These famous people with German roots have left their mark on the USA

Famous Americans with roots in Germany: we introduce you to a number of really surprising examples

23.05.2025

Sandra Bullock — Sandra Bullock © dpa

More than ten percent of all people in the USA say that they or their ancestors come from Germany. We list a few famous examples:

Presidents and politicians

Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower – the ancestors of the famous Second World War general and 34th president of the USA came from the Odenwald region south of Frankfurt. They can be traced back to Hans Nikolaus Eisenhauer, who was born in 1691. — Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower – the ancestors of the famous Second World War general and 34th president of the USA came from the Odenwald region south of Frankfurt. They can be traced back to Hans Nikolaus Eisenhauer, who was born in 1691. © dpa

Henry Kissinger – the longstanding US secretary of state was born Heinz Alfred Kissinger in Fürth, a town close to Nuremberg in Bavaria. His family fled to New York City to escape the Nazis in 1938. — Henry Kissinger – the longstanding US secretary of state was born Heinz Alfred Kissinger in Fürth, a town close to Nuremberg in Bavaria. His family fled to New York City to escape the Nazis in 1938. © dpa

Donald Trump – the ancestors of the current US president were from Kallstadt near Bad Dürkheim. Friedrich Trump, his grandfather, was born there in 1869 and emigrated to the USA in 1885. — Donald Trump – the ancestors of the current US president were from Kallstadt near Bad Dürkheim. Friedrich Trump, his grandfather, was born there in 1869 and emigrated to the USA in 1885. © dpa

Barack Obama – the ancestors of Obama’s mother emigrated to America from Besigheim near Stuttgart in 1750. — Barack Obama – the ancestors of Obama’s mother emigrated to America from Besigheim near Stuttgart in 1750. © dpa

Industrialists and inventors

Heinrich E. Steinway – Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg was born in Seesen in 1797. He emigrated to the USA in 1850 and changed his name to Steinway. One of his sons, Theodor Steinweg, made pianos in Germany under the name Steinweg. — Heinrich E. Steinway – Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg was born in Seesen in 1797. He emigrated to the USA in 1850 and changed his name to Steinway. One of his sons, Theodor Steinweg, made pianos in Germany under the name Steinweg. © dpa

William Edward Boeing was born in Detroit to German emigrant parents in 1881. The aviation pioneer founded a company that bears his name and is known worldwide. — William Edward Boeing was born in Detroit to German emigrant parents in 1881. The aviation pioneer founded a company that bears his name and is known worldwide. © dpa

John Jacob Bausch – the optician emigrated to the USA in 1849 and found the company Bausch & Lomb for optical products there. Their most famous product: Ray-Ban glasses. — John Jacob Bausch – the optician emigrated to the USA in 1849 and found the company Bausch & Lomb for optical products there. Their most famous product: Ray-Ban glasses. © dpa

Levi Strauss – born Löb Strauss in Buttenheim in Bavaria in 1829. He invented denim jeans as sturdy workman’s trousers. — Levi Strauss – born Löb Strauss in Buttenheim in Bavaria in 1829. He invented denim jeans as sturdy workman’s trousers. © dpa

Business people in the food and beverages sector

Eberhard Anheuser – emigrated to the USA from Bad Kreuzbach near Mainz in 1842. His Anheuser brewery was renamed Anheuser-Busch when his son-in-law Adolphus Busch joined the business. — Eberhard Anheuser – emigrated to the USA from Bad Kreuzbach near Mainz in 1842. His Anheuser brewery was renamed Anheuser-Busch when his son-in-law Adolphus Busch joined the business. © dpa

Henry J. Heinz – the son of German emigrants in Pittsburgh, PA, he founded the Heinz Company in 1869 and launched his ketchup onto the market seven years later. Today, his company is one of the world’s largest food corporations. — Henry J. Heinz – the son of German emigrants in Pittsburgh, PA, he founded the Heinz Company in 1869 and launched his ketchup onto the market seven years later. Today, his company is one of the world’s largest food corporations. © dpa

Richard Hellmann – was born in the town of Vetschau in the Spreewald region south of Berlin. He emigrated to New York City in 1903, and in around 1905 mixed the first Hellmann’s mayonnaise in his deli. Given that it’s sold in supermarkets all over the world nowadays, it must have tasted pretty good. — Richard Hellmann – was born in the town of Vetschau in the Spreewald region south of Berlin. He emigrated to New York City in 1903, and in around 1905 mixed the first Hellmann’s mayonnaise in his deli. Given that it’s sold in supermarkets all over the world nowadays, it must have tasted pretty good. © dpa

Frederick Miller – born in Reidlingen in southwestern Germany in 1824, he learnt the brewery craft from his uncle. It was clear that he was a master of his trade when he emigrated to Milwaukee in the mid-19th century and bought a brewery there: people loved his beer. — Frederick Miller – born in Reidlingen in southwestern Germany in 1824, he learnt the brewery craft from his uncle. It was clear that he was a master of his trade when he emigrated to Milwaukee in the mid-19th century and bought a brewery there: people loved his beer. © IMAGO / Imago ImagesMedien

Scientists and scholars

Hannah Arendt – fled to Paris in 1933 and then to New York in 1941 to escape the Nazis. A philosopher and political scientist,she taught at various US universities. — Hannah Arendt – fled to Paris in 1933 and then to New York in 1941 to escape the Nazis. A philosopher and political scientist,she taught at various US universities. © dpa

Julius Oppenheimer – born to German emigrants in New York. A brilliant physicist, he headed the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the atomic bomb. — Julius Oppenheimer – born to German emigrants in New York. A brilliant physicist, he headed the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the atomic bomb. © dpa

Maria Goeppert-Mayer – the physicist emigrated from Göttingen to the USA in 1930, and in 1963 was the second woman after Marie Curie to win the Nobel prize for her nuclear shell model. — Maria Goeppert-Mayer – the physicist emigrated from Göttingen to the USA in 1930, and in 1963 was the second woman after Marie Curie to win the Nobel prize for her nuclear shell model. © dpa

Celebs

Elvis Presley – Johann Valentin Pressler, the ancestor of the “King of Rock and Roll”, emigrated to America from the village of Niederhochstadt in Germany’s south Palatinate region in 1709. Elvis met his future wife Priscilla during his Army years in Bad Nauheim near Frankfurt in 1959. — Elvis Presley – Johann Valentin Pressler, the ancestor of the “King of Rock and Roll”, emigrated to America from the village of Niederhochstadt in Germany’s south Palatinate region in 1709. Elvis met his future wife Priscilla during his Army years in Bad Nauheim near Frankfurt in 1959. © dpa

Sandra Bullock – the daughter of German opera singer Helga Meyer was born in Arlington County VA but then lived in Nuremberg until she was twelve, when she moved back to the States. — Sandra Bullock – the daughter of German opera singer Helga Meyer was born in Arlington County VA but then lived in Nuremberg until she was twelve, when she moved back to the States. © dpa

Bruce Willis – was born to a US soldier and a German mother in Idar-Oberstein in 1955. Young Bruce lived in Germany for two years before moving to the States with his family. — Bruce Willis – was born to a US soldier and a German mother in Idar-Oberstein in 1955. Young Bruce lived in Germany for two years before moving to the States with his family. © dpa

Meryl Streep – Gottfried Streeb, great-great-grandfather of perhaps the greatest actress of her generation, emigrated in the mid-19th century to the US from Loffenau in Baden-Württemberg. Her mother was also of German ancestry. — Meryl Streep – Gottfried Streeb, great-great-grandfather of perhaps the greatest actress of her generation, emigrated in the mid-19th century to the US from Loffenau in Baden-Württemberg. Her mother was also of German ancestry. © dpa

Billy Joel – Karl Amson Joel, the singer-songwriter’s grandfather, fled from Nuremberg to escape the Nazis and emigrated via Switzerland to the USA, where Billy was then born in New York. — Billy Joel – Karl Amson Joel, the singer-songwriter’s grandfather, fled from Nuremberg to escape the Nazis and emigrated via Switzerland to the USA, where Billy was then born in New York. © dpa

Ruth Westheimer – legendary sex therapist Dr. Ruth was born near Würzburg. Her family took her from Frankfurt to Switzerland to keep her safe from the Nazis, but her parents were murdered. She joined the Haganah to fight for Israel’s independence and emigrated to the US to study at university. — Ruth Westheimer – legendary sex therapist Dr. Ruth was born near Würzburg. Her family took her from Frankfurt to Switzerland to keep her safe from the Nazis, but her parents were murdered. She joined the Haganah to fight for Israel’s independence and emigrated to the US to study at university. © dpa

Athletes and sportspeople

Lou Gehrig – one of the best baseball players in the sport’s history was born Ludwig Heinrich Gehrig to poor German emigrants in Manhattan in 1903. — Lou Gehrig – one of the best baseball players in the sport’s history was born Ludwig Heinrich Gehrig to poor German emigrants in Manhattan in 1903. © dpa

Babe Ruth – the baseball legend had a maternal grandfather, Pius Schamberger, who had emigrated to America in the 19th century from Germany. Georg Ruth, his paternal ancestor, also emigrated in the 18th century. — Babe Ruth – the baseball legend had a maternal grandfather, Pius Schamberger, who had emigrated to America in the 19th century from Germany. Georg Ruth, his paternal ancestor, also emigrated in the 18th century. © dpa

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