SURNAMES & THEIR ORIGINS

DRAEGER (Ger) dräger or trager, which translates to carrier or bearer.

KUMM (Ger) kumme, meaning come. The surname has its origins primarily in Germany, particularly in the regions of Saxony and Meissen.

MARX (Ger) derived from the Latin name Marcus; most famously associated with the philosopher Karl Marx also linked to the Roman god Mars.

MEIER (Ger) mei(g)er, which means manager or headman of a lord’s estate, and is related to the Latin maior domus, meaning head of the household or chief steward. In medieval times, a Meier would often oversee land, property, or resources on behalf of a noble or community, functioning similarly to a mayor or estate manager.

St Florian Church at Chodzież

The family joined a group of Lutheran Poles from the Chodzież Region who had arrived at Bluff and first settled at Georgetown, now a suburb of Invercargill.

“Letters of naturalisation, under the Aliens Act, 1866, have been granted in favor of the under-mentioned persons, viz. Carll Yortt, blacksmith. Greenstone; John Ludwig Marks, Tailor, Invercargill; John Joseph Schneider, Tailor, Invercargill; Jacob Alsweiter, cooper, Invercargill; George Frederick Wurster, carpenter, Invercargill; Jozeph Davies, licensed victualler, Dunedin; Manoel Joaquin Silveira, farmer, Great Barrier Island.” Southland Times, 3 July 1875, p 2.

At Georgetown was born Paul Ernie (b. 1876–d. 1923), at Winton: Albert Edward (b. 1877–d. 1953), Emma Louisa (b. 1880–d. 1914), Sophie Adeline (b. 1883–d. 1896), William John (b. 1885–d. 1906), at Georgetown: Clara Mary (b. 1886–d. 1886), John Ludwig (b. 1889–d. 1889), Winifred Lizzie (b. 1891–d. 1852), Arthur Herbert (b. 1891–d. 1962) and James (b. 1893). Augusta died on 7 July 1900 at Tay Street, Invercargill and was buried at the Eastern Cemetery in Invercargill.

Johann married in 1903 to Elizabeth Aitken (b. 1858–d. 1924), the daughter of James Aitken and Elizabeth Christie Walker. Elizabeth had been previously married in 1876 to George Clark (b. 1852–d. 1893) and had their family born at Invercargill: Alexander George (b. 1876–d. 1952), Elizabeth Christie Hudson (b. 1881–d. 1901), George (b. 1883–d. 1971), James Aitken (b. 1885–d. 1917), Thomas Aitken (b. 1885–d. 1940), Catherine McGregor (b. 1886–d. 1972), Lilias Aitken (b. 1888–d. 1965) and Aimee Bruce (b. 1892–d. 1929).

“DEATHS. MARKS —At Invercargill on Saturday, 22nd September, 1923, Paul (Sam) eldest son of John and Augusta Marks. “A Patient Sufferer at Rest.” The funeral will leave his parents’ residence, 77 Kelvin Street, at 1.30 p.m. on Monday the 24th inst., for the Eastern Cemetery. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation.—Kingsland & Ferguson, Undertakers.” Southland Times, 24 September 1923, p 4.

Elizabeth died on 30 April 1924 at Invercargill and was buried at the Eastern Cemetery in Invercargill.

“DEATH. MARKS—At the residence of her son-in-law, Mr Janies Gilbertson, 5 Mitchell Street, East Invercargill, on Wednesday, 30th April, 1924, Elizabeth, the dearly beloved wife, of John L. Marks; aged 66 years. Funeral notice later.—J. Fraser & Co., Undertakers.” Southland Times, 1 May 1924, p 4.

Johann Ludwig died on 27 February 1935 at Catherine Street in Invercargill and was buried with his first wife at the Eastern Cemetery in Invercargill.

“DEATHS. MARKS —At the residence of his son-in-law, Mr James Gerrard, 105 Catherine Street, on Wednesday, 27th February, 1935, John Ludwig Marks in his 90th year. (At Rest). The funeral will leave the residence at 2.30 p.m. on Friday, 1st March, 1935, for the Eastern Cemetery. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation.—Cowley & Co., Undertakers.” Southland Times, 28 February 1935, p 6.

Amanda Amelia Marx was born on 7 February 1874. She married in 1899 to Walter John Renolds, the son of William and Sarah Reynolds. They settled at Lumsden where they gave birth to Walter (b. 1900–d. 1976), Stella Augusta (b. 1901–d. 1989), Edric Victor (b. 1905–d. 1977) and Ivan Oswald (b. 1914–d. 1994). Amanda died on 2 November 1929 at Lumsden and was buried at the Lumsden Cemetery. Walter died on 26 February 1960 at Lumsden and was buried with his wife.

“DEATHS. REYNOLDS—At Lumsden, on October 30, 1929, Amanda Amelia, beloved wife of Walter John Reynolds; aged 55 years. The funeral will leave her late residence on Saturday, November 2, at 2 p.m. for -Lumsden Cemetery. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation.—J. Williamson & Co., Undertakers.” Southland Times, 1 November 1929, p 6.

John Ludwig and Augusta Marks at Eastern Cemetery Block 21 General Plot 164

Walter John and Amanda Amelia Reynolds at Lumsden Cemetery Block 6 Plot 13

Research Sources

Chodzież & Czarnków Lutheran Parish records

New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Naturalisations, Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Websites

Eastern Cemetery – Justina (Augusta) Wilhelmine Marks (1853-1900) – FindAGrave

Eastern Cemetery – John Ludwig Marks (1846-1935) – FindAGrave

Lumsden Cemetery – Amanda Amelia Reynolds (1874-1929) – FindAGrave

Compiled by Paul Klemick (2026)

Poles in New Zealand   We would like to hear from Poles or people with any Polish connection, who visited New Zealand and particularly those of you who paid a visit or lived anywhere in Otago or Southland.
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Polski  “Poles Down South” jest stroną internetową organizacji polonijnej w Nowej Zelandii działającej w rejonie Otago i Southland na Wyspie Południowej. Siedzibą organizacji jest Dunedin.