Kristen Stiefel

Ancestors

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Biography

Kristen Stiefel is a Connecticuter.

I was born and raised in Connecticut, United States, and have lived there most of my life. I have also lived in New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio.

My interest in genealogy stems from my fascination with history, especially social history, women's history, and Black history. For many years, I was a history teacher in schools and at a museum. I now work in the history field as an education consultant and editor.

As Pearl Buck is credited with saying: "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.”^[1]

Ancestry

Though my family has been living in the United States for more than a century, our roots go back to Western and Central Europe.

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  Kristen Stiefel has German Roots.
  I have German ancestry through my father's father and my mother's father's mother. Family names include de Bary, Grünewald, Heinye, Kattman, Koch, Kugler, Rudorf, Stiefel, Walther, and Wolters.
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  Kristen Stiefel has Swedish ancestors
  My father's mother's father was of Swedish ancestry. Parishes of origin include Kumla, Örebro (Johnson [Jansdotter], Larsson, Gustafsdotter) and Önnestad, Skåne (Pierson [Pehrsson], Nilsdotter).
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  Kristen Stiefel has Irish ancestors.
  My father's mother's mother was of Irish descent. Family names include Calcutt, Fahey, Martyn, and McCormick.
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  Kristen Stiefel has English ancestors.
  My mother's father's father had English ancestry. Family names include Moore and Morrison.
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  Kristen Stiefel has Czech Roots.
  My mother's mother was of Czech descent. Family names include Holkup, Kokta, Zak, and Zunt.

Research Interests

Kristen Stiefel is a graduate of the USBH Heritage Exchange Track on the PATH.

Kristen Stiefel created 100 new profiles during the January 2024 US Black Heritage Project Connecting Challenge.

My current research goal is to build out a well-sourced family tree of my direct-line ancestors. I also dedicate significant research time to the U.S. Black Heritage Project, which seeks to create the largest online, freely available public database of connected Black American families. I have a particular interest in creating and sourcing profiles for families with ties to Connecticut.

Sources

1. ↑ Donald H. Sanborn III, “The Good Earth: How Living in China Inspired Pearl S. Buck,” Princeton Magazine; e-journal (https://www.princetonmagazine.com/the-good-earth/ : accessed 14 January 2024).