Germany Naming Customs: Difference between revisions

Gender and grammar can affect German word endings. Feminine names often end with -in. For example, Barbara Meyer may appear as Barbara Meyerin. Germans occasionally use -chen and -lein as diminutive endings meaning “little.” Gretchen could be translated little Greta (Margret). The endings -s or -es show possession. Hermann Josefs Sohn would mean Joseph's son Hermann.  

Some surnames do end in ''"-in," ''however.  To make sure of whether this is a feminine ending for the surname you're looking at, or truly part of the surname, try to find an surname index to the record you are searching, even if it doesn't start until many years later.  You could also search pages back and forth in the record looking for a male with that basic surname.