In 1709 a ship arrived on the shores of New York harbor carrying a man named Johann Dieter Ellrod and his family, the only Elrod link to Germany, verified by the board of trade list. The names Ellrod, Elrod, Elrodt, Ellrodt, Elrot, Ellrot, Elroot, Ellroot, Elroyd, Allrod, Alrod, Allrodt, Elrat, Elrad, Elradt, Ellrad, El Rod, El Rode, El Rodes, Elrode, Elrodes, Ellrodts, Elrodts are as synonymous as surnames can be. Different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence. As time passes, letters and syllables get dropped and changed, however, the surname and lineage can be traced backed to one man in Germany, Jacob Ellrod. Although the bearers of the old and distinguished name comprise a small fraction of the population, there are a number of them who have established for it a significant place in history. This book is a compilation of information about the descendants of Jacob Ellrod. The historical account begins with the earliest record of existence and is traced through to modern day, including the political and religious unrest that drove some of them to a new land called America .