The Kistler Family StrongboxWelcome to The Kistler Family Strongbox, a web site dedicated to Kistler family history. In German, a Kistler is someone who makes boxes or chests. Rendered in stained glass in the old Rathaus of Aarberg, Switzerland, our Kistler namesake lovingly cradles a finely crafted box. A different style box is featured in the crest below him. To us the boxes are symbols of strength, beauty, industry, and the preservation of a valued heritage. What family history secrets do the boxes hold?The goals of this site are to advance understanding of the three "original" Kistler families that settled in southeastern Pennsylvania in the early 1700s and to promote an appreciation of Pennsylvania German history and culture. The "original" families are those of:
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| The Kistler
Family DNA Project has proven that the three original settlers
shared a common
ancestor but to date no one has determined exactly how they were
related. Their descendants migrated to central and western
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and other states so that today
many American Kistlers are related to these
original settlers. By insisting on high standards of genealogical evidence, we hope to dispel the myths that have plagued Kistler family history. Many early accounts of the Kistler family, including those published in county histories, historical society journals, family reunion newsletters and individual genealogies, got various individuals mixed up or made unsubstantiated assumptions regarding relationships and European origins. This misinformation has persisted for decades and, sadly, is still being perpetuated by the Internet. We hope that this site will help clear up some of the so-called "Kistler Confusion." |