I am a professional historian with an academic background. I have many years of experience in Public Record Offices, local, private, and church archives in Germany and Austria. For years I have been working in the field of family history. The published literature shows that I am not only familiar with genealogical research but as well with other subjects during Early Modern German History (16th to 19th century).

Volker Jarren, born 1957, Studies in German History, Political Science and Sociology in Münster; student and scientific assistant at the "Historisches Seminar der Universität Münster" (1984-1991); PhD in Münster (1991); freelance collaborator at the "Freilichtmuseum Detmold (1991/92); scientific collaborator at the "Zentrum für Niederlande-Studien der Universität Münster" (1993-1996); since then working as freelance historian and publicist.

Comments of my clients:

If I were rating Dr. Volker Jarren, he would get an 11 out of 10 stars. I found his advertisement in a magazine.  I sent him an email and received a reply quickly. Although he was already booked for the next month or so, we communicated, and he directed me to collect what he needed to start the research. Not only did he add four older generations to my family tree, but he provided copies of the original records and an explanation about naming and marriage practices in Germany for the period involved. His reporting, correspondence, and documentation are clear.  I would recommend him for German research to anyone needing help in that country.
George M Keen, USA, July 6, 2022

Once again, Dr. Volker Jarren has given us a detailed report on a research question going back to the 1700’s.  I am impressed at his abilities, his communications and quality of work.  He also summarized and translated several emigration documents for us. I will continue to use his services as needed.
Monica Wenthold, USA, March 24, 2022

After years of staring at the “brick wall” of my Great-Grandfather’s past, I found Dr. Volker Jarren on the internet. I knew that even if I tried to do the research myself in Germany, I would have trouble with the language. So I contacted Dr. Volker and I could not have been more pleased. He communicates promptly, follows up and delivers results. He provides a chart, report and copies of the records and even a little historical background. I now have extended my Great-Grandfather’s family into the 1700’s! I highly recommend Dr. Jarren and hope to continue working with him.
Monica Wenthold, Texas, USA October 28, 2021

I would highly recommend Dr. Jarren. He has performed two separate research investigations on my behalf and I have been pleased on each occasion. He is a highly skilled and extremely thorough and diligent researcher and his research has contributed greatly to my understanding of my German heritage on my Dad's side. Without hesitation I highly endorse Dr. Jarren to anyone delving into their German Genealogy!
Sincerely, Rod Stearns, USA, August 25, 2021

I have had the opportunity to use Dr. Volker Jarren twice and have been extremely pleased with his work.  He is timely and keeps his client informed as to his progress.  Dr. Jarren does an excellent job of translating what he finds along with copies of the original record. His billing is fair and his backlog reasonable. You do not have to wait months for him to do your project. I would use him again when the need arises and recommend him to anyone who needs German genealogy work done.
Mark Kneib, USA, July 27, 2021

I asked Dr. Jarren to do research regarding my great grandfather, and he did an excellent job. He found the German records and then translated them to English. He uploaded scans to the cloud and I downloaded them. When I had questions about some of the details, he answered them in a timely manner. I found Dr. Jarren to be honest and responsive, and I don't hesitate to recommend him.
James Becker, USA, July 21, 2021

Hi Volker, I would like to add my name to your list of high recommendations. During the last 6 months I have used your Genealogy expertise to clear up several mysteries in my Family Tree. You have been very professional and responsive in the entire process, while also providing great results. At the same time, all this was done at reasonable rates within the cost you estimated. Thanks for your great service.
Otto Lohse, USA, April 6, 2021

Perhaps you, like I, have German ancestors. Perhaps you, like I, have been frustrated by the records of your hometown in Germany being available on Family Search, but only to LDS Church members. Perhaps, you, like I have tried archion and, due to your lack of fluency in German and your limited ability to read the Fracture script, have thrown up your hands in frustration. Been there done that myself. Perhaps you look forward to a trip to Germany to dig through the church books to search for your ancestors, possibly encountering the same language difficulties mention above. For some of us the thrill is really in the hunt. However, for me the thrill is in knowing where my ancestors came from and maybe the names of some living relatives and walking the streets they walked. Maybe learning about the local history and knowing what made them emigrate. If you are one of those who delight in scouring books yourself, keep at it. It is the others I am speaking to. I walked the streets of two home villages a few years back. I had been able to find very complete and documented trees online for those ancestors. I even met a distant cousin in one of these towns, purely by chance. I just ran into the town mayor, and it turned out that his neighbor was my cousin. For me, since my spouse is not of German heritage, a trip to the German archives would not be nearly as entertaining for her and, frankly, for myself, as walking those streets and meeting real people. But what to do if documented trees don’t land in one’s lap? After several years of the frustrations above, I spotted the ad of a Dr. Volker Jarren (mail@volkerjarren) in Family Tree magazine. For approximately the price of three nights in a hotel and meals I received the birth records of my immigrant ancestors and their forebears back four more generations. He was prompt in his correspondence, he gave me copies of all the records he found along with source citings. And I don’t have to spend my time on my next trip to Germany combing through those tedious, intimidating church records. Dr. Jarren was able to get the information I needed from archion for this first project. Some research, including a future project of mine, will require him to travel to the village of interest, because the church records are not available online. Of course, this will be more expensive. But Dr. Jarren gives a firm cost estimate up front so that you know what the cost will be. I found him very honest and feel that he saved me so much time and frustration that the expense was very worthwhile for me. I look forward to my trips to Germany where I expect to spend my time soaking up the environment and sharing the experience with my wife and brother and his wife without splitting up for the day and later hearing about all of their exciting adventure in the streets of Alsfeld or Hellendorf or wherever while I spend the day hunched over musty old books. I am happy to discuss this with anyone by phone, but I don’t answer calls from unknown numbers; so, it would probably be best if you contacted me first at rhemme@aol.com
Rex Hemme, USA, January 15, 2021

I highly recommend Dr Jarren. From the little evidence which we were able to give him, he has expertly mapped out details of my German family. It is fascinating to have this information. Dr Jarren has been very thorough, he is a pleasure to deal with, prompt in replying to emails and clear in the questions he asks and in the information he gives. His expertise allowed him to extract more data from the records than we had expected. He is very professional and, in the final report, concise but supplied all the information in a clear format with all the details which we would be useful in any further research. Our grateful thanks!
Joan Grant, England, December 8, 2020

We found Dr. Jarren through his ad in Family Tree magazine. I live in the United States, and after many years have gone by, there was no one left to ask about my heritage. Dr. Jarren found the most important things I was curious about, and so much more. He is easy to work with, travels extensively on your behalf, and replies to all your questions, even if they may seem unimportant to the research he does. I strongly recommend Dr. Jarren to anyone in the US, who needs to discover his German heritage. That information cannot be found here, and even in Germany, government laws going back into time restrict genealogists. But, Dr. Jarren will uncover as much as he is able, and so much more, that brings to light your heritage. Thank you, Dr. Jarren.
F. Meyer, Nevada USA, October 29, 2020

I have fairly recently developed an interest in family genealogy. My paternal grandparents came to the USA from Germany as children. Using Ancestry.com, I was able to trace them to some extent. However, since I do not read German, I was getting rather frustrated in my quest. Dr. Volker Jarren has been a lifesaver for my work. His skills have provided access to a great deal of information and at a price that I found to be reasonable. I highly recommend his services.
Peter C. Young, USA, August 13, 2020

Dr. Jarren is a great genealogist. His presentation was on target and gave me lots of good information about my ancestors. He also put it together in a timely manner and I will use him again for other German ancestors.
Judy Flood, USA, April 30, 2020

I cannot recommend Volker too highly. Some of my son-in-law's ancestors migrated to England in the late nineteenth century and we started with almost no knowledge of their origins. Volker was able to trace lines dating back as far as the mid seventeenth century. His work is of the highest standard, thorough, clear, and diligent. Anyone who needs German genealogical research should use him.
Rory Cunningham, London, February 27, 2020.

I contacted Dr Volker Jarren to help with my family history research in Germany. I had very few details and no knowledge of the area, or language. Dr Volker located a wealth of information, always communicated promptly and offered excellent advice regarding where we should be looking and what we may or may not expect to find. He even took the time to promptly answer my many questions along the way. His final report provided a comprehensive snapshot of my family history going back over 2 centuries. I thoroughly recommend his services to anyone needing an expert on German ancestry.
T. Miller, Australia, November 5, 2019

I have retained many professional genealogists around the world for various projects to help research my family history. Quite simply, Dr. Volker Jarren is the best genealogist I’ve ever encountered. He is responsive, clear and concise in identifying the research objectives, focused in his research strategy, and comprehensive in summarizing the findings. More important, he puts family milestones into historic context. That way, we understand so much more about the ancestors and the times in which they lived. He is not just a dedicated genealogist but he is truly a family historian. That is a unique (and most welcome!) attribute! When I contacted Dr. Jarren, I knew very little of my German relatives in the US and nothing of them in Germany. He successfully navigated various archives to assemble almost 400 years of family history (heretofore completely unknown to us!). We are delighted by his findings. From start to finish, it was a successful, interesting, and enjoyable experience! I’m now looking forward to coming to Germany to have Dr. Jarren take us to the actual sites where my ancestors lived.
David Trebing, Washington D.C., USA, August 19, 2019

Dr Volker Jarren has uncovered my remarkable family past in Germany, going back to around 1760 and revealed a past I had absolutely to idea about. He has been incredibly diligent and worked to a timescale that was set out at the very beginning, sending me regular detailed reports in English and adding birth, marriage and death certificates as they came to light. I have absolutely no hesitation on recommending Dr Jarren, he has been remarkable in his hard work, ideas on the best way forward and his interpretation of the facts as they were revealed. First class.
B. Middleton, Hampshire, England, UK, August 5, 2019

Dr. Volker Jarren was so easy to work with on researching my Husband's German ancestry. He replied promptly to every email and was very thorough and gave us a detailed easy to read report on his findings. I would definitely recommend him to anyone desiring research in Germany and would most assuredly hire him again.
Sharon Wolff, Boerne, Texas, May 2019

I highly recommend Dr Jarren whom we engaged to trace our German ancestors. He has excellent local knowledge and was thoroughly professional, communicating well with us throughout the process and providing an excellent, detailed report of the findings. If you need a German researcher, I doubt you will find better.
A Latham, Hertfordshire, England, March 2019

In working on my family’s ancestry, I had reached a point in tracing my grandfather’s family that I could no longer pursue myself. He had come to the United States from Bremerhaven in 1897. Dr. Jarren and I discussed what might be possible to discover and how much expense and effort would be likely to be needed. Dr. Jarren proposed proceeding in several stages, so that the cost and outcomes could be evaluated before proceeding. His work was quite successful and productive, and he sent me a report on its results in good time. In fact, he also discovered that other lines could be pursued further if I chose. So, I engaged him for a second time, and I was very happy that I did so. He was able to push the boundaries of our knowledge back several more generations, and sent me a second report of results. As I reviewed the reports, I had a number of questions about the context of life at the times, and his answers were helpful and informative. All in all, I am very happy to have had Dr. Jarren do this research for me, and I heartily recommend him to anyone needing family research in this area.
Bill Harrison, USA/Ireland, January 2019

I was very pleased with the work Dr. Jarren did for me on my Siebenand/Grewe families. He is a great researcher, even when there wasn't much to go on. Customer service was superior – he patiently and promptly answered my numerous questions, explained how German privacy laws effected his research and identified some odd naming practices back in the 1800s. Dr. Jarren has a good command of English and I was impressed by how thorough and detailed his reports were. After the first report, I hired him a second time to continue the research and I would certainly hire him again.
Carol Hancock, Davenport, IA, January 18, 2019

Wow, it has been very exciting to finally have answers to my Grandfathers ancestors in Germany. I have enjoyed our experience. Any concerns I had were quickly dismissed with our series of emails. Thank you for your excellent communication, every email was considered and then a plan agreed to. I planned to visit Germany at Christmas, and asked was there any chance of researching before that time. Dr Jarren made a concerted effort and achieved more than I hoped for. We had only a few Documents, some hand written, in Old Thuringian terminology. No birth Certificate! After having them translated by a German/Australian, in Australia, we still had a lot of questions. Dr Jarren spent 2 days (as our agreement) in a 'Jena' Church Archive, he managed to find a record of his birth, even though our grandfather was born illegitimate, answering our main questions. Every cost was reasonable and invoiced. Living in Australia, there would be no way for me to organise to Travel, Research and to document (in 2 days) the amount of history Dr Jarren achieved. It was more than I hoped for, direct line records, back 4 generations, as far as 1784. Everything copied to a CD-R and with a Report.
Robyn Shooter, Australia, November 2018

I contacted Dr. Jarren after an internet search for a German genealogist to aid in my research into my Bohemian ancestry. He was instrumental in finding and translating Westphalia, Germany records for my ancestors that lived there as miners in the 1870-1880’s. I was at a standstill as all family, obituary, and death certificate records said that these Bohemian family were born, lived, married in Prague. I hired a Czech genealogist who researched Prague and found nothing but suggested, since a naturalization record for a great uncle, indicated that he was born in Wattenscheid, Westphalia that I hire a German genealogist. Dr. Jarren was amazing. He found multiple records for this family, which then led in detective fashion back to Bohemia with towns of birth. His research has opened to door for the Czech genealogist research in Bohemia back to the late 1700’s. Couldn’t have done it without him. Great thanks for the good work. I highly recommend Dr. Jarren as his research was impeccable. Rosemary Barnes Deerbrook, WI USA, November 10, 2018

I have been doing genealogical research for about 20 years researching online and using LDS film through the FamilySearch site. Since LDS does not have the 1685 and 1717 tax registers on film or any film for Bavaria, I decided to hire someone in Germany to do the research. I found Dr. Jarren online and hired him. He has done a great job and I highly recommend him. He is reasonably priced and does a very detailed job. Thank you, Dr. Jarren!
Peggy Ziroff, North Canton Ohio, June 20, 2018

I engaged Volker to do primary source research from the 17th-19th centuries on one German branch of the family. He verified and corrected information that I had previously developed, and then filled in the missing information from original records. He was prompt, efficient, thorough and an absolute pleasure to work with. I highly recommend him.
John McInerney, San Francisco, California, May 26, 2018

I was at a complete standstill with the search for my great-grandfather's family in Germany. Then I saw a small ad in "family tree magazine" for Dr. Volker Jarren and thought why not give this a try. From the start he was quite honest with me and said there was no promise of finding this family. He stayed in touch, reporting where the search was going and always asking me if I wanted him to proceed. Finally the report arrived, and I couldn't have been more pleased. It was worth every penny, and quite fair for the results I got. If I ever need more research in the future I will definitely contact Dr. Jarren
Deborah Moore Lesslie, U.S.A., April 5, 2018

I engaged Dr. Volker Jarren for my research project after seeing his ad in the National Genealogical Quarterly magazine and after reviewing highly positive testimonials on his website. My project involved research in microfilmed original German church books dating from the late 17th century. These church books are handwritten and very difficult to read and decipher because of the Pastors’ sloppy writing, many abbreviations, obscure margin notes, and general deterioration of the pages. Dr. Jarren researched 18 entries pertaining specifically to my request and extended his research to ancillary facts based on his desire to present a complete picture. On completion of his research, Dr. Jarren compiled a five page research report that included his analysis and conclusions. Dr. Jarren’s work was very thorough, intelligently presented, and entirely focused on the parameters of my request. I fully agreed with his conclusions, which were thoughtful and well documented. He is also very easy to deal with. I highly recommend Dr. Jarren to other researchers who are interested in knowing more about their German ancestors.
P. Hain, Virginia, U.S.A., February 19, 2018

After researching my family tree back to southern Germany (Landau, Arzheim, Ranschbach) into the 1800's I could not find much additional information through the internet. I sent Dr. Volker Jarren what I had and he has been able to provide me with a great detail of additional information all the way back to the early 1700's including my 8th great grandfathers will from 1769 and inventory of what he left to his children. He has also assisted in translating additional tax records, military records and other pertinent information contained in the various German archives. I would highly recommend his services.
L. Lehmann, Fort Lauderdale Florida, U.S.A., January 31, 2018

I am pleased to recommend Dr. Volker Jarren as a highly capable and professional genealogical researcher. After contacting Volker by email and supplying details of existing family information, he quickly gained a grasp of the project, asked the right questions and we settled on a scope of work and fee for service. He fully delivered on the scope of work with further information in support. His preparation for the project meant that his time spent away from home was efficiently utilised and so providing a complete result.
Robin Knight, New South Wales, Australia, January 26, 2018

I started researching my family tree about 4 years ago Hoping to search my maiden name of Wigger. I basically knew he was from Germany and not much more. It took me some time searching g in Australia finding some information. After contacting Volker I was finally able to find the information I was missing from Germany, I also found a huge amount of information on another branch that i had nothing on. Not only did Volker find this information for me there were many emails back and forward with bits of information that Volker did not charge for. Volker’s rates for research are more that reasonable and I will always call on him when searching in Germany. I thank you Volker, for all that you have done!
Karen Wright, Australia, November 28, 2017

I would like to thank Volker for his honesty. He didn't string me along. He told me that he would be unable to trace records for my wife's German family in what is now Poland. Presumably these records have been destroyed or hidden.
John Parkyn, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, April 20, 2017

I found Dr. Volker Jarren in a magazine advertisement and did not know what to expect. My first interactions with him put my mind at ease. He is careful not to run off and do unnecessary research and incur extra costs. Dr. Jarren stopped tracking down unneeded paths and has a clear idea of what is possible and what is unlikely. I got a complete report with cultural notes of the local area as well as copies of the original archived documents.
D. Hennecke, U.S.A., April 11, 2017

Dear Dr. Jarren, Thank you very much for this report. I must say that I am very highly impressed with the efficiency, thoroughness, and clear presentation of your work. Having done some archival work myself in my earlier academic career, I appreciate the discipline and skill you have brought to this particular task.
M. Graesser, Canada, April 9, 2017

I had been researching my Family Tree for over 10 years and always ran into a brick wall beyond 1840. Then I came across Volker Jarren's name in a Family Tree magazine. I emailed him and received an immediate response. We discussed a plan and costs. I sent him what information I had and he felt he could find more answers in Berlin archives. He was able to go back 2 more generations to the 1770's. I feel Volker is trustworthy, professional and knowledgeable. I would recommend him to anyone searching for lost relatives.
M. Beneke, U.S.A., November 16, 2016

Dear Dr. Jarren, I want to thank you for the excellent research you have done on my father's side of my family. Since my grandparents and my father immigrated from Germany to the United States in the 1920's, the majority of my genealogy could not have been found without your help. Your timely responses to my e-mails, the clear information on prices, and the professional research results have made me a very satisfied customer. If I decided on finding further results, I will be in touch with you. Thank you for everything.
Ellene Stammler, U.S.A., October 3, 2016

Dear Dr. Jarren, Charles and I are most appreciative of the work that you have done for us. For many years now, I have been researching our family trees. Fortunately for me, a number of my ancestors emigrated from parts of Germany where records have been microfilmed. However, tracking Charles’ family has been more difficult, and after visiting your web site, we decided it was time to get professional help. From our very first e-mail to you, we were impressed with your professionalism. You quickly replied and helped us to narrow down our focus to a reasonable and cost effective approach. You then gave us an estimate for the research based on this focus and the copies of documents that we sent. The estimate that you gave us along with your research approach was detailed, and gave us confidence that you would thoroughly research every available resource and give us a comprehensive report on what you found. This you did. And, we especially appreciate the CD of documents that you sent. As we look at those records completely written in old German script, we truly appreciate the time and effort that you spent on researching the Doerge family. We now know so much more about my husband’s Doerge family. Thank you so much for giving my husband and our children their legacy. In the future, as we continue researching my husband’s family, we will certainly be asking you to do more research for us.
Sincerely, Linda and Charles Doerge, U.S.A., May 3, 2016

Dear Dr. Volker Jarren, I highly recommend Dr. Jarren Volker. I would like to thank Dr. Volker Jarren for all the research done for me and the Fryberger family. Your research with the archives in Switzerland on the family was easy for me to understand. If I want more research done I would return to Dr. Volker Jarren. Thank you for a job well done.
Jean Fryberger, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., February 21, 2016

Dr. Jarren, Thank you for your German genealogical services on my past and recent research projects. Your expertise in reading old German script is outstanding. It is also greatly enhanced by your additional explanations about the historic and cultural context of the terms in the documents and the meaning of certain words in the text. I would highly recommend your services.
Joan Schacht, St. Louis Missouri; U.S.A., February 17, 2015

I found Dr. Jarren's ad in Family Tree Magazine. After looking at his web site, I started communications by email. My mother and grandmother immigrated from Germany but they never talked about Germany. My input to the research project was limited to information I found in US citizenship documents and obituaries. Dr. Jarren responded to emails quickly and provided excellent guidance on how to proceed with the research. His research results far exceeded my expectations. He traced my maternal grandfather's line (Kurz) to 1677 in Steinach. I would highly recommend Dr. Jarren.
Kurt Rife, New Market, IA, U.S.A., December 22, 2015

Dear Volker,
I would like to thank you for wonderful research you did on my behalf. I now have the missing information on the Glück family from Konradsreuth. I would never have been able to get this information myself. Not only would I have to travel from California to Germany, I don’t read or speak German. I was amazed at how much information you were able to acquire in just one day at the Archives. The report and family tree you provided was concise and easy to read. Your expertise in genealogical research and familiarity with the Archives is an asset to anyone requiring research of their German roots. Thank you again for a job well done!
Sandy Schaffner California, U.S.A., August 16, 2015

I started this journey after spending a few years trying to search for my German ancestors on my own. Needless to say, my Search wasn't very successful. I quite by accident found Dr. Volker Jarren's name in a magazine on ancestry. I so wanted to reach out to him but so fearful of what results he would give me. By that I mean I didn't want to be taken advantage of and find myself with no new information and being asked for more and more money to continue or complete the project. I was more than amazed when Dr. Jarren returned my e-mail so quickly and a plan was put together. Still being the pessimist I held my breath as he started out. Much to my surprise he contacted me after his first day and gave me an overview of his findings. We discussed what to do with what we knew and I so appreciated his valuable input as to what would give me the most for my money. I am now enjoying the copies of birth, marriage, and death records. I'm considering a search on other family ancestors and the most difficult decision with my last search will now be the easiest. Dr Volker Jarren will no doubt be at the helm!! Thanks for the awesome gift I'll be able to give myself and more importantly, my parents!!
Becky Vasey, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A., August 11, 2015

Dr. Jarren, The report is excellent! Thank you! The explanation of the Heuerling system along with the economic and social changes of that era helps put things into perspective. I was not able to gain this perspective on my own previously. The photos of the Heuerling House Rohe and the churches were excellent! I am very pleased with your report.
Steve Rohe, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., April 3, 2015

Dr. Jarren came recommended by someone I had hired to translated a few old family documents and photos. After looking over Dr. Jarren's web site, and the high recommendation that was given, we began communications with Dr. Jarren. As promised on the web site, he reviews your case and gives you a very clear and precise estimate of cost. He was up front about the extra charges if you are wanting copies of birth, death, etc. records. There were no hidden fees or costs. Our family had only a baptismal record and a few old photos, with first names on them, to go on, and he was able to locate relatives back to the 1600's. That is not the extent of his research. He was able to include births, deaths, marriage dates and places, but not only that, he was able to find some addresses of residences and what type of labor they made a living at. During this process, he was in regular communication with us to give us updates, clarify any questions, or concerns. His research has far exceeded our expectations. His work was very through, and the report was easy to follow. The entire process was done in a timely manner, and the initial report was sent quickly, via email. We highly recommend his services.
Marcie Hassen, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A., March 1, 2015

Dr. Jarren, Thank you so much for your timely, professional assistance in helping us to learn more about the immediate family of my grandfather Georg August Zwick who was born in Burgheim bei Lahr, Germany, in 1863. We sent you an email last November with a combination of family oral history along with some genealogical research we had attempted ourselves. We soon understood that we needed the help of a professional. Your responses were prompt, and your research at the Karlsruhe Archive was thorough. We are delighted that we had this opportunity to work with you and now believe we have a much better sense of my grandfather’s family before he emigrated to the United States before 1900 and settled in New York, then Connecticut. Sincerely,
Charles J. Zwick, Coral Gables, Florida, U:S.A:, January 27, 2015

In quick order, Dr. Jarren has provided many missing links in my German family tree. Dr. Jarren is very attentive, responsive, and is able to accurately scope the work and determine the cost. I have been delighted with his work so far and look forward to continuing the work of discovery with his expert guidance.
R. Adler, Gurnee, IL U.S.A., January 21, 2015

Dr. Jarren has exceeded my expectations regarding the long lost history of my German ancestors. I had attempted for 19 years to discover the family origins past my great-grandfather who immigrated to the U.S. He was able to link rapidly back 5 generations despite the fact that I had given him some incorrect information on my great grandfather's point of origin in Germany as well possessing a very common last name. I also appreciate that he is very precise with respect to costs and absolutely met the schedule he committed to. To my amazement, when he provided the pedigree, he also included a history lesson on the cultures of that period Germany, so that I might better understand the environment they lived and worked in. To that end, I now know them far past simply the birth and death dates on a family tree. I shall always be grateful and without hesitation recommend his most professional services.
Saundra Cope, Everett, Washington, U.S.A., January 25, 2014

I couldn't be happier with the professional research results. I contacted you be e-mail, and had no ideal of the villages names the Steck's & Ernst's were from. In a very short time you had found the villages, and let me know research was possible. Every step of the process was easy & very thorough. German research is difficult & very time consuming on your own. So to anyone worried about hiring you, I can say, they have absolutely nothing to worry about. And will be very rewarded with your efforts. Your research has meet a great deal to me & my family. I plan on more early this coming year. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Peggy Kilpatrick Galesburg, Illinois, U.S.A., December 11, 2013

I highly recommend Dr. Volker Jarren as a professional genealogical researcher. I started researching my family history in Germany and in a short time realized I needed the help of a professional. Even though I was researching an uncommon name (Borzel) I was having a hard time with the language and how archives are stored. I also had a hard time narrowing down a workable search. I found Dr. Volker Jarren online and decided to hire him because he also had a history background which was important to me. He has exceeded my expectations. He is very friendly, professional and prompt. He was able to help me narrow down a good research plan and then proceeded with the research in an affordable manner. Areas that could be researched by microfilm were done at home or near his home but he goes beyond by travelling to the small town church archives and cemeteries, searching the books, taking photos of entries (my favourite part) and houses that were inhabited by ancestors, the churches they attended, cemeteries and surrounding area. He also hired the necessary archivists when it made better use of time for them to provide the information. He was able to take my paternal line back to 1675 in Bavaria, Germany. His thorough reports, lineages, photos and documents were sent both through email and regular mail. I now have comprehensive documentation on my family with many options to continue with my maternal lineage. His information was presented at a family reunion in July of 2013 and my family is very excited and grateful for all his help.
Ellen Gaboury Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, Canada, October 1, 2013

Good morning Dr. Jarren, Your research information is fantastic for my genealogical records! You provided documented historical information on two more generations of names on my Sandmann family name in Germany in the 1600 - 1700's. I especially like the way you organized and listed the order of the names and related dates. The footnotes contribute to the research and are helpful for my work. It will take time to add it to my genealogical records. I look forward to seeing the record copies of the email information you sent. Perhaps there is further work to be pursued. Thanks for the great work. I am very satisfied with your research services.
Best Regards, Harold Sentman
H. Sentman, Missouri, U.S.A., August 19, 2013

I found out about Dr. Jarren through Family Tree Magazine and consider myself fortunate to have contacted him for research on my maternal ancestors in Austria and Germany. His research resulted in tracing my ancestry back to the 1600s. His impressive historical knowledge was invaluable in gaining some understanding of my ancestor’s lives before they left for the United States. All questions that I asked Dr. Jarren were answered promptly. I would highly recommend Dr. Jarren to anyone who is thinking about their family research in Germany or Austria.
Cyril J Ernest, Lexington, KY, U.S.A., May 13, 2013

I highly recommend Dr. Jarren to anyone interested in pursuing research on their German ancestors. The entire process, from initial contact, to the final report of the results, was very smooth. The amount of information that Dr. Jarren was able to gather on my ancestors in a brief amount of time is incredible! Dr. Jarren made the process very easy, quickly responding to any questions and keeping me completely informed on a regular basis during the entire project. Dr. Jarren proved to be quite a cost effective resource for obtaining information on my German ancestors. The results, which were highly detailed and well documented, were much more than I was hoping for. I am quite comfortable in recommending Dr. Jarren to anyone interested in researching their German ancestors.
Rob Pillmeier, MD, U.S.A., April 6, 2013.

Hello Dr. Jarren,
This is awesome work, Dr. Jarren! I can't thank you enough for the work so far. It's thorough, extensive and much more than I had hoped to gather. I really appreciate how quick and responsive you are to all my questions. I had been hesitant about hiring someone halfway around the world, but you've made this experience most enjoyable and worthwhile. I look forward to working with you to fill in many gaps in the family trees for both me and my wife.
Don Bowman, Landenberg, PA, U.S.A., March 12, 2013.

Dr. Jarren, I am very satisfied with your work. You gave me the information that I requested in a form that can be used to extend my family line in the greater Waldkirch area.
Thomas F. Stander, Ohio, U.S.A., March 12, 2013.

Recommendation: Dr. Volker Jarren My first contact with Dr. Jarren was by email. I shared my purpose for contacting him and asked for assistance in finding information on my paternal side of the Maurer family in Germany. I shared my American search information on my great, great grandfather who came to America in 1846. He graciously used this information to do some initial inquiries about whether a search would be successful. His inquiries indicated that he could find information about my ancestors. I truly appreciated this up-front approach to searching for my ancestors. All subsequent communications with Dr. Jarren were conducted by email. His promptness in answering these emails garnered my confidence in his abilities. His second email to me inquired about my objectives for this search. What did I want to get from his search? As we discussed back and forth, my objectives were narrowed down so a successful search could be implemented. We agreed that he would conduct the search and discussed the monetary cost of such research. He outlined what expenses would be incurred for a three day search and what subsequent expenses would be incurred in the writing of the report. I appreciated this transparency in our business transactions. After business affairs were taken care of, he indicated when he would undertake the search and indicated what his search strategy would be. We remained in contact during the actual search. He kept me appraised of his progress and provided me options ( continue, discontinue, or change the focus of the search ) based on what he was finding. I really appreciated his candid appraisal of how well his search was progressing. I was truly amazed at the depth and breadth of information he presented to me in his report. It included a family tree, birth, marriage, and death information on each ancestor and documentation of where this information came from; whether civic or church records in Germany. In fact, I was stunned with this meticulous documentation of his findings. I could not believe that he had collected all this information in just three days. I can honestly attest that I did indeed receive full value from my monetary investment. Dr. Jarren is certainly an outstanding German genealogist and research. I would have no qualms in engaging him again and would recommend his services to others searching for German ancestors.
Steve Maurer, West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S,A,, January 5, 2013

Dr. Jarren , Thank you very much for all of your hard work . It is greatly appreciated as I enjoy finding out more about my German relatives.
R. Stearns, Florida, U.S.A., June 3, 2012.

Dr. Jarren,
I am still going over the pedigree chart you sent me, and I can really appreciate the time and effort that you spent researching my "Fieseler" line. Your work was meticulous, and your references and accompanying explanations were very enlightening. I am totally satisfied with your results.
G. Fieseher, Collegeville, PA, U.S.A., May 27, 2012.

Dear Dr. Jarren,
I can't be more pleased with the research you did on my ancestors, the Luther family of Möhra. Starting with my great grandfather, you made the generations flow into each other and the names became real people. I love the fact that my great great grandfather was a "singer in the church chorus" and how women were called "virgins" at their first marriage. It's obvious that you are not only a first rate historian and researcher, but a man who truly wants to help people find "their people." Your work is so well documented and clear. Thank you. I highly recommend you to others who like me, want to know about where they came from! Sincerely,
Janice Brazil, Texas, U.S:A., May 13, 2012.

Dr. Jarren:
Thank you for the very timely report. I very much appreciate the detail of the report about my ancestor family. You confirmed some the items which I had, corrected some of my information, and then added quite a lot to our knowledge of this family with new information. You found records which added two generations to the one side of the family and you clarified for us the details and correct name of our direct ancestor. I am totally satisfied with the report and look forward to receiving in the mail the copies of the records.
Jim Lee, Decatur, Georgia U.S.A., April 29, 2012.

Dear Volker, Thank you for your outstanding genealogical research on my behalf. You are truly the most respectful professional I have ever dealt with. I appreciate your immediate responses to my e-mails as well as your patience with my developing requests. Above all I value your honesty. Your fee quotes were concise and accurate, your research guidance proved spot-on. I look forward to continued success on our next project!
Alan Koshak, Harrisonville, MO, U.S.A., April 17, 2012

Dr. Jarren is an extraordinary genealogist and fulfilled all my expectations in his research. The report I received on the Kleopfer family included many facts that I did not expect and included photos of the documents. Some of them were very hard to read and he did a masterful job in interpreting them. He was also very responsive to my questions and interests and I have learned many new facts about Germany. I did not know that there were such wonderful church records in Germany even listing the occupations of the people listed. It is all an immense treasure of information that my family will enjoy for generations. I highly recommend Dr. Jarren to anyone interested in German genealogy.
Charla Kleopfer Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A., April 15, 2012.

Dr. Jarren was very helpful, thorough and most importantly, organized. Even when I felt disorganized or unsure, he graciously kept things on track and on schedule. He was able to provide detailed information that we would never have been able to find on our own, and he did it very quickly. We look forward to having him show us around the area on an upcoming trip - and we would highly recommend him to other Americans looking for details on their German ancestry.
Melanie Suggs, Georgia, U.S.A., February 22, 2012.

Dear Volker: I wanted to let you know how thrilled I am with your report of the results you were able to obtain during your four day trip to Berlin!! It was unfortunate that the two male lines only resulted in a couple of generations; however, the female lines you were able to track back to the beginning of 1700, a whole four more generations! I can’t wait to add your research to my family history (giving you total credit in my sources, of course)!! Also the concise report although nearly eight pages long is very easy to follow. Yes, I am very satisfied with the information you were able to gather in such a short time frame!! Thank you so very much!! I am, as I said, just thrilled with the results!!
Linda J. Hauley, Ontario, Canada, November 25, 2011

Dear Dr. Jarren, Thank you for this report. It is well done and I am impressed as with your previous work for me! You are very quick, very professional and a reliable resource for us who crave historical and genealogical knowledge. Thank you again!
Eric Uhden, Maryland, U.S.A., October 18, 2011

Dear Volker, Thank you for your wonderful report on the ancestors of my Great Great Grandfather, Georg Friedrich Baumbach. You found more information than I could ever have expected. Your added descriptions of the information which can be inferred from the pure data give additional "life" to the chain of people who preceded me. Your well organized documents and the careful documentation of your sources give the highest possible value to the information and are a fine example of your creditability in the field of genealogy research. I certainly expect to call upon you again for additional work.
Patty and Barney Deden, Nebraska, U.S.A., October 1, 2011

To Anyone Interested in Their Family Ancestors in Germany, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Volker Jarren for research of any of your ancestors who were born and lived in Germany. My cousin and I were interested in genealogical research regarding our third great grandparents. Dr. Jarren found wonderful records going clear back to our 5th great grandparents and also did research regarding the village where they had lived. We gave him what limited information we had and had limited expectations to find anything at all. Dr. Jarren astonished us with a highly detailed report on our family history. He knew which archive would have the most complete information, and he provided recommendations on how his time could be used most efficiently. Dr. Jarren conducted thorough research and was able to interpret old, handwritten documents in a script that few people can read today. He provided us a complete report on our family history in fluent English, and also provided us copies of some of the original archived documents, especially ones we had requested. Dr. Jarren is a fantastic and valuable resource in researching your family history.
Loretta Taylor of Boise, Idaho, U.S.A., September 17, 2011

Dr. Volker Jarren recently completed a search for my German ancestors in the Stuttgart area. He provided a quotation of the project cost in advance and did not start the search until I agreed with the scope and the cost of the proposed project. He responded quickly to my e-mails and was very responsive to my requests. Dr. Jarren provided excellent suggestions for researching archives that I was unaware of and his research was completed quickly and for the agreed upon cost. Dr. Jarren has an excellent command of the English language and we had no problem communicating. He applied no undue pressure to do anything that I didn't feel important. I was very satisfied with the results of his research and I would definitely use his expertise again.
Chester Stanley Wauconda, Illinois, U.S.A., August 22, 2011

Dear Dr. Jarren, Please add my name to your impressive list of VERY satisfied clients and please feel free to use my name as a reference for genealogy research. After the research that you have done on my behalf, I consider you to be a very competent and trustworthy researcher. I was interested in trying to find information on my great-great-great grandfather and his parents and siblings and you found everything I asked for, plus you even found information clear back to my 5th great grandfather. I am so grateful for all the wonderful information you found on my behalf. I was amazed at how much you were able to find when you only had a name, the place and approximate year of birth. The work you have done has exceeded my expectations and I am thrilled with your services. I strongly recommend to anyone searching for their German family history to use the services of Dr. Volker Jarren. He is an invaluable resource in researching one's family history. I would classify Dr. Jarren as a master genealogist who is very professional in every sense of the word. I especially appreciated his almost immediate response to all my emails pertaining to questions I had. His fees are very reasonable. I am hoping to work with him again very soon on more of my German family history. Dr. Jarren is the only individual I would consider for conducting that research.
Loretta Taylor, Boise, Idaho U.S.A., June 12, 2011

Dr. Volker Jarren is a master genealogist and a renowned historian who has provided me with a wealth of information on my German ancestry. Without his help, this work would have been an impossible mission. Very little was known of my great grandfather's family history before he immigrated to America from Germany. He died at an early age, leaving behind a wife and three small children. His widow, remarried within a year and the link to my great grandfather's place of birth and family tree was lost with time. Through Dr. Jarren's in-depth research into the archives of church and public records in Osnabrueck, he was able to pinpoint the birth village of my great grandfather and trace the paternal and maternal lineage back to 1662. His highly detailed report was very organized and most comprehensive with reference citations on his archive findings. He also provided a background of local German history and culture existing at that time. Dr. Jarren took pictures of the village Glandorf, the old home where my forefathers lived, so long ago and the ancient church where many of my ancestors were baptized and married. I highly recommend Dr. Jarren's professional services for anyone searching for their German roots. My gratitude is beyond words.
A. O’Neill, Charleston, S.C. U.S.A., May 10, 2011

Dear Dr. Jarren, I am very excited to see the progress that you were able to make on the Göttmann family, taking the main paternal line as far as possible. This information far exceeds my previous expectations and I could not be more pleased with your findings and your expert commentary.
Henry Patton Covington, GA USA, March 27,2011

Dear Dr. Volker Jarren,
Some days ago I received your results from the research you did on my father's family in the Stadthagen area of Germany. A few years ago my sister and I spent 10 days in the area and were unable to find much information, due to both language and opening hours of different places we hoped to find information. Although we enjoyed our time in the area I now feel that we should have used your services before making the trip. I am amazed at the information you found in only three days. I know it will take me that long to digest all that you sent. Also your report was very thorough, you included basic information that a Canadian would not understand about the systems and life of the times you were researching. I would highly recommend your services to anyone wanting to find their roots in Germany. Thank you.
Mhairi Patterson (nee Hasse) Canada, February 21, 2011

Dear Dr. Jarren,
I strongly recommend Dr. Volker Jarren for your family history research. Our family was interested in genealogical research going back to the 16th century, and we had limited expectations to find anything at all. Dr. Jarren astonished us with a highly detailed report on our family history over four centuries. He knew which archive would have the most complete information, and he provided recommendations on how his time could be used most efficiently. Dr. Jarren conducted thorough research and was able to interpret old, handwritten documents in a script that few people can read today. He provided us a complete report on our family history in fluent English, and also provided us copies of the original archived documents. Dr. Jarren is an invaluable resource in researching your family history.
Paul Donsbach, Pasadena, California, USA, February 3, 2011

Hello Dr. Jarren,
I wish to thank you for all of your hard work in finding some information on the Klingner family in Dresden and area. I believe that you covered all available research venues very thoroughly. I really appreciate that your knowledge of the records available and how to access them made this project as successful as possible. Your professionalism in a business where so much emotion is present was a great benefit. Of course people searching for their families in foreign countries would like to hear that you have found essential information. I am particularly pleased that you made it clear in the beginning that there was no guarantee that the records available would be the ones needed in my particular case. By using the family letter written in 1879, you were able to work through the collateral line and find some interesting information. You have worked in a professional manner from the beginning of my enquiries to the finalization of the project. As advertised, you sent me a Research Plan, Timetable, Total Estimate and Final Report. I realize that there is more work to be done and if I decide to proceed with this I would most certainly use your research service.
Nora Klingner Wilson, Canada, December 3, 2010

Dear Dr. Jarren,
Please add my name to your impressive list of satisfied clients. After the research that you have done on my behalf, I consider you to be a very competent and trustworthy researcher. I began the journey into my family history about one year ago. I had family records that traced my ancestors on the Schultze side of my tree to my great, great grandfather. I knew he came from Germany and settled in Chicago in the 1850's, where he founded a furniture factory. In my effort to research him further I hit a significant wall: the Great Chicago Fire. Any records of his immigration or ancestry that were once in Chicago had been destroyed. A former colleague of mine belongs to a genealogy club. When I discussed my research problem with her, she told me of a member of her club who is one of your former clients. She said this former client was very pleased with your research and she sent me the link to your web site. I must say, after my thirty year career in state and federal law enforcement, it took a leap of faith for me to do business on the internet, much less in another country. I am very glad I took the leap. With the information I had, you have been able to provide information about my great, great grandfather, as well as four more generations of Schultzes. I am very pleased with the results so far and look forward to a continued successful relationship. Your research skill as well as your thoughtful suggestions as to how to proceed have been very helpful. In closing, I would like to say that you started out as a German researcher who is the friend of a friend. You have become a friend, who is a German researcher.
Best wishes, Lou Schultze, USA, August 14, 2010

Dr. Jarren demonstrated his professionalism when he was able to find records of my family that we were unable to find. We had made a trip to Germany in 2008 and visited the birthplace of my Grandmother but were unable to find records associated with her. We retained Dr. Jarren in 2010 and in two days he found and completed the tasks we assigned to him. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking family information in Germany. He is truly dependable, trustworthy and very thorough.
Betty Flannery, Crown Point, Indiana, U.S.A., July 2, 2010

I was lucky enough to stumble on Dr. Jarren's web page through a Google search. I knew that I had done all I could do on my Kreilkamp family history through resources in the United States. The only possibility to find out more would be through German resources. I don't speak German, and if I did I wouldn't know where to look. Fortunately Dr. Jarren does. He provided me with an excellent history of the farm my family came from in Velen as well as an understanding of what conditions were like for my ancestors before and at the time they emigrated from Germany. Dr. Jarren is very up-front about expenses, and I feel that for the time he puts in and the excellence of the result, his work is well worth the cost. Thank you so much, Dr. Jarren!
J. Witt, Montana, U.S.A., March 5, 2010

Doctor,
Today we have sunshine outside and we are delighted that you have been successful in finding the birth parents of F.W. Beinbrecht (my husband's ancestor) and furnishing one more link to ancestors. I will be more than happy to furnish a reference for you. You proceeded with the research immediately and had results within a few days. And, you advocate caution relative to expense and what one is actually desiring to find.
I. Pulleine, La Porte, Texas, U.S.A., January 22, 2010

I would recommend Dr Jarren as a genealogical researcher. I found his reports to be helpful, informative and comprehensive.
Ellie van Empel, New Zealand, October 29, 2009

Hi, Volker,I am very impressed that you were able to find out so much in such a short time. You have found things that are new to me. I'm very pleased to have this information and I have received very good value for the money.
Larry Holderly, Monticello, IN, USA, July 29, 2009

Dear Dr. Jarren: I am very pleased with the work you have done for me regarding the Kiep and Stoss families. Your advertisement in Everton's attracted my attention. I knew I could not read the German documents on my own, so I inquired as to your services. I was immediately impressed with your quick email response detailing your recommendations as to how to proceed. The work you have done has exceeded my expectations and the cost was less than I expected. I especially appreciated your almost immediate response to my emails and that you gave me a cost of each separate project before we proceeded. I look forward to working with you further on projects I have regarding the Stoss research now that you have completed the Kiep research.
Richard P. Kiep, Elmhurst, IL, USA, May 27, 2009.

Thank you VERY much for the attachments regarding my MAUL marriage. Terrific, I am delighted with what you have found & with the prompt service.
Margaret Elms, Hastings, NZ, May 21, 2009

Thank you for the wonderful report and photos! The information is all new to me. I am very pleased with you thoroughness and competence as a researcher and the very high quality of your report!
T. Bonsett, Indiana, USA, February 4, 2009.

Dear Dr Jarren, Thank you very much for your assistance in tracing three lines of my German ancestors as far back as to the beginning of the 1600 hundreds in various parts of Germany. I especially appreciate your professional approach to the research and the way in which you furnished me with the results. Thank you also for your honest assessment of possibilities and a clear indication of these in the few instances in which no information could be obtained.
Kind regards
Dr SB Rascher, South Africa, February 2, 2009.

I asked Dr Jarren to search my family tree in Germany and am extremely pleased with the results. His report not only gave family details as far back as 1623, with births, marriages, deaths and occupations, but gave other personal details that make so much difference. He reported on time as promised and gave me clear, precise and comprehensive information which was very much worth the expense. I will not hesitate to ask Dr Jarren to research the other side of the family in the near future. I can highly recommend his services.
Helen Taylor, Australia, December 5, 2008.

Dear Dr. Jarren, I greatly appreciate the research you did on my Schoening family history in Brake/Lemgo, Lippe, Germany. You were able to go two generations back, find information on people's births, marriages, and deaths, on the family property holdings for 1781, the address of the Schoening house for over 100 years, and identify the parent of a Schoening bride, so that I could trace her family back an additional three generations, in Rheda, Westfalen, Preussen. In addition to the research, you also gave forthright feedback prior to beginning your work on what research would be most fruitful, what wouldn't, and what results were likely. You work in a most timely manner and your fees are reasonable. You have provided me and my family with valuable information and opened doors for further research. I highly recommend you to anyone doing research on German ancestors.
Sincerely, Jeffrey Schoening, Seattle, WA, U.S.A., May 25, 2008

I would classify Dr. Volker Jarren as a master genealogists and a true professional in every sense of the word. He will work very closely with you and establish a plan of attack to suit your specific needs. My results were fantastic and could never have been completed without the help of such a thorough researchers. All of his results are neatly and methodically presented to you when he has completed his assignments. I was more than satisfied with the extended pedigree that he presented to me for my great grandparents. It doesn't get any better than this. Thank you Dr. Jarren.
Steven W. Thompson, Eau Claire, WI, USA, April 30, 2008

Dr. Volker Jarren has travelled to several locations in Germany to help me research my family. Since both my mother's and father's families were not land owners and therefore moved frequently this was a difficult task. Because some sections of Germany would not allow the Mormons to photograph records my research was at a stand still. Working with Dr. Jarren has been a joy. He works in a timely manner and pays attention to details. When possible he includes more information than just birth, marriage and death dates. He answers questions immediately. I recommended him highly. If you would like to contact me please email me at madelinlina@yahoo.com.
Madelin Page, Glendale, Arizona., USA, April 19, 2008

Dr Jarren is a very knowledgeable, helpful, informative, and capable ally in my efforts to research old records. He is honest and straightforward about what research can and cannot be done and why. His candid demeanour is well appreciated when it comes to what efforts and their expense entail. I feel his work is well worth what I put forth for it. Dr Jarren was able to confirm various data as well as discover some other things to help me to further fill out my family tree. My interests include also historical information such as occupations, names, etc., and Dr Jarren was very informative along the way in those subjects also. I look forward to continuing my research with the help of Dr Jarren!
K. Åkre, USA, April 15, 2008

Dr. Jarren, Thank you so much. I've enjoyed reading this latest information about Maria Elisabeth Hoer and family. I am very surprised to learn about Heinrich Hoer who died in the U.S. That is news to me. Your work has given me a lot of new avenues to explore here in the U.S. I appreciate all you have done so far. Though I like to do research myself, the German documents would have been pretty impossible for me. All the research you've done has provided me with a wonderful sense of the German branches of my family. I would heartily recommend you to anyone looking for their ancestors in Germany. Thank you again!
Sheila Tucker, Austin, Texas, U.S.A., February 24, 2008

Dear Dr. Jarren, Thanks you so much for your excellent research and report. I have just begun to digest it and will send to my relatives as soon as I can so that they can appreciate the fine work also. Again, Thanks and we will contact you again, and recommend you to whoever seeks a genealogy researcher in Germany. Sincerely,
William Ludwig, Cary NC, U.S.A, December 14, 2007

Dear Dr. Jarren, Please accept my sincere appreciation for your excellent research work in finding the family history of my great grandfather, Carl Nagel, from Trotha. This has opened up further research into the Nagel family. While not the only interesting bit of his history, I (an only child) was amazed to learn that he was the father of 18 children. I look forward to working with you in the future and I'm pleased to give you permission to use this endorsement on your web site and in any of your publications.
Sincerely yours, William H. Nagel, Southampton, PA, U.S,A, December 12, 2007

I am very pleased with Dr. Jarren's work. In just a few days , he traced back my family an additional 10 generations!! He presented a very precise research plan, which he followed explicitly. He thoroughly answered all my questions. I would absolutely recommend to Dr. Jarren's German family history research services to others.
Amber Daveline -Jacksonville, Florida, USA, November 20, 2007

It is my pleasure to endorse Dr. Volker Jarren for his tremendous work on my family tree. Although my mother is a German native, we didn't even know who her grandparents were when we started. Dr. Jarren documented our genealogy back to 1610, something that would have been impossible for me considering the distance, time constraints, language barrier, and the old style script. He has also been generous with his time in explaining things to me and providing sound recommendations on courses of action. I am eternally grateful for his work and dedication. By the way, his fees are most reasonable by U. S. standards.
Siegfried W. Kirchner, U.S.A., October 16, 2007.

Ours was a long and complicated family history, with many unanswered questions. In a very short time Dr. Jarren was able to compile the information and give me a very thoughtful and complete report with his analysis based on his local German historical knowledge, and his experience with different sources of German genealogical data. I presented the findings thus far to my family, we are all very impressed with the results. I'm glad to have found you.
Michael D. Schwartz, MD, Atlanta, U.S.A., October 5, 2007.

I have been working for many years trying to find information about my ancestors in the Gross/Hofschneider families who lived in the area around Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden. When my wife and I visited Freiburg in June, we met personally with Mr. Jarren who had reviewed previously sent records. In preparation he had thoroughly reviewed the records and had developed a research plan. Although the research did not locate the appropriate records, we learned where they were probably not living in the late 1800s. His research plan was thorough. I had located family names in the city directory for Freiburg and he researched the churches they most likely attended and went and reviewed the archdiocesan records. He went to the Civil Registry Office to locate records in the Freiburg area. His knowledge of German and French History during the difficult period of the Franco-Prussian War was immensely helpful in determining where they might have lived, perhaps moving back and forth from Germany to Alsace.
He was most prompt in his email replies. His fees are very reasonable. My wife and I could have spent hours with him to learn about resources for family history throughout Germany. He also worked with us in a way that I could research what I wanted and request him to do other parts of the research plan that needed on-site activity.
Although we did not turn up the exact information I was looking for, it was not in any way his fault. Many records in Freiburg were destroyed during WWII and not to be found. I plan an ongoing relationship with Volker in the future and would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone interested in family research in Europe."
Bernard Gross, Herndon, Virginia, USA, June, 2007.

Mr. Jarren was able to get me back to another generation on my Billian family tree. He is very professional and expedient in his efforts. I plan to use him again in the near future.
Janice Falvey, U.S.A, May 10, 2007.

Dr. Volker Jarren: Please feel free to use my name as a reference for genealogy research! I am very grateful to you for finding information on my German roots! I recommend anyone whom is researching their ancestry to you Sir. You have a very reasonable agreement and extra material for research findings.
Jeff Hahn, Maryville, Illinois, U.S.A., March 13, 2007

Dr. Volker Jarren recently completed a study of my German ancestry in four locations. In one week's time he recorded a number of ancestors and their family members in numbers much greater than I would have dared to wish.
Dr. Jarren brought many positive attributes to the research he completed for me. He applied no undue pressure to do anything that I didn't feel important. He did not apply pressure to start a study until I was satisfied with the scope, duration and cost of the proposed project. We exchanged many e-mails so that he could precisely know what I hoped to accomplish. Where my experience did not allow me to define objectives, Dr. Volker provided excellent suggestions. He researched thoroughly the possible sites to be visited, which totally avoided any time spent at a site that had no pertinent information. The study was completed according to the agreed to research plan but when results ceased to be found at a site, he adjusted the plan to provide additional research results. Dr. Jarren has an excellent command of the English language, which ensured my full understanding of what he would do in the course of the research study. It also resulted in very understandable documentation of research results.
Dr. Jarren is an excellent family history researcher who knows what he should look for and where he is most likely to find such information. His fees were reasonable. Even though I had reservations about committing resources for such an effort, Dr. Jarren's research results make the research results an excellent value. I want to do several additional research projects on my German ancestry and Dr. Jarren is the only individual I would consider for conducting that research.
Richard E. Weber, Platteville, WI, U.S.A., December 16, 2006

Dr. Volker Jarren has been researching my various aspects of my family history, and has traced my family tree back several generations. He was persistent in his research and complete in his explanations. The thing I found most appealing is the heavy amount of communication-at every turn, he told me exactly what he could do and the odds of success. He gave me tremendous amounts of help to understand the nuances of German history and culture. He has a great wealth of knowledge and expertise-and he always shared it in helpful ways. I would not hesitate to recommend his services.
Jim Ollhoff, Ph.D., Farmington, MN, U.S.A., November 24, 2006

After trying for over a year to find someone to go to the church in Volkmarsen, I finally found you. I was very pleased when I received your e-mail. Your answer to my questions was prompt. You made sure it was clear what I needed in the way of time period and what records I needed. Thank you again.
Shirley Buirch, CA, U.S.A., August 22, 2006

I am very impressed and pleased with your work and your counsel.
T. Egede-Nissen, South Carolina, U.S.A., July 21, 2006

I'm very pleased with the information. As you know what I was mostly interested in was the historical background of my family's origin in Prussia and seeing how things worked out for them in the new world. From your research, combined with what I have learned about their situation in Canada I am now able to form a much clearer picture of the family in general. And as well, I now even have details of previous generations in Prussia. And thanks so much for the wonderful photographs.
M. Cooper, Ontario, Canada, June 12, 2006

Many thanks for your help in confirming our ancestors. We were impressing by your rapid response, including extra comments of history and customs of the times. Your report and comments were extraordinary.
M. Lemon, Richmond, Va., U.S.A., June 9, 2006

In preparation for our trip to Germany, I contacted Dr. Jarren. He brought our family tree to life by locating the family farm in Diersburg, Baden. By travelling to the town he extended our German line to the present and provided an introduction to our distant cousins. We are extremely pleased with Dr. Jarren's research.
J. Chapman, Cinnaminson, New Jersey, U.S.A., April 30, 2006

Dr. Volker Jarren is a professional German genealogist who provided me with a reliable and cost-effective service in the search of my German ancestry.
Alois F. Oliver, Oak Lawn, Illinois, U.S.A., March 20, 2006

I have been very satisfied with your work. I know in genealogy there are no guarantees. I was very impressed when I first contacted you, you would not proceed without more proof of records. That proved to me that you were trustworthy. It is hard being half a world away to get answers to questions. Any questions I wanted clarified were dealt with quickly. I would highly recommend this service.
Karen Curell, MI, U.S.A, March 17, 2006

I am extremely happy that you have found so much info and you have given me a lot of detail as to the history of the area. Excellent!
J. Neufeld, Alberta, Canada, March 16, 2006

Words can not totally express my gratitude for the research work you have done on our German ancestry. I gave you very little to start with: a family that arrived in New York on November 15, 1856 on the ship Humboldt from Hamburg. The professional, detailed research you then conducted was more than I ever thought was possible, but it was your vast knowledge and your recommended next steps that made the results so unbelievably successful and you were always so cautiously optimistic. Anyone needing assistance with research in Germany would be missing something if they didn't use your services. I can't imagine that anyone could do it better and then communicate it with such enthusiastic interest and detail. My gratitude is really beyond words!
Laurie Schmidt, Cameron, U.S.A, March 1, 2006

Dr. Volker Jarren recently completed an extensive genealogical research project for me involving identification of record locations, creation of a research plan, actual field research and record examination and preparation of a comprehensive Family History Report. Dr Jarren also translated the records found from German to English and provided complete source references and copies. Having worked with a number of genealogists, I want to commend Dr. Jarren as having provided an excellent, thorough and professional product. In addition he is highly flexible and very cooperative. I would recommend him to anyone requiring the highest level of research support and would not hesitate to employ his services in the future.
Ernest C. Wilson, Sykesville, Maryland U.S.A, February 22, 2006

I was sceptical about using a researcher to look into the Kornrumpf family line. When we hit the end of the line, so to speak, the only alternatives were going to Germany ourselves or hiring someone familiar with research in German genealogy.
I will never regret the decision to use your services. You have debunked family lore and myths by finding the truth in church and civil records and in doing so you have helped us find family here in the United States that we didn't even know existed.
Thank you for your concise and very professional approach to our request for help. We will continue to use your services in the future to expand on what you have already found and will gladly refer you to our friends. Respectfully.
Donna Kornrumpf Dover, Delaware USA, January 5, 2006

Let me first extend my sincere appreciation for your timely and accurate research on my German ancestors. My expectation was met on all fonts., from the depth of the report to the additional discovery of family members outside the research area. Thank you again.
Thomas M. Thies, Ham Lake, MN, U.S.A., November 21, 2005

After over 30 years of research, I contacted Dr. Jarren for help in locating information on my Germany ancestors. His work has been very professional and as a result of his work, I now have two more generations of my family and some more places that I can research. Dr. Jarren also provided me with some excellent pictures of my family's home village, church and even the house where my great great great grandfather lived with his family. I hope to find even more on my ancestors now. I would certainly highly recommend Dr. Jarren to anyone needing research help in Germany.
Vivian Tubbs, Michigan, U.S.A., October 5, 2005

Thank you again for doing such a detailed, thoroughly job of researching my great-grandmothers family. Since none of the vital records are available in the United States, I was at a loss as to how to research that branch of my family. Your patience and command of the English language was also much appreciated. I would be pleased and honored to recommend your services to anyone who was looking for genealogical research in Germany. Your rates are reasonable, communication was a pleasure, and the resulting report are concise, factual, and exactly as intended.
C. Semlear, New York, USA, September 17, 2005

For years I was sure I could get to Germany myself to work on my German lines but of course I did not get there. Dr. Volker Jarren is the next best thing and much cheaper than plane fare and hotels. He is very prompt with responses to questions, has a fine working knowledge of German history, culture, archival resources and is fluent in old German script, which is absolutely required in German research today. On the basis of only one document and many inaccurate family stories he was able to provide information back 14 generations in one line and we haven't even started on the other principal family. I recommend him highly for any family research you might have in mind.
Sandra C. King, Acton, MA, USA, September 15, 2005.

Thank you for your thorough and helpful genealogical work. Your work is very informative and organized. I will surely write again if I need any further help.
Scott A. Strohman, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, September 11, 2005

Today I received you envelope with all the interesting information about the family of Florian Schmitt. I was delighted to be able to have all the vital research that you were able to accomplish on my behalf. Your work will allow me to make a major addition to my family genealogy. The generations to come will appreciate your research.
R. H. Kearns, Bluffton, South Carolina, USA, August 2, 2005

Let me express my genuine appreciation for the wonderful support you gave me on our search for the Morgenstern village. With you guidance I have been able to take the family back another generation. I could not have done without your help. It seemed to me that you shared my drive and enthusiasm. You always go to the extra step in the search and that is what made it successful. My wife and I could not believe the speed, enthusiasm, and focus of your help. Please feel free to use me as a reference for any future clients! You were great!
T. and N. Rafiner, Parkville, Missouri, USA, July 29, 2005

Dr. Volker Jarren has very detailed charts and written explanations, photos of area of interest, copies of original documents and answers questions. I am pleased with his work since no one in the U.S. or Wisconsin knew my German background onward 1846. Dr. Jarren is worth contacting.
L. Smith, Lakeview, Oregon, USA July 10, 2005

I am pleased with what you have found out for me. I have been looking for my mother's parents for over 20 years (and maybe longer than that) and you have given me something that I have never had before - the town where they lived.
E. Armstrong, Stockton, CA, USA February 12, 2005"

Thank you for all your hard work. Your news was wonderful and I do thank you for persevering.
C. Nicholas, Exmouth, Devon, U.K., December 14, 2004

Our family had no evidence - this side of the Atlantic - that connected my great-great grandmother with her parents and siblings. Mr. Jarren established the parish she came from in Saxony and worked with the bishop's assigned researcher to establish the proven connection we needed from the baptismal register. He also provided me with a list of her paternal ancestors and her siblings. The results were splendid.
Michael J. Petrie, Hartford, Wisconsin, USA, October 7, 2004

I thought I came to a dead end while tracing back my family line. But thanks to the information that Dr. Jarren provided me, I was able to trace back another 7 generations. My entire family thanks you and I look forward to using more of your services.
B. Haupt, Sterling Heights, Michigan, USA, June 6, 2004

Dr. Jarren's work quickly got me through a "brick wall" that I had worked on for 2 years.
Robert Soli, Reading, Massachusetts, USA, May 2004

I am very pleased with the information that you have already developed on my g-grandfather in such a short time.
P. Carney, Arlington, VA, USA, March 18, 2004

I went through your reports very carefully and I'm quite impressed with the amount of research you were able to accomplish.
E. Schoenheiter Uecker, Milwaukee, WI, USA, March 9, 2004

We appreciate the promptness of your response to our queries, and the continued updates on the research being performed. We are very happy with your services!
Mrs. and Mr. Meyer, Durango, CO, USA, March 4, 2004.

We were pleased with Dr. Volker Jarren's services and fees while searching for a World War II friend.
C. Mandarano, Mocksville, NC, USA February 5, 2004

Your work is excellent.
H. Sas, N. Somerset, U.K., January 26, 2004

Thank you so much for the information. I got it all down loaded and printed. It will take me days to go through it all. Please feel free to use my name as a reference at any time. You have done a wonderful job.
William H. Kitz, Oklahoma City, OK, USA, January 5, 2004

Some examples of recent publications:

Jarren, Volker und Rascher, Sylvester B.: Jacob Klauten (Oedt) und Jacob Cloete (Südafrika). Zwei Namen, aber eine Biographie? In: Heimtatbuch Kreis Viersen (62) 2011, S. 63-72.

Jarren, Volker: The 'Status Animarum' - an early 'census' of the Prince-Bishopric Münster 1749/50, in: Der Blumenbaum. Sacramento German Genealogy Society, Volume 27 No. 3 (2010), S. 124f.

Jarren, Volker und Wex, Norbert: Wie hießen die alten Soester? In: Verein für Geschichte und Heimatpflege Soest. Mitteilungen 40 (2010), S. 9-11.

Jarren, Volker: Die Salinendirektoren von Neusalzwerk von 1814 bis 1851. Eine biographische Annäherung an Carl Friedrich Meyer, Christian Eduard Friedrich Berring und Carl Friedrich Alexander Bovet, in: Beiträge zur Heimatkunde Löhne und Bad Oeynhausen 21 (2010), S. 93-116.

Jarren, Volker: Der "Pesthauch der Cholera - Soest im Jahr 1866, in: Soester Zeitschrift 118/119 (2006/2007), S. 92-103.

Jarren, Volker: Ein Wirtshaus (Familie Barella) und seine Speisekarte, in: Soester Schau-Plätze. Historsche Orte neu erinnern. Festschrift zum 125-jährigen Bestehen des Vereins für Gesichte und Heimatpflege Soest. Herausgegeben von Norbert Wex, Soest 2006, S. 109-113.

Jarren, Volker und Wex, Norbert: Die Soester Stadtgesellschaft im Jahr 1807 - Familien, Haushalte und Erwerbstätigkeit, in: Soester Zeitschrift 117 (2005), S. 99-154.

Volker Jarren: Eine Zuwanderung mit Schwierigkeiten - der Soester Neubürger Meyer Neukamp 1846. In: Verein für Geschichte und Heimatpflege Soest. Mitteilungen 34 (2004), pp. 3-5.

Jarren, Volker: Kommunale Handwerksförderung - die Gründung des Soester Möbelma-gazins 1854, in: Soester Zeitschrift 116 (2004), S. 56-68.

Volker Jarren: Am Rande der Gesellschaft - Lebensstationen des Maurergesellen Wilhelm Krämer 1835 bis 1887. In: Verein für Geschichte und Heimatpflege Soest. Mitteilungen 33 (2003), pp. 11-14.

Volker Jarren: Europäische Diplomatie im Zeitalter Ludwigs XIV. Das Beispiel Johann Daniel Kramprichs von Kronenfeld (1622-1693). In: Jahrbuch für Europäische Geschichte 3 (2002), pp. 101-131.

Volker Jarren: The "von Herding" family in Muenster-Hiltrup ((16th to 19th century). In: Volker Jarren: Hiltruper Höfe und Familien im Mittelalter und in der Frühen Neuzeit. Bielefeld: Verlag für Regionalgeschichte 1999, pp. 314-327.

Volker Jarren: The ancestors (17th to 19th century) of Johann Joseph Stratman (community Mellrich, district Soest), Manuscript 1997.

Volker Jarren: The history of the Niemeyer/Dreyer family in Liebenau (district Nienburg, province Hanover) 17th to 19th century, Manuscript 1997.

Volker Jarren: From Schmidthachenbach to America - The Emigration of the Groh family (community Schmidthachenbach, Saar-Nahe region) in the 19th century, Manuscript 1996.

Volker Jarren: The Meyer farm in Lasbeck (peasantry Havixbeck, district Coesfeld). A tenant family history in Westphalia (18th to 20th century), Manuscript 1992.

Volker Jarren: The family history of Schulze Weddeling (17th to 20th century) in the westphalian peasantry Holthausen, community Velen-Ramsdorf, district Borken, Manuscript 1991.