Welcome!
The Dillman Family Association is a genealogical society dedicated to researching the heritage of Dillman families and all variant spellings — Tillman, Dillmann, Stillman, and more — worldwide. Since 2002 we have connected researchers, published quarterly newsletters, organized biennial conferences, and run an active Y-DNA project that has identified over 15 distinct Dillman lines of descent. Whether you are a seasoned genealogist or just beginning to trace your Dillman roots, we invite you to join us.
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The 2026 Dillman Genealogical Conference Has Wrapped Up
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Erlanger, Kentucky, August 7–9, 2026, for the 14th Dillman Genealogical Conference, themed “250 Years of Dillmans” in recognition of the 250th anniversary of American independence and the deep roots Dillman families have in that history.
The program included sessions from invited speakers Dave Gilbert (SAR) on Revolutionary War history and its long reverberations, Amber Oldenburg (BYU-Idaho) on an overlooked census of American women, and Stuart Martin (SAR) on the Patriot Burial Markers Program, including the restoration of the Andrew Dillman gravesite in Bracken County, Kentucky. DFA members also presented: Andrew Stillman on Dillman families of Ohio and the future of genealogical research tools, Daniel Dillman on the DFA website, Terry Tomsick on “How do we ensure our genealogical and family treasures endure?” and Rod Dillman, who conducted the election of officers.
It was wonderful to connect with fellow researchers and celebrate the Dillman Families. We’re already looking forward to the next one, planned for the Chicago area in August 2028.
What’s New at DFA This Summer
If you haven’t visited the site in a while, there’s a great deal to explore. Over the past two months we’ve published more than two dozen new articles across four active categories — all accessible by clicking the DNA Blog link in the navigation menu. The Genetic Genealogy series now runs from DNA testing basics through chromosome browsers, DNA clustering and the Leeds Method, the Dillman DNA Project, genetic privacy, visual phasing, and DNA Painter — a complete practical introduction to modern genetic genealogy tools. The Industry News category has added articles on what your ethnicity percentages actually mean, what ancient DNA research is revealing about our central European origins, and an honest assessment of Ancestry’s new AI features. Sites & Software covers Gramps, MacFamilyTree, The Master Genealogist, Fold3, and Findmypast. New Dillman Families articles examine naming patterns across the 163 documented family groups and the geographic settlement of Dillman lines across North America.
Beyond the articles, we’ve added a new newsletter index that brings past DFA newsletters together in one searchable location for the first time. The DNA Information Links page has been reorganized by category for easier browsing, the Membership page has a fresh layout, and the site has been substantially improved for mobile devices — if you’ve been frustrated trying to navigate on a phone or tablet, give it another try.
📚 New Research Resources
We have significantly expanded our research resources this year, including a complete index of all 57 issues of the Dillman News newsletter. Whether you are just beginning or working on a specific brick wall, these new pages will help:
- Start Here — New to Dillman research? Begin here for a step-by-step guide
- Dillman Surname Index — Search all 163 known Dillman family groups instantly
- Searching for Surname Variants — How to find Dillman/Dillmann/Dielmann/Tillman in genealogy databases
- German & European Records Guide — Researching origins in Hesse, Baden, the Rhineland, Alsace, and Volga colonies
- Dillman Research Tips — Advice specific to Dillman family research accumulated over 20+ years
- Migration Map — Interactive map of Dillman settlement patterns across North America
- Newsletter Index — Summaries of all 57 issues of Dillman News from Vol. 1 No. 1 (2008) through Vol. 16 No. 4 (2024), searchable by name, family group, or topic
The Dillman Family Association book is here!
Our new book, Discovering Dillman Families Throughout The World has been released, and is available for purchase! For more information, please learn more about the book or in the menu. The Dillman Family Association is also working to place copies of this book in repositories where Dillmans have had some history. We have already sent copies to the Library of Congress, the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, DAR, FamilySearch/LDS and other obvious choices, but there may be other locations that would benefit from having a copy. If you have any suggestions, we would like to know.
Here’s the wonderful Dillman Family Association introduction video from our August 2020 virtual conference: