The Zerr family from Neeweiler in Alsace

Georg Zerr left Alsace with his four sons on June 21, 1807, while his daughters remained in Neeweiler. The family went to Franzfeld in southern Russia¹. It is a widely ramified clan. Two women from it came to Krasna as spouses.

The most famous scion is probably a bishop. Anton Zerr * 1849, great-grandson of Georg Zerr, was Bishop of Tiraspol. He wrote a book about his clan:
A, Zerr, "Einwanderungsgeschichte der Familie Zerr in Russland".

Zerr Georges Cultivateur * 10.02.1760 Neeweiler, † 15.02.1827 Franzfeld ²
oo Zerr Eva Rosina * 22. 08. 1756 Neeweiler † 1812 Franzfeld

1. Mara-Anne * 07.09.1779 Neeweiler (stayed in Alsace)
2. Joseph * 16.06.1781 Neeweiler
3. Barbe * 03.12.1783 Neeweiler (stayed in Alsace)
4. Jean-Michel * 22.06.1785 Neeweiler
5. Antoine * 13.11.1788 Neeweiler
6. Jean³ * 12.08.1792 Neeweiler
7. Catharine * 06.06.1796 Neeweiler (stayed in Alsace)
8. Nicolaus * 17.03.1799 Neeweiler, † 4.Januar 1802, Age: 2 years old

Two women from the Zerr clan came to Krasna

Katharina and Marianna Zerr were the only Zerr name bearers to come to Krasna.

They are close relatives of the later Bishop Zerr (see below). Katharina was married to Kaspar Materi and Marianna to Georg Steiert.

Catharina Zerr

She is the daughter of Antoine and Marguarita Zerr.

Antoine ZERR *?13.11.1788 in Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, † 25.08.1866 in Franzfeld,
Spouse: Marguerite CARTHUS ? 09.12.1789 in Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, † 04.02.1865 in Franzfeld ? 21.06.1807 in Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg,

Katharina ZERR *?1809 in Franzfeld, Großliebental, † after 1850 in Bessarabien,
She married Kaspar Materi and moved with him to Krasna in 1843.

Katharina was the aunt of Anton Johannes Zerr, the later Bishop of Tiraspol.

Marianna ZERR

*?05.02.1820 in Franzfeld, † 15.09.1853 in Krasna,
She is the daughter of Jean and Katharina Zerr.

Zerr Jean * 12.08.1792 Neeweiler, † 26.07.1838 Franzfeld
oo 25.11.1812 Franzfeld Fichs Katharina, * 27.09.1797 Neeweiler, † 08.11.1860 Franzfeld

Marianna ZERR ?05.02.1820 in Franzfeld, † 15.09.1853 in Krasna,
married Georg Steiert and moved with him to Krasna in 1843.

Anton Johannes Zerr, the later Bishop of Tiraspol, is her second-degree nephew.

Anton Johannes Zerr, Bishop of Tiraspol

Anton Johannes Zerr *10.5.1849 in Franzfeld/Odessa † 5.12.1932 in Kandel/Odessa - was the first bishop of the diocese of Tiraspol to come from a German colonist family. His parents were Peter Zerr and Maria Zerr, née Braun.

Zerr Peter * ~1810 (Parents: Zerr Anton *1788, † 25 Aug 1866, Franzfeld and Kartus Margaretha * 1790)

Braun Maria * 1810, † 1895 (Parents: Joseph BRAUN 1767-1834 and Elisabeth HEISSEL 1770-1834).

Anton Johannes Zerr

• entered the boys' seminary in Saratov at the age of 13,
• studied at the Tiraspol seminary until 1871,
• was ordained a priest in 1872 and appointed administrator of the parish in Prussia (Krasnopolje).
• Five years later he received the same office in Catherine Town on the Volga, and was also appointed dean of the northern district of the Meadow Side.
• In March 1883 Pope Leo XIII appointed him auxiliary bishop and on
• on 18.12.1889 as diocesan bishop with seat in Tiraspol.

In 1917, the seat of the diocese of Tiraspol was moved from Saratov to Odessa.

In 1924, Bishop Zerr traveled to Rome to consult on the tragic state of the Church in Russia. After his return, he was persecuted by the KGB for espionage and banished from Odessa. Practically until his death, he had to change his place of residence frequently and keep it secret. He spent his last years with several families in Kandel in the Kuchurgan district. He died on 15.12.1932.

His tomb was destroyed in the turmoil following the Russian October Revolution.

Eduard Volk
Neuwied, May 2024
Eduard's ancestor is Klemens VOLK

---

Quelle:

1. "Die Kolonistenfamilie Zerr aus Franzfeld und die elsässischen Ahnen; Autor Schweitzer, J. Abgedruckt in Heimatbuch der Deutschen aus Rußland, Band 1982-1984, S. 127 - 141
2. Zerr, Andreas * Neeweiler 01.12.1777, oo mit Katharina N. wanderte ebenfalls nach Rußland aus; während sich jedoch sein älterer Bruder Georg mit seiner Familie in Franzfeld niederließ, wurde Andreas in der Kutschurganer Kolonie Selz ansässig.
3. Johannes * 1792 erbte als jüngster Sohn die Wirtschaft seines Vaters in Franzfeld: Tabelle S. 104: "# 38 Johannes Zerr; Er betreibt die Wirtschaft, die er im Frühjahr 1813 von seinem Vater Georg Zerr erhielt, 6 Jahre. Arbeiter hat er zwei." Quelle: A, Zerr, "Einwanderungsgeschichte der Familie Zerr in Russland".