Home

Schwarz is a very common name in Germany, particularly in the Back Forest region. Schwarz is German for 'Black'. If you go to the cemetery in Unterharmersbach it's full of Schwarz's. The first of our Schwarz family to come to the UK, Anton, left Germany in 1861. We know this because we have a copy of his permit to travel dated 1861. The first record of him in the UK is in the 1861 Census for Flint, North Wales. he opened his first shop in Whitford Street, Holywell in 1864, we know this because the first ever advertisement for Anthony Schwarz appeared in the Flintshire Observer on 2nd December 1864. He appears in the census in 1871, living at Whitford Street. This street is an important part of our history for the next 145 years, my father was born there in 1923. There is still a shop in Whitford Street today and many of our cousins live in the Holywell area.

We know that he lived in Oberharmersbach, in fact he is recorded as being born in Wickersbach which is a suburb of Oberharmersbach. However, for generations before, his family had lived in Unterharmersbach which is a town further down the same valley, his father was born there, and his grandfather, Christian, and his great grandfather Chistian, born about 1760.

As you can see, Christian was a popular name in our Schwarz family but the name literally died out when Anton's Brother, Christian, died in birth in 1843. So if you're looking for a name for your Schwarz son, why not revive the name Christian?

I am very keen to add to, and improve the accuracy and depth of the information on this site. I would love to hear from you if you can help.

Please contact me: paul@schwarz.me.uk