Bruner Family of Western NC & Descendants

12/28/2025

Tonight's research: Maria Ursula Katharina Schäffer, my 11th-great grandmother on the Bruner line (03/28/1585 - 09/12/1635), born and died in Baden-Württemberg, Germany's southwesternmost federal state. Many of our Bruner forebears originated in either Baden-Württemberg or in the independent kingdom of Bavaria, just east of there. They occupied territory not far different from the Appalachian mountains of Western NC, where I grew up and still live. (Pro tip: I speak German fluently, but that's no guarantee when it comes to reading 450 year-old church records! This one required a ton of comparison to other records, in order to decipher the details.)

10/20/2025

We are currently accepting applications for Christmas assistance. However, if you are interested in sponsoring a child or children for Christmas, please contact me at the provided contact information below.

05/22/2024

If you're a descendant of the North Carolina Bruner clan, I've created a Family Group on Ancestry.com that members can access. It is already linked to my family's tree, and by joining the group, you can access the information I've gathered, comment, share stories and ask questions, and share as much or little of your own family tree information as you choose. I'd like to see more people participate, so we can fill in gaps in our family trees, compare notes, and share information we've accumulated!

-Steve Hawkins, Host
(Grandson of Autumn Bruner Gibbs)

https://www.ancestry.com/circles/881192/join?token=gDLtMzEKQnTc5ODSNQKrJcGAS0QDhUrmw6638GPvR40%3D

05/12/2022

Hi, Bruner Family! Here in Western NC, things have been hectic the past year or so, not to mention the COVID outbreak. Now that things are settling down, who would be interested in attending a Bruner Reunion this fall in McDowell County, NC?

My thinking is that we would find a venue where we could meet, probably on a Saturday in October or early November, when the weather here is nice and (hopefully) we aren't all consumed with as many activities and travel opportunities as during summer.

If you'd like to offer your input, comment below or feel free to message me directly (Steve Hawkins, great-grandson of John Larkin and Eliza Ann Lewis Bruner) with your comments. If there's enough interest, I'll work with my local cousins to make a plan!

03/17/2021

03/16/2021

Here are a few screenshots from Google Earth of modern Schmiederued, the home of three generations of Bruner (Brunner) ancestors between 1475 and 1580. I have traveled in Switzerland more times than I can count, but never actually been to this village (yet!). In the meantime, Google Earth is a great way to “tour” our ancestral homelands virtually!

12/25/2019

Merry Christmas to Bruners far and wide! As they say in the homeland, Fröhe Weihnachten!

11/17/2019

It was great seeing everyone who got to come out today! Thanks for a fun afternoon and lots of laughs. We made some wonderful new contacts and will soon be creating a way to share Bruner genealogy resources online for everyone to access. If you have photographs, family history details, or stories you'd be willing to share, please contact Steve Hawkins and we'll add them to the growing collection!

11/16/2019

Macedonia Baptist Church
1372 Macedonia Church Loop, Nebo, NC 28761

★★★★★ · Baptist church · 1372 Macedonia Church Loop

11/14/2019

DON'T FORGET!!
Bruner Family Reunion in McDowell County, NC THIS SATURDAY, November 16!! 12:00-3:00 at Macedonia Baptist Church. Message for more info!! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!