Researchers into the early history of the Landers, Landes, Landiss and Landiss lines soon discover that not all the family branches can be traced back to a common root. It does appear that much of the immigration of those familes into the United States was due to the religious persecution of the Anabaptist preacher Hans Landis (b. 1553) and his family, but provable links of all our various branches to Rev. Landis have yet to be found. The following are among the many branches being studied.

John Landers (b. bet. 1694 - 1724)

This branch appears to have begun in Alsace-Lorraine, from whence John immigrated to Pennsylvania. John soon moved to North Carolina (about 1753), and then some of the family found land in Tennessee. Part of the family stayed in Tennessee, while others found that the land they thought was waiting for them there was not theirs after all, and they continued into Indiana and Illinois. Still others remained in North Carolina, while George T. and several of his family moved to Arkansas in the 1850's. Roger Rice Landers has been an immense help in straightening out the many convolutions of this line.

Christopher Landers (b. abt. 1710)

Christopher was born about 1710 in Germany and died about 1771 in North Carolina. This is the line which includes the noted genealogist John Tannahill Landiss (b. 1866).

Christian Landes (1710 - 1782)

This appears to be the Christian who arrived in the United States on the ship Harle in 1736. Linda E. has done much work on this line and reports at least 20 sons named Christian in the first three generations. There is currently no data for this line on this Web site. Karen McPherson has posted data on the Christian Landes line.

Fredrick Landis (b. 1739)

Fredrick Landis was born in 1739 in Germany and came to Pennsylvania about ten years later. I have very little data on this line, which is best known for its inclusion of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, first Commissioner of Baseball.

Jacob Landis (b. 1808)

Jacob was born in 1808 and by 1850 lived in Missouri. I have very little information on this line, which is currently being researched by Isabel Whitehurst Luff. She has evidence that this is part of the Fredrick Landis line (above).

Count Pepin de Landis

Summary

Several Landers/Landis individuals immigrated to the United States, usually from Germany. There could easily be some relationships between them - Rev. William Landiss notes that Fredrick was the youngest of ten brothers - but I know of no evidence confirming the nature of those relationships.

I invite other researchers to review the data I have posted here, and suggest corrections and additions. I do not claim that much of the research compiled here is original, as I have relied heavily on the studious work of others to try to put together the story of the Landiss families. With your help, we may some day find the correct link back to Rev. Hans Landis in Switzerland. Thank you!