel with Family
75. Albert Franzke
76. Thomas Wrezesinski with Family
77. Albert Maas
78. Joh. H. Wefer
79. Wilh. Schmeckel with Family
80. Alb. Kaap with Children
81. Trientje Grade with Children
82. Eugen Bukies
83. Martha Kolodzick
84. Franz Radmann with Children
85. Wilh. Schmidt with Children
86. Hermann Ebert
87. Franz Eichon with Children
88. Joh. Suchrowsky
89. Wenzel Watzik with Family
90. Josef Charwat with Family
91. Josef Nowak
92. Maria Nowotny
93. Agues Kalbac
94. Cath. Zika
95. Carl Kral
96. Anna Scherbont
97. Josef Hejl
98. Maria Kutina
99. Adalb. Christof
100. Wenzl Hynek

101. Franz Petran and Wife
102. Maria Boukal
103. Philipp Barosch
104. Thomas Spika
105. Josef Zwiek with Family
106. Ignatz Skabrohlid and Wife
107. Wenzel Zitnik with Family
108. Josef Skarbrohlid with Family
109. Philipp Schlechta with Children
110. Anton Chalus
111. Karoline Kazda
112. Maria Zitnik
113. Maria Zitnik (sic)
114. Franz Wopalecky
115. Anna Wopalecky    
116. Maria Wclenowsky
117. Vojtecli Welenowsky with Wife
118. Franziska Hawlas
119. Caroline Hawlas
120. Thomas Hluzek with Family
121. Franz Kriz
122. Johanne Labaschewski and Children
123. Maria Zillmann
124. Herrn. Pirnske with Family
125. Andreas Lisbarski
126. Wilhelmine Lisbarski
127. Louise Paszke
128. August Lisbarski with Children
129. Anton Cieslewicz
130. August Baschkowski with Wife
131. Ignatz Schierl
132. Anna Schierhaut
133. Jens A. Jensen
134. Andreas Andersen
135. Sem Söderström
136. Josefine Tedersen
137. Eduard Tedersen
138. Nills Olsen
139. Ole Kjar
140. Christian Larsen with Children
141. Peter Grau
142. Kunigunde Schmidt
143. Dorothea Schmidt
144. Johann Kuzel with Children
145. Josef Doubek with Children
146. Franz Dolezal and Wife
147. Franz Mulae
148. Josefa Kunz
149. Johann Maxa and Wife
150. Wenzel Burita with Children

151. Barbara Zirak and Child
152. Johann Bejcek with Children
153. Albert Pumper
154. Jacob Leschtina
155. Maria Tucik
156. Carl Bartik
157. Josefa Hadraba
158. Maria Hodidek
159. Mathias Sirnka with Children
160. Carl Bumbicka with Children
161. Barbara Klicka
162. Job. Nemecek
163. Anna Benje
164. Theresia Klumecky and Child
165. Ludmilla Kolacek
166. Franz Koranda
167. Johann Koranda
168. Theresia Preller
169. Wenzel Kolacek with Children
170. Franz Peterzelka
171. Anna Brycha
172. Kath. Blaha
173. Josef Homolka
174. Math. Wochaska
175. Jacob Schefcek with Children
176. Andr. Tafelsky with Children
177. Stanislaus Reholak and Wife
178. Josef Kostecka with Children
179. Aug. Henniges with Children
180. Jacob Chiebwsky
181. Josepha Ulandska
182. Caroline Neuhaus
183. Franziska Schultheiss and Children
184. Johann Persche
185. Johann Muschitsch
186. Schlomar Roska
187. Cacilie Kabes
188. Kasuneritz Zubrowsky with Family
189. Josephina Orlikowska
190. Joseph Skerierawski
191. Stanislaus Reich with Family
192. Mathilde Roraff
193. Johann Burke with Children
194. Franz Runowsky
195. Ludw. Wangrow and Wife
196. Bertha Gutknecht
197. Mathilde Ernest
198. Aug. Schultze and Brother
199. Heinr. Wangerow and Wife
200. Christ Lix

201. Heinr. Bangert
202. Friedr. Herzog and Wife
203. Julianna Müller
204. Andr. Kolinska with Family
205. Appolonia Szweda
206. Auguste Kolodzick
207. Heinr. Stöcker
208. Joh. Bauer
209. Bertha Biastoch
210. Wilh. Plato with Family
211. Carol. Klump and Children
212. Georg H. Strobel
213. Josef Werner and Wife
214. Carl Horn with Family
215. Anton Skelnik
216. Joh. Kszendzinski
217. Malson H. Mortinson
218. Meta Mortinson
219. Carl Bangert
220. Christ. Bangert
221. Albert Winke with Family
222. Marcyana Soniwnka
223. Cath. Szezseny and Children
224. Carl Brehmer with Family
225. Auguste Radtke
226. Heinr. Zahn
227. Josef Hotecki
228. Appolonia Kotocki and Children
229. Johann Dampke with Children
230. Victoria Kaeschna
231. Friedr. Nauert with Family
232. August Schönstedt with Family
233. Chomar Thieme
234. Ed. Kradocha with Family
235. Carl Barau
236. Janos Gorilla with Family
237. Franz Gorilla
238. Ludwig Cirbus
239. Kath. Cirbus
240. Josef Dubisch
241. Anna Kilian
242. Franz Gistinger with Family
243. Johann Schefcik with Family
244. Anton Galistel with Family
245. Genofeva Leimbacher with Family
246. Maria Schimunek and Child
247. Adalb. Jezak with Family
248. Johann Plch with Family
249. Emil Fikar
250. Maria Nemecek

251. Josefinc Lischka
252. Maria Stell
253. Wenzel Broz
254. Johann Dolezal
255. Wenzel Marouschek with Family
256. Maria Hlawac and Children
257. Josef Hadac with Family
258. Franz Hawel with Family
259. Maria Dolezal and Children
260. Michael Bimsa with Family
261. Jos. Jarka with Family
262. Aug. Robrecht
263. Anna Robrecht
264. Heinr. Johanning
265. Wilh. Lippmann
266. Wilh. Köstlin
267. Friedr. Strauss with Family
268. Marie Pippler
269. Theodor Schwocho with Family
270. Joh. Egerer
271. Johann Poteracki,
272. Lizitte Tepe
273. Anna v. Robakowska
274. Carl Plath
275. Hermann Nelson
276. Georg Meier and Wife
277. Auguste Pionke with Family
278. Jacob Salenski
279. Jan Mame with Family
280. Anton Waligorski
281. Jacob Kleine with Family
282. Jacob Klein
283. Heinr. Lewin
284. Marianna Busga
285. Agnes Busga
286. Hermann Brehmer
287. Joseph Stassick
288. Lorenz Haderski with Family
289. August Senske with Children
290. Kranz Zuntkowski with Family
291. Joachim Albers
292. Maria Link and Kinder
293. Anton Schürmann
294. Anton Wenninghoff
295. Wilh. Goepel with Children
296. Anton Hildebrandt with Children  
297. Constantin Cuslewicz with Family
298. Felix Imbowowics
299. Franz Marschall with Children
300. Dorothea Katheder

301. Kunigunde Katheder
302. Felix Spiekermann
303. Joseph Grotemeyer
304. Joh. Aug. Berntssen with Family
305. Carl Peter Johansson
306. Joh. Berent Anderf
307. Anders Carlsson
308. Anders Carlsson [sic]
309. Joh. B. Carlsson
310. Carl M. Jonasson,
311. Julia Tiller and Child
312. S. 0. Verdal
313. Ingeborg Verdal
314. Olaf Halvorsen
315. Martha Andersdotter
316. Nils Kristoffersen
317. Hans Kristoffersen
318. Per Olsen Thyberg
319. Anders Olsen with Children
320. Peder J. Haarsted
321. Joh. Johansen Bak
322. Joh. Johansen Olstad
323. Morthen Gund Holthangen
324. John Hansen Ljner
325. Ole Gullikson Medbön
326. Emanuel Andreason
327. Lovisa K. Hög
328. Lars Joh. Wig with Family
329. Anna Svenson
330. Erik Larson with Family
331. J. Olson
332. Per Joh. Persson
333. Victor F. Zittorin
334. J. F. Ahandberg
335. Sven Larsson
336. Ole Toreson
337. Johanne Olsen Steeusröd
338. Lars H. Nestingen
339. Carl Strandberg
340. G. A. Johansson
341. Frans Alb. Sandahl
342. Hulda Kaminski
343. Minna Kaminski
344. Georg Schwarz
345. Wenzel Portner with Family
346. Anna Dittrich
347. Elisabeth Riess
348. Bernh. Kruzycki
349. Joh. Becker
350. Peter Kessler and Family

351. Johann Smutny
352. Jos. Roschticky
353. Rud. Müller with Family
354. Josef Schotzko
355. Josefa Skulina
356. Josef Karwaschek with Family
357. Franz Ledewsky and Wife
358. Josef Lipa and Wife
359. Josepha Wranezek
360. Carl Cahoun and Wife
361. Johanne Müller
362. Mathias Marroch with Children
363. Albert Behnke with Children
364. Carl Kowalke
365. Aug. Mielke with Children
366. Josef Zubzok
367. Malcher Juwiak
368. Martin Myellollak
369. Josef Nowack and Child
370. Gottlieb Krause with Children
371. Joh. Splitter with Children
372. Friedr. Kaddatz
373. Minne Kaddatz
374. Heinr. Brennecke
375. Wilh. Kootz with Children
376. Jacob Steil with Children
377. Josef Lahmann
378. Carl Allgaier
379. Jacob Honold
380. Albert Schulz with Family
381. Jos. Zimmerwith Family
382. Aug. Schimmelpfennig with Family
383. Bertha Garmotz
384. Therese Wenslaff
385. Adeline Benke
386. Ernst Reichert
387. Hermann Tarasenka
388. Ernst Kraftzick
389. Job. Dembinski with Children
390. Hedwig Kaczinski
391. Emilie Lichtenfeld and Children
392. Albrecht Knoll with Children
393. Carl Saar with Family
394. Ferd. Ratke
395. Johann Klasinski and Wife
396. Franz Koptanie
397. Peter Schibisch
398. Thomas Scheschnatt
399. Wapsf Salewski
400. J. Müller

401. Johann Czerniak
402. Johann Imilinski
403. Victoria Klasinske and Children
404. Franz J. Hagemann and Wife
405. Andreas Zehe
406. Barbara Schultheis
407. Josef Walcek with Children
408. Wilhelm Scheffler with Children
409. Franz Kybinski with Family
410. Adalbert Boschack
411. M. Skecharzek
412. Valent. Zegelki
413. Thomas Sawadin
414. Andr. Andrzczak with Children
415. Josef Straczcuski
416. Josef Zeslewitz
417. Martin Rabiuek with Family
418. Peter Waligarski with Family
419. Ignatz Mrutrzynski and Wife
420. Michael Warzarowski with Wife
421. Wocjcech Waligorski with Wife
422. Wilh. Gorkow and Wife
423. Friederike Tillmann
424. Marie Tillmann
425. Josefa Velenowsky
426. Wilhelmine Weber
427. H. Gressendorl with Children
428. Hch. Moritz Zetzsehke
429. Paul Jonass with Children
430. Wilh. Bengsch with Family
431. Jos. Pollasch with Family
432. Joh. Ennebrock
433. Fr. Ennebrock
434. Lisette Holtmann
435. Anton Kemper
436. Peter Böse with Family
437. Magdalene Hellbich
438. Albert Kuttlich with Family
439. Fr. Wilhelm,       Olde
440. Dina Wilhelm
441. Heinr. Becker with Family
442. Franz Fullenkamp
443. Joh. Piell
444. Joh. Harpst with Family
445. Silvester Ross
446. Heinr. Könker with Family
447. Gust. Heldmann with Family
448. Wilh. Köter
449. Franz Krimine
450. Fritz Bitter with Family

451. Aug. Helmig
452. Heinr. Hoppe
453. Franz Meyer with Family
454. Aug. Dahn with Family
455. Jacob Ronter
456. Carl Sachweh
457. Wilh. Hagen with Family
458. Friedr. Berndt with Family
459. Barbara Kuhulein
460. Aug. Leisemann
461. Jos. Depczyk with Family
462. Friedr. Wurm
463. Louis Wurm
464. Curl Kolodzick with Family
465. August Ketelhut with Family
466. Ford. Papenfuss and Wife
467. Fr. Hardtke
468. Klaas Lay with Children
469. Hinderk Smit
470. Frerk Smit
471. Minna Foelrichs with Children
472. Heinr. Wiedemann
473. Maria Stoffer
474. Franz Schmidt
475. Franz Wenisch
476. Dorothea Weingarten
477. Carl Deimel
478. Menno Foelrichs
479. Johann Dombrowski with Family
480. Johann Grabowski
481. Wilh. Widletzki with Children
482. Anna Knoop
483. Andreas Racunba
484. Jacob Kaczmarak
485. Martin Skukaskowitz
486. Aut. Bokowsky
487. Barthol. Buskowitz
488. Michael Kaminski
489. Carl Niekisch with Children
490. Gottlieb Bösel with Children
491. Carl Westphal with Children
492. Wilhelmine Nikisch
493. Jan Methelski with Children
494. Josef Wisnewsky
495. Joh. Niapodriwicz with Children
496. Franz Doewietzky with Children
497. Johanne Jankowiak with Children
498. Wilhe. Krüger with Children
499. Mathias Idunak
500. Waroczin Goralslny

501. Wilh. Reckling with Family
502. Joh. Schroeder
503. Herm. Dieterichs
504. Rob. Reichert
505. Adege v. Gemmern,
506. Heinrich Vollmer
507. Anton Vollmer
508. Elisabeth Vollmer
509. Gertrud Froning
510. Eduard Koepp
511. Carl Herzog
512. Anna Herzog
513. Gottlieb Obermüller
514. Herm. Pillusch
515. Ida Pillusch
516. Daniel Linkner with Family
517. Gust. Albrecht
518. Herrn. Diettrich
519. Thomas Kaminski
520. Ferdinand Pioch
521. Aug. Timmreck with Family
522. Rudolph Morrenzyn
523. Johanne Hackparth
524. Joh. Brunke with Family
525. Wilh. Thrun
526. Emilie Thrun
527. Pauline Sitterlee
528. Joh. Rennewanz
529. Eduard Wiedenhoft
530. Aug. Mielke with Family
531. Eduard Remus
532. Bertha Remus
533. Minna Schulz
534. Johann Stock
535. Aug. Stock
536. Elisabeth Stock
537. Jacob Frisch
538. Johann Frisch
539. Anna Keil
540. Johann Jano
541. Josef März
542. Herrn. Wagner
543. Fanny Wagner
544. Louis Schreiber
545. Franz Rucizka
546. Theresia Krehlik
547. Wolborg Gülbrandsen
548. Bernard Grundmann
549. Eugen Wahl with Children
550. Bruno Hauseler

551. Ambros Kirchner
552. Martin Sass
553. August Lemke
554. Andrew Mitlos
555. Friedrich Mahnke
556. Anton Glaser
557. Franz Fauslich
558. G. Svensen
559. Anne Helene Jensen
560. Niels Nilsen Nyjordet
561. Ole Erichsen Torhangdalen
562. Mathea Jacobsdotter
563. Peter N. Nyzordet
564. Jeus Haug
565. Karen Tolzin and Children
566. Johs. Blomquiste with Family
567. Ant. Reinhardt with Family

List of Passengers, Page 2, SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List, 20 April 1881. GGA Image ID # 1ff771c95d

List of Passengers, Page 3, SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List, 20 April 1881. GGA Image ID # 1ff7f33501

List of Passengers, Page 4, SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List, 20 April 1881. GGA Image ID # 1ff80b35ab

List of Passengers, Page 5, SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List, 20 April 1881. GGA Image ID # 1ff8a47663

List of Passengers, Page 6, SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List, 20 April 1881. GGA Image ID # 1ff8cc3073

List of Passengers, Page 7, SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List, 20 April 1881. GGA Image ID # 1ff8f14e46

List of Passengers, Senior Officers, and Agents, Page 8, SS Hohenzollern Steerage Passenger List, 20 April 1881. GGA Image ID # 1ff93b023d

🚢 Ship Overview: The SS Hohenzollern

Launched in 1873, the SS Hohenzollern was a 3,092 GRT steamship operated by Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL). With a service career spanning over two decades until 1899, this vessel served an important role in transporting European emigrants—especially those from Germany, Austria-Hungary, Poland, and Scandinavia—to the United States. On this 1881 voyage from Bremen to Baltimore, the ship carried well over her listed steerage capacity (540), reflecting the immense emigration demand of the era.

Passenger Capacity:

• 44 First Class
• 18 Second Class
• 540 Steerage
• Crew Complement: 107
• Commander: Captain R. Sander

🛳 The Hohenzollern was built during a period when steamships began to dominate transatlantic crossings. She exemplified the sturdy yet modest vessels that carried working-class families in steerage to new lives in America.

Voyage Notes: Steerage capacity was exceeded on this voyage—an early reflection of the mass emigration period.

👥 Engaging Highlights From the Passenger List

While the manifest primarily documents steerage passengers, it paints a rich, complex portrait of 19th-century migration, family structure, and socioeconomic movement.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Large Families & Chain Migration

Dozens of entries list entire families or multiple relatives traveling together—reflective of chain migration. Names like:

Thomas Gollowitz and Wife, likely of Polish or Prussian origin, show the outflow of Eastern Europeans.

Josef Nowak and Maria Nowotny—names with Czech or Polish roots—mirror the rising number of Austro-Hungarian migrants post-1867 Compromise.

🛠️ Skilled Laborers and Farmers

Passengers such as Carl Klaushermeier, Martin Nickel, and Ernst A. Löscher likely belonged to a cohort of skilled tradesmen or farmers uprooting due to industrialization or land shortages.

🌍 Multi-National Migration

The manifest is striking for its ethnic diversity:

Germans, Czechs, Poles, Hungarians, Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes are heavily represented.

Josefa Kunz, Wenzel Zitnik, and Anton Skelnik suggest Bohemian (Czech) or Moravian roots.

Per Olsen Thyberg and Joh. Johansen Olstad are clearly Scandinavian, part of the northward rural exodus driven by population pressure and crop failures.

⛪ Religious Context

Though the manifest doesn’t name clergy, names like Johann Burke, Josepha Orlikowska, and Stanislaw Reich align with common Catholic or Lutheran immigrant profiles, vital for religious historians tracking denominational diaspora in America.

🎞️ Noteworthy Images

🖼️ Visual Highlights from the Document Set

📌 Front Cover of the Passenger List – A rare surviving example of steerage documentation from a non-elite class, giving genealogists and historians a vital primary source.

📌 List of Officers & Agents (Page 8) – Offers rare documentation of German merchant marine hierarchy, with roles like Purser, Cook, Physician, and First Officer showing the complexity of onboard life.

📌 Multi-page Interior Lists (Pages 2–7) – Immersive scans revealing passenger data, spelling variants, and ink-stamped layouts from 19th-century port agents.

🧾 Brief Dictionary of Terms

Steerage: The lowest deck of the ship, where most immigrants traveled—typically cramped and with minimal privacy.

GRT (Gross Register Tonnage): A measurement of a ship’s total internal volume.

📚 Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians, and Genealogists

This passenger list serves as a remarkable educational and genealogical artifact:

🔹 Teachers & Professors can use this for lessons on 19th-century migration, European politics, and industrial transformation.

🔹 Students can practice tracing ancestry, migration trends, or studying the socioeconomics of immigration.

🔹 Genealogists will treasure this rare steerage documentation, especially for tracing elusive Eastern European and Scandinavian roots.

🔹 Historians gain insights into how North German Lloyd contributed to American port development and ethnic community formation in Baltimore and beyond.

🧠 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The 1881 voyage of the SS Hohenzollern captures the human side of transatlantic migration during a time of immense social, political, and economic upheaval. While lacking celebrity passengers or aristocracy, this list is rich in the everyday lives of immigrants—those who would form the backbone of American cities and rural communities.

The Hohenzollern’s journey from Bremen to Baltimore represents not just a physical crossing, but a psychological leap into hope, hardship, and reinvention. It’s a goldmine of personal and collective stories—valuable for every classroom, archive, and heritage researcher.

✍️ Encourage students to explore GG Archives materials for their essays, classroom research, or family heritage projects!

📂 GG Archives: Where Migration History Comes Alive! 🕊️