| Description: | PALATINES TO AMERICA (Pal Am) is a national genealogical society of persons researching German-speaking ancestry, with emphasis on migration from the Germanic regions of Europe to North America (primarily the United States and Canada). Most of these immigrants were from Germany, but there was also a significant number from other areas of Europe including Switzerland, Austria, France, Poland, and other countries. Most came to the Americas directly from their native country, but some spent time (sometimes several generations) in other places in Europe, including Ireland, England, Russia and several other countries. Thirty-five years ago the founders of Palatines to America were all descendants of immigrants from the Palatinate (Pfälz) area in Germany. Because of that, the name Palatines to America was chosen as a distinctive name for the group. Now the membership includes people who have ancestors from all German-speaking areas. |