As I was dialing my grandpa, I realized I had no clue about my ancestry line whatsoever. I'm super lucky to be able to grow up with four grandparents alive, and it sounds very self centered, but I never really considered the life that my grandparents lived before me. So, as my grandpa picks up the phone I became a little anxious because I didn't even know where he was born. Luckily, I'm consoled by the fact that when I asked him about his ancestors he couldn't recall where his grandpa was born. He did know it was somewhere in Germany though, and that's also where the name Ackerman comes from as well. He explained to me that our name was originally Akkerman, which, from Dutch, Akker translates to field. Therefore, his best guess is that we were farmers in Germany, and then immigrated to the United States some time around the late 1890s.
I then asked him if being German, or having Ackerman as a last name has effected his life in any particular way. He joked that grandma, his wife, occasionally calls him a "stubborn German" when they get into scuffles. He also said that, as a kid, he distinctly remembers his aunt serving him a German noodle dish called spaetzle. When I pushed him on the question further, to my surprise, he said that he attends an Ackerman reunion every two years where he gets to see many of his cousins, and other distant relatives, even one of his aunts. What shocked me even further was the fact that these reunions have been happening for over fifty years.
I found it amazing how the reunions go way back in time. It was comforting, but also somewhat overwhelming. I don't want that tradition to perish with that generation of my family. I somehow what to keep it alive, yet I really don't know relatives outside of my close family. Another realization for me was just how far my family went back. It's fascinating for me to think about how someone I was related to was alive during the time of the American civil war. The understanding that my five member family is part of a much grander line of people who sacrificed so much in order to get me where I am today is truly remarkable.
When speaking with your family members did you have any realizations as well? Any insights on how the world in general effected your ancestors and visa versa?
I then asked him if being German, or having Ackerman as a last name has effected his life in any particular way. He joked that grandma, his wife, occasionally calls him a "stubborn German" when they get into scuffles. He also said that, as a kid, he distinctly remembers his aunt serving him a German noodle dish called spaetzle. When I pushed him on the question further, to my surprise, he said that he attends an Ackerman reunion every two years where he gets to see many of his cousins, and other distant relatives, even one of his aunts. What shocked me even further was the fact that these reunions have been happening for over fifty years.
I found it amazing how the reunions go way back in time. It was comforting, but also somewhat overwhelming. I don't want that tradition to perish with that generation of my family. I somehow what to keep it alive, yet I really don't know relatives outside of my close family. Another realization for me was just how far my family went back. It's fascinating for me to think about how someone I was related to was alive during the time of the American civil war. The understanding that my five member family is part of a much grander line of people who sacrificed so much in order to get me where I am today is truly remarkable.
When speaking with your family members did you have any realizations as well? Any insights on how the world in general effected your ancestors and visa versa?
Your story is really one that I can relate to. I have family roots in northwestern Europe but I’ve never had any real connection to the culture of where my ancestors are from. It is overwhelming, learning that there is this entire branch of history that you have some personal obligation to recognize but know nothing about. What we also share in common is that our grandparents don’t have much recollection of where their grandparents were born. My family’s knowledge only goes as far back as my great grandparents’ generation but no further. But the simple fact that we all have the opportunity to identify with another group halfway around the world is somewhat humbling for me. It makes the world feel smaller but it makes my life seem fuller and more enriched. In regards to how my family was treated when they moved to the United States, I can't say. Because we have no Scottish or Irish traditions in our family, I can infer that they were successful in their attempt to assimilate to American culture. Whether or not this is a positive thing, I can’t say, but it would be nice to have at least a little hint of what my ancestors were like.
ReplyDeleteI think your point about belonging to a larger family structure is truly awe-inspiring. I believe it is remarkable to think that the fate of each individual family was heavily altered by some individual decision to immigrate here. Nate highlights a stunning observation that family for some can span the globe which can connect us with our heritage and unique traditions. My family’s only tradition is celebrated once a year during St. Patrick’s Day with corn beef and potatoes, but it reminds me of what my ancestors left in Ireland all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteFrom Sara:
ReplyDeleteI think it's so great how much you appreciate your family, but anyways, talking with my family has caused me to appreciate my freedom of choice, not only within the country, but within my family. Most people in my family were apart of arranged marriages, and to me that's such a foreign idea. I can't even fathom not being able to make my own decisions. However, that was a regular thing in Chinese culture. Now in my family, things are very different. I think with my generation as second generation Americans we will lose a lot of our Chinese culture and traditions to American ways. I too find that very sad, and am trying to preserve the nature of my family.
First off, I loved how connected your family stays. Your grandpa seems very knowledgeable about your family history, and it’s really cool that he stays connected with your extended family. When I talked to my grandpa about our lineage, it was eye opening to really hear how far back family histories go. I really related with your line about how you realized how many people made sacrifices to get you where you are, and I felt the same way talking to my relatives too. Responding to your question, I found out that my family originally settled in Pennsylvania, Appalachia, and Kentucky. I could have very well been anywhere else but my great great grandpa was compelled to find work in Chicago, which is why I’m here today. I feel as though we don’t fully appreciate our lineage, and it’s really humbling to see how far each of our families have come to get where we are today.
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