My of us North Americans here at the close of the 20th Century find ourselves walking unfamiliar paths when we begin working with records from long ago and far away. I've begun to collect here some tips and guidance which may help out. These are collected from genealogical e-mail lists, direct e-mail to me, and other sources. If you have anything to add, I'd appreciate your .
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 19:11:11
I found this on another list that I belong to. I have been doing research
for 18 years, and have always had trouble with GERMAN names. Read on and
learn...Very helpful in looking in your German heritage.
Michael
For new researchers in German lines, a word of caution. There was a first name and a calling name, so John Jacob would have that name on church records, and perhaps on deeds, etc., but for anything else, he would be known as Jacob.
There was a naming order for families. This was observed especially with the Mennonites. The first two sons were named after the child's Grandfathers. It was usually the father's side first honored unless the Mother's Father had died before the Father's Father and the Father's Father was still living. The female's were named in like order. They believed in honoring their fathers and mothers. This naming order started to go out in the 1840's.
Nicknames can cause trouble. These are some among the Penn. Germans. Anton (Anthony) was nicknamed Tunis. Barbara was Bevvy. Dietrich became Dieter. Elizabeth could be Eliz, Eliza, or Lis. Johannans was Hans or Hannes. Magdalena became Matti, Matta, Lena, or Molly. Maria was changed to Mary with the nickname of Polly or Molly. Nicholas (Nicholaus) was Nickel or Claus. Anna or Ann had the nickname of Nancy or Nan. Catharina was Kate or Katie. Christoph (Christopher) was Stoffell and was confused with Christian whose nickname was Christ or Christli. Gottfried (Godfrey, Geofrey, english) was confused with Frederick with the nickname of Fritz. Margretha was nicknamed Peggy or Maggie. Valentin (Valentine) became Felty. Fronika became Fanny. Ludwig can be Ludwick or Lewis. Bernhare, Bernd, and Barnet became Bernard. It may be Anna Marie on her birth record and Anne on the census, or even Mary Anne.
Don't be like the woman who saved for years to go to England and look for a relative named Mary. She found no references and went home disappointed, but not so disappointed as when she found out Polly was used as Mary and there were many references to Polly, which she has ignored.
Happy hunting,
Theda (Bare) Williamson
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 21:01:31
Another word of caution: there were apparently two forms of John. If the
name was Johann, the following is true - the person went by the middle
name, and all boys in the family might have been named Johann (something).
However, if the name was Johannes, he would have gone by the name John.
This is one more reason to not anglicize names. I have several
John/Johann/Johannes names in my background and it becomes a real guessing
game which form it would have been and what name I should be looking for in
archives.
Bob Harter
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 22:04:43
Thought I'd put in my 2 cents here. Both German, and French, tend to put a
Saint's name as the first name with the individual's name as the middle name.
I have come to discover this the hard way... for BOTH ethnic groups. With my
French Acadian lines especially and it is VERY confusing trying to sort out
the siblings and the various generations.... they ALL start with 'Jean' and
'Marie'... THEN their call names, also tend to repeat.... Yes. Very
confusing.
It all rides with St. John and the 'virgin' Mary... no matter whose ethnicity
we're talking about.
I like my English, Irish, Scot and Welsh much better... though they also name
via the Saints. But they tend to forward the previous surnames, as middle
names, plus the regular 'commonly used' names. Nice way to know when I've
found the correct lines!
Isn't it fun trying to sort out all of the Sarah "Sally", Martha "Patsy", Mary
"Polly" and Elizabeth's? The guys aren't any easier.... Samuel, Robert,
James, Charles, and of course, John....
Lisa Grimes
Sources:
Theda
(Bare) Williamson
Michael O.
Reck
Bob
Harter
Lisa Grimes
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