People
125 representative Fondas
Explore a cross-section of Fonda family branches, occupations, places and historical eras. Story subjects are presented separately in Stories.
Explore →Fonda family genealogy
Four centuries of family history and genealogy.
Explore descendants of Jellis Douw Fonda (1615-1659), who came from the Netherlands to America in 1651, and follow the family through people, places, stories and resources.
Jellis Douw Fonda arrived in Fort Orange (now Albany) in 1651, "he was accompanied by his wife, Hester Jans, and three children, a son Douwe, aged about eleven years, and daughters Geertien and Sara, aged about nine and seven years, respectively."
400+years of family history
10,000+people represented in the wider genealogy database
1651first known Fonda record in Fort Orange
July 10, 2026current full genealogy release
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This website highlights key historical/genealogical information. For the full Fonda genealogy database, download the current GEDCOM or searchable Ancestral Author PDF.
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One archive, six ways in
Explore selected people, stories, places, military service, research sources, and the complete genealogy.
Stories
34 curated stories
Narrative family history—wars, migrations, enterprise, origins, public life and cultural episodes drawn from the family archive.
Explore →Places
32 named places & landmarks
Explore a curated U.S. directory of towns, roads, waterways, buildings and historic sites carrying the exact Fonda name.
Explore →Military
351 service records
Explore military service across five war-era groups, with links to People profiles where identities are clear.
Explore →Research & Sources
Sources & methodology
Browse key sources, research methods, online resources, and the searchable bibliography supporting the family history.
Explore →Full Genealogy
Complete GEDCOM & PDF
Download the complete genealogy release, updated quarterly. Current release: July 10, 2026.
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Featured research
Where in the world is the Fonda surname found?
Updated October 6, 2026: compare modern worldwide estimates with the original 2004 directory survey, U.S. state patterns, the Trieste concentration, and evidence for distinct surname lineages.
Featured research story
Which ship carried the Fonda family to America?
Available records narrow the migration to a window between late 1650 and October 1651 and identify two possible ships without surviving passenger lists.