Individuals

You would like to know more about your ancestors? Maybe a jubilee or a wedding is approaching and you are searching for a unique and outstanding idea? In any case, knowledge about your family history can be a gift for anyone! It enables historical placing of families and individuals in time and space. Die HISTORIKERinnen provide genealogical research: your family history is more to us than a mere accumulation of data, we see to all the details relating to your ancestry. Your family is unique and we professionally support you in learning more about the fascinating history of your forbears.

Genealogical research is highly individual. With our consulting interview we try to meet your wishes and expectations: Would you prefer to exclusively concentrate on the paternal lineage (line of name bearer)? Or are you equally interested in getting to know all of your ancestors? Whether you would like to receive the results as a presentable leather-bound book or only search for expert instructions for the creation of your own family tree, we meet your historical needs! 

A great variety of sources can be used for family research. The most important are church registers, however the search can be extended almost randomly. Our experience in archival research in the Tyrol, South Tyrol and Vorarlberg especially considering thorough genealogical investigations means a major benefit for you. By openly disclosing all available options you may decide how deep the research shall go.    

Have you found sources on your own but cannot decipher German cursive (Kurrent)? We are specialists in the field of palaeography. Feel free to contact us!

The ability to decipher historical sources does not always go along with understanding. Dated expressions and phrases, abbreviations, date specifications or measurement units can impede understanding. The older a text, the more serious the problem is. Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl provide you with both professional and comprehensible explanations on the content of your sources.    

Surnames and family names are not just a fancy invention of our forefathers; they have developed throughout history. As communities advanced it became increasingly difficult to distinguish people only by their Christian name. A second, family name, could help and was often attributed to physical characteristics, professional background or place names, referring to dwellings, farmsteads etc. We gladly accept the task of analysing the meaning of your surname, finding out about its origin and prevalence.    

In order to illustrate the origin of a person we use historical maps and field-name documentations. In this way even dated place names, locations or field names can be identified.    

Besides historical maps, photographies often play an important role in the visual reconstruction of family trees. They do not only depict individuals or groups of people (family portrait), they may also show residential buildings or working places (e.g. farmstead, forge, mill, factory, etc.). We support you in your search for historical photo material. 

It may seem easy to find a coat of arms bearing your family name, on the Internet. However, is the crest really connected to the history of your forebears? Is there a document of bestowal?  Sometimes it remains unclear whether a supposed family arms was indeed bestowed upon one of your ancestors or if it is only a creative fabrication of unknown origin. In order to avoid adorning yourself with borrowed plumes, Die HISTORIKERinnen will help you to reconstruct the history of your coat of arms and will answer all related questions.

We can compile a visually appealing and comprehensible family tree, including all ancestors and clarifying the relationships between the individuals. Your family tree can be compiled in the classical format as tree or pyramid, or in a more creative form if you wish. Your family tree can either be printed or presented to you in a unique and attractive way, e.g. using calligraphic writing.    

We can also set up a database with all relevant information on your forebears, for your further use.

Your family history can be either presented in a small brochure or printed in book style, using high-quality paper, leather bound, gold embossing, delivered in a slipcase. This elegant version is guaranteed to make a special gift for all those, who actually have (almost) everything. 

You live in an old town- or country house or own a farm and are curious about its past? Would you like to dig into the history of your home and its previous inhabitants? Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl conduct research on your behalf or professionally support you in your search. Of course, every building or real estate has a history of its own, be it a medieval castle or a detached house in the countryside. We reconstruct farmstead histories as well as the history of other buildings from their first documentation to the present.

Every farmstead, every house has its own, unique history reflecting the history of its residents. In the course of a consulting interview we explain our approach and discuss further requests. Similar to family research there are several sources that can be relevant for analysis. We can focus on the ownership structure, or provide a comprehensive history of your house or farmstead and its residents. You will receive a non-committal quote on the basis of our consulting interview.

The official register of deeds, historical cadastres, as well as rent-rolls form the basis of every farmstead and property history. As professional economic and social historians we are well acquainted with those sources. However, research can be extended and intensified according to your personal interests and wishes. We will inform you about the possibilities and agree on the depth of our research.

Have you found sources on your own but cannot decipher German cursive (Kurrent)? We are specialists in the field of palaeography. Feel free to contact us!    

The ability to decipher historical sources does not always go along with understanding. Dated expressions and phrases, abbreviations, date specifications or measurement units can impede understanding. The older a text, the more serious the problem is. Heidegger, Hilber und Siegl provide you with both professional and comprehensible explanations on the content of your sources.    

Traditional farmstead and field names often hold valuable information on the history of buildings and localities. It is our duty to make this information easily accessible and understandable for you.

Besides illustrational means, several historical maps and field-name documentations may disclose relevant information on the history of your building or property.  What does it mean, for instance, if a farmstead or locality is portrayed in a military map dating to the year 1808, but does no longer appear in a map created thirty years later? Using such sources we are also able to locate even dated place names, locations or field names.    

There is hardly a spot of land that has not been captured on film by travel photographers. In addition, the enormous wealth of old postcards makes it highly possible that also your house or farmstead was once depicted. The pictorial sources also illustrate how the landscape and environment looked like a hundred or more years ago and how it changed in the course of time.    

According to your personal wishes, the portrayal of your farmstead or property history can be provided in written, pictorial (poster) or even audio-visual (PowerPoint-presentation etc.) form.