History

Questions on Amish origins and history

Anabaptist Past

  1. Where do the Amish come from?
  2. Where does the name “Amish” come from?
  3. Who was Jakob Ammann?
  4. Who was Menno Simons?
  5. Who were the Anabaptists?
  6. Who was Dirk Willems?
  7. When did the Amish come to America?
  8. Which is the oldest Amish community?
  9. When did Amish disappear in Europe?
  10. Do the Amish change over time?

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Where do the Amish come from?

The Amish story is part of the greater Anabaptist movement in Europe, with the first Anabaptists emerging in Zurich, Switzerland in the early 1500s. Anabaptists later lived in locations including Germany, France, Holland and other regions of Europe. The harder-line Amish movement emerged from within the greater Anabaptist movement in 1693.

Where does the name “Amish” come from?

Jakob Amman was an Anabaptist leader who took a harder line on religious practices than his brethren. Amman preached a stronger interpretation of the doctrine of social shunning among other issues. Disagreement led to a split in 1693, with the followers of Amman becoming known as Amish.

Who was Jakob Ammann?

Jakob Ammann was a Swiss Elder and, via a church schism, founder of the Amish branch of Anabaptism. Ammann sought reform in the form of more frequent communion services and the practice of regular social avoidance (shunning), which others practiced only symbolically. Amman’s conflicts with other leaders which he perceived as spiritually lax (notably elder Hans Reist) ultimately proved unresolvable.

In 1693, Ammann excommunicated Reist and a number of other ministers, leading to a division in the faith. Today, Ammann is a controversial figure, with some believing he acted rashly. Nonetheless, Ammann’s convictions resulted in a church thriving at 300,000 strong over three centuries later.

Who was Menno Simons?

Menno Simons was an important 16th-century Anabaptist leader in the Netherlands. Simons was a former Catholic priest who joined the Anabaptists in 1530, in the early years of the movement. The name “Mennonites” originates from Simons. Read more on Menno Simons at GAMEO.org.

Who were the Anabaptists?

The Anabaptist movement was a religious reform movement which took place against the backdrop of the Protestant reformation and eventually birthed the Amish over 150 years after it began.

A key point of dispute for the early leaders of this movement was the issue of infant baptism. Since members of the movement rebaptized themselves, they earned the derogatory name “Anabaptists”. Anabaptists were persecuted and martyred for their beliefs. Read more.

Who was Dirk Willems?

Dirk Willems is one of the best-known Anabaptist martyrs for his remarkable story of mercy towards one of his would-be assailants. While being chased following his escape from prison over an ice-covered river, his pursuer fell into the water and was in danger of drowning.

Willems returned and saved the man, who wished to let him go free; however another authority intervened and Willems was burned at the stake in 1569. Willems’ well-known story can be found in the book Martyrs Mirror.

When did the Amish immigrate to America?

Amish largely came to America in two main waves of immigration, one taking place in the mid-1700s, and a second, larger group from the early- to mid-1800s. Amish in the first wave settled in eastern Pennsylvania, while immigrants in the second wave mainly landed in destinations outside of the Keystone State, including in the Midwest, Ontario, and New York state.

Which is the oldest Amish community?

The Lancaster County settlement, founded sometime around 1760, is the oldest. Pennsylvania is also home to the two next oldest settlements, both also started in the 1700s (Somerset County and Mifflin County). Read about the others in our list of the ten oldest Amish communities.

oldest-amish-community
Lancaster County is home to the oldest Amish community in existence.

When did Amish disappear in Europe?

The last Amish community in Europe merged with a more progressive church in 1937. No Old Order Amish live in Europe today, though some Beachy Amish churches can be found there.

Do the Amish change over time?

Despite appearances, the Amish are not a static people, and do change over time. They slowly adopt new technologies and adapt to changing times, while preserving what they feel are the most important ways of their forefathers.

Some aspects of the Amish change little or not at all, such as their church music, practice of non-resistance, or rejection of public power, while other elements of Amish life are more flexible. Different Amish groups and churches change at different rates. Some could be considered rather progressive, while others accept changes very slowly.

More questions on the Amish? Get answers to 300+ questions in 41 categories at the FAQ main page.

References:

  • Nolt, Steven M. A History of the Amish. Intercourse, Pa: Good Books, 1992.
  • Braght, Thieleman J. van. The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs’ Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951.

To Cite this Page: Wesner, Erik J. “History.” Amish America. Erik Wesner, 11 Feb. 2015. Web. [Date Accessed]. <https://amishamerica.com/history/>.

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    2 Comments

    1. Andrea Ballard

      Pennsylvania Dutch history in Kentucky

      I was a little disturbed by the comment that “the first Amish community in Kentucky was established in the 1950’s”. Some of my ancestors, specificly The Boyer (Beier, Byer, Baer, Beyer) and Lemmon (Lehman, Lemon, Lemmen) families settled in Harrison County, Kentucky as early as the 1790’s. Both of these families came here from Pennsylvania and had lived in the Adams County and Lancaster County areas. The Patriarchs of both families were originally from Germany and immigrated to America somewhere between 1755 and 1775. Can you clarify for me why you think the Pennsylvania Dutch did not come to Kentucky until 1950?

      1. Hi Andrea, interesting to hear about your ancestors. In answer to your question, “Amish” and “Pennsylvania Dutch” are not synonyms.

        Amish are considered Pennsylvania Dutch but there are many others that are/were considered PA Dutch but not Amish–including Mennonites, Lutheran and Reformed. That may very well be the case with your relatives. There is only one name I immediately recognize as belonging to Amish (Lehman) among those you list, and of course there are and were non-Amish Lehmans.

        Here’s an interview we did with Dr. Rob Reynolds, an expert on PA German/PA Dutch society, where you’ll find more on the topic that might be of interest (one quote from Dr. Reynolds: “The vast majority of Pennsylvania Germans were Lutheran and Reformed church members.”)

        https://amishamerica.com/pa-german-society/