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Identifying Place Names in German documents (view source)
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=== IDENTIFYING | === IDENTIFYING PLACES NAMES IN GERMAN DOCUMENTS === | ||
==== Introduction ==== | ==== Introduction ==== | ||
What do these place names have in common: ''Geminipontis''? ''Duobus Pontibus''? ''Biponte''? ''Deuxponts''? ''2brücken''? ''Czweynbrucken''? ''Tzweinbrucken''? Each place refers to the locality name ''Zweibrücken ''as found in original German documents. Interpreting place names in German documents can be challenging, even for experienced researchers.<br> When you find two or three German family researchers huddled around one microfilm reader in animated conversation, with puzzled looks on their faces, they may be trying to determine the correct spelling of a place name [or surname]. Place names as they occur in German documents are not really misspelled. They reflect the language, dialect, the education, and sometimes even the frugality of the scribe. The location [place] where the document was written must also be taken into consideration. | |||
Researchers should ask these questions: | Researchers should ask these questions: | ||
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*When was the document written? | *When was the document written? | ||
*Is the handwriting difficult to decipher? | *Is the handwriting difficult to decipher? | ||
*Could the | *Could the name have been abbreviated? | ||
*Who was the scribe? | *Who was the scribe? | ||
Answering these questions will help you determine the spelling of a given name so you can locate the place name on modern maps and in modern gazetteers. Luckily, modern resources, like "reverse-sort indexes" and gazetteers available on the Internet, can help simplify the | Answering these questions will help you determine the spelling of a given name so you can locate the place name on modern maps and in modern gazetteers. Luckily, modern resources, like "reverse-sort indexes" and gazetteers available on the Internet, can help simplify the search. | ||
German research is first of all "locality" research, then surname research. To begin genealogical research in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other German-speaking areas, it is necessary to know the exact place of origin. Researchers all too often discover, especially in early American pedigrees, that a search in an incorrect locality for someone with the same name has produced a pedigree of incorrect lineage! | German research is first of all "locality" research, then surname research. To begin genealogical research in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other German-speaking areas, it is necessary to know the exact place of origin. Researchers all too often discover, especially in early American pedigrees, that a search in an incorrect locality for someone with the same name has produced a pedigree of incorrect lineage! Verify the location in gazetteers and on maps, search for complete family units, analyze the names of associates and witnesses of your ancestor, search specific time periods, and search all available records pertinent to your research question to build a correct pedigree. | ||
==== Phonetic Spellings ==== | ==== Phonetic Spellings ==== | ||
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When a phonetic spelling of a place name is given, it can mislead the researcher to the extent that it is impossible to proceed with the research on a certain ancestral line. Gerhard Jeske, retired reference consultant at the FamilySearch Library once recounted an interesting account of a perplexing German place name brought to the library by a patron. It shows how misleading a phonetic spelling can be. | When a phonetic spelling of a place name is given, it can mislead the researcher to the extent that it is impossible to proceed with the research on a certain ancestral line. Gerhard Jeske, retired reference consultant at the FamilySearch Library once recounted an interesting account of a perplexing German place name brought to the library by a patron. It shows how misleading a phonetic spelling can be. | ||
The patron was looking for a place in Germany by the name of "Viceneck." When the reference consultant looked at the given spelling of this place name, he knew immediately that this was a phonetic spelling. He was sure that a place with such spelling would not be listed in any of the German gazetteers, but he checked the gazetteers anyway to satisfy the patron. | |||
After the gazetteers had been searched without success, the reference consultant began to analyze the problem to determine what the German spelling for this place could be. Viceneck is not a German spelling but a phonetic American spelling. The German spelling could be Weisneck, Weissneck, Weisnek, Weissnek, Weisseneck, Weissenek, Weisnick, Weissnick, Weisnik, Weissnik, Weisnich, Weissnich, etc. | |||
None of these spellings were found in the gazetteers. After some questioning, he was informed that the name of the place was given by word of mouth by a living relative from Germany who did not speak English too well. When the patron asked this relative where his ancestor was born, the answer given was: "Weiss nicht." Of course, "Weiss nicht" translated into English means "I don't know." The patron thought that "Weiss nicht" was the place where the ancestor was born, which he phonetically spelled as "''Viceneck''." | |||
==== Places by the Same | ==== Places by the Same Name ==== | ||
Another difficulty occurs when there are several places by the same spelling in the same province or canton of a German-speaking country. More often there are places by the same spelling found in different provinces or cantons of a certain country. It is also possible that the place name could refer to a place name in a German-speaking area outside of Germany. Problems of this nature are often difficult but not uncommon. <br>The gazetteer of the 1871 Empire of Germany is titled {{FSC|325694|title-id|disp=Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs- Lexikon}}. This gazetteer lists: | |||
35 places by the name of Rosenberg<br> 44 places by the name of Kirchberg<br> 60 places by the name of Bruch<br> 32 places by the name of Bruck<br> 48 places by the name of Bühl<br> 75 places by the name of Holzhausen<br> 81 places by the name of Grünhof<br> 96 places by the name of Weinberg<br> 100 places by the name of Moos<br> 308 places by the name of Neuhof<br> 347 places by the name of Neumühle | 35 places by the name of Rosenberg<br> 44 places by the name of Kirchberg<br> 60 places by the name of Bruch<br> 32 places by the name of Bruck<br> 48 places by the name of Bühl<br> 75 places by the name of Holzhausen<br> 81 places by the name of Grünhof<br> 96 places by the name of Weinberg<br> 100 places by the name of Moos<br> 308 places by the name of Neuhof<br> 347 places by the name of Neumühle | ||
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Family Tradition might say that an ancestor who spoke German came to the United States from Europe in 1825 from a place by the name of Baden. If this ancestor came from Germany, there are at least three possibilities as to the place of origin. | Family Tradition might say that an ancestor who spoke German came to the United States from Europe in 1825 from a place by the name of Baden. If this ancestor came from Germany, there are at least three possibilities as to the place of origin. | ||
1) The ancestor may have come from the former Grand Duchy of Baden.<br> 2) His place of origin might be the city of Baden, now known as Baden-Baden, which is a district city in the Schwarzwald area (Black Forest) in the former Grand Duchy of Baden, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.<br> 3) The ancestor could have come from the village of Baden in the district (Kreis) of Achim in the former Prussian province of Hannover, now in the German state of Niedersachsen. | |||
In addition to these three possibilities in Germany, there are at least two more possibilities, one in Switzerland and one in Austria. | In addition to these three possibilities in Germany, there are at least two more possibilities, one in Switzerland and one in Austria. | ||
1) The ancestor may have come from the city of Baden in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland.<br> 2) His place of origin might be the city of Baden in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), Austria. | |||
In such cases every possible effort should be made by the researcher to find some facts in addition to family tradition as to the place of origin of the ancestor. | In such cases every possible effort should be made by the researcher to find some facts in addition to family tradition as to the place of origin of the ancestor. Search existing records in the United States to extract clues as to the ancestor's origin. | ||
==== Gazetteers and Place Name Dictionaries ==== | ==== Gazetteers and Place Name Dictionaries ==== | ||
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'''Place Name Dictionaries'''<br> The following are examples of place name dictionaries available for German areas. Many others are available. | '''Place Name Dictionaries'''<br> The following are examples of place name dictionaries available for German areas. Many others are available. | ||
• Germany - General:<br>Förstemann, E. | • Germany - General:<br>Förstemann, E. ''Altdeutsches Namenbuch, II Die Ortsnamen'', 3 Aufl. Bonn 1913-16. | ||
• Baden:<br>Krieger, A. ''Topographisches Wörterbuch des Grossherzogtums Baden''. Heidelberg, 1904.<br>Karlsruhe Stadtamt. ''Eingemeindungen und Namesnänderungen von badischen Gemeinden''. [Name changes and incorporations of towns in Baden, Germany. [FS Library 1180442]. | • Baden:<br>Krieger, A. ''Topographisches Wörterbuch des Grossherzogtums Baden''. Heidelberg, 1904.<br>Karlsruhe Stadtamt. ''Eingemeindungen und Namesnänderungen von badischen Gemeinden''. [Name changes and incorporations of towns in Baden, Germany. [FS Library 1180442]. | ||
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Listed below are some of the most common reasons why place names cannot be found when the given spelling is wrong:<br> 1. Misinterpretation of handwriting.<br> 2. Incorrect spellings given by those recording the information, including official scribes, ministers, and civil registrars.<br> 3. Localities have been absorbed by larger towns.<br> 4. Places are no longer in existence because of destruction by nature or through wars.<br> 5. Place name changes have occurred over the years.<br> | Listed below are some of the most common reasons why place names cannot be found when the given spelling is wrong:<br> 1. Misinterpretation of handwriting.<br> 2. Incorrect spellings given by those recording the information, including official scribes, ministers, and civil registrars.<br> 3. Localities have been absorbed by larger towns.<br> 4. Places are no longer in existence because of destruction by nature or through wars.<br> 5. Place name changes have occurred over the years.<br> | ||
An excellent overview of German gazetteers and how to use them can be found in | An excellent overview of German gazetteers and how to use them can be found in [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/150114 ''A Genealogical Handbook of German Research'']by Larry O. Jensen. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
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==== Checking Detailed Maps ==== | ==== Checking Detailed Maps ==== | ||
Some places can only be found by checking detailed maps for various time periods. Maps of the German Empire of 1871 (FS Library film 068,814) is an excellent source for locating older place names. These and other maps are now available on Ancestry.com. | |||
==== Place Names in Foreign Languages ==== | ==== Place Names in Foreign Languages ==== | ||
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==== Latinization of Place Names ==== | ==== Latinization of Place Names ==== | ||
Latin names for localities are found frequently in parish register entries. ''Villa nova ''(Latin); ''Villeneuve'' (French); and ''Neuhof'' (German), and Newtown or Newton (English) are names for the same place. | Latin names for localities are found frequently in parish register entries. ''Villa nova ''(Latin); ''Villeneuve'' (French); and ''Neuhof'' (German), and Newtown or Newton (English) are names for the same place. Latin or Greek place names are very common in University matriculation records. The Latin prepositions "ex" [from or out of] and "de" [from] often precede the Latin places names. Latinized place names when following a preposition commonly have these endings: -anus, -inus, and -ensis. Examples of Latin places names:<br> Parthenopolis = Magdeburg<br> Regiomont(i)um or "ex Regiomontanus" = Königsberg or "from Königsberg"<br> Borussia = Prussia<br> Marchia = Mark Brandenburg<br> Gryphiberga = Greiffenberg, Schlesien, Prussia<br> Guelferbytum or Wolfenbuttela = Wolfenbüttel, Braunschweig | ||
Thomas Otto Achelis in "Die Bedeutung der Universitätsmatrikeln für den Familienforscher" [The importance of University Registers for the Family Researcher] states that students often gave the name of a larger, more well-known city as their place of origin instead of their native village or birthplace. Place names in Latin can be found on the internet at [http://www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/contents.html Orbis Latinus online ]. | Thomas Otto Achelis in "Die Bedeutung der Universitätsmatrikeln für den Familienforscher" [The importance of University Registers for the Family Researcher] states that students often gave the name of a larger, more well-known city as their place of origin instead of their native village or birthplace. Place names in Latin can be found on the internet at [http://www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/contents.html Orbis Latinus online ]. | ||
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==== Key to Locating Place Names ==== | ==== Key to Locating Place Names ==== | ||
Often the first letter of a given spelling for a certain place name is incorrect, but many times other letters in the middle of the place name are also incorrect. Some place names may have additional letters at the end which should not be there, other place names may have letters missing that should be there. The researcher who is familiar with German place names may recognize the correct name of a misspelled town or village, but often it is very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to determine the correct spelling of a given place name. The examples below from actual research problems | Often the first letter of a given spelling for a certain place name is incorrect, but many times other letters in the middle of the place name are also incorrect. Some place names may have additional letters at the end which should not be there, other place names may have letters missing that should be there. The researcher who is familiar with German place names may recognize the correct name of a misspelled town or village, but often it is very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to determine the correct spelling of a given place name. The examples below from actual research problems indicate how certain letters may have been used by the scribe and how they appear in modern gazetteers. | ||
*'''Letters A and E''' | *'''Letters A and E''' | ||
Example''': | Example''': '''<u>'''Ai'''</u>chberg, Württemberg found in gazetteer as <u>'''Ei'''</u>chberg | ||
*'''Letters B and P''' | *'''Letters B and P''' | ||
''' | ''' Example: '''<u>'''B'''</u>ermesens, Pfalz, Bavaria was the place name given in United States records. It was identified as <u>'''P'''</u>irmasens in German gazetteers. | ||
*'''Letters C and K''' | *'''Letters C and K''' | ||
<u>'''C'''</u>albine, Arswaldy, Brandenburg = <u>'''K'''</u>ölpin, Arnswalde, Brandenburg<br> | |||
*'''Letters C and | *'''Letters C and Z''' | ||
''' | ''' '''Example''': '''<u>'''C'''</u>yzow was found in the gazetteer as <u>'''Z'''</u>üssow, Pommern.<br> | ||
*'''Letters Ch and G''' | *'''Letters Ch and G''' | ||
Ber<u>'''ch'''</u>eim = Ber<u>'''g'''</u>en | |||
*'''Letters Ch, Ck & | *'''Letters Ch, Ck & K''' | ||
Na<u>'''ch'''</u>e = Na<u>'''ck'''</u> | Na<u>'''ch'''</u>e = Na<u>'''ck'''</u> | ||
*'''Letters Cz and | *'''Letters Cz and Sch''' | ||
Ca<span style="display: none" id="1270245903408S"> | Ca<span style="display: none" id="1270245903408S"> </span>'''''cz'''''ulin (parish Zirke) Posen = Kat'''sch'''ulin | ||
*'''Letters D and T''' | *'''Letters D and T''' | ||
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Bree'''d'''sen = Brie'''t'''zen, Schlesien | Bree'''d'''sen = Brie'''t'''zen, Schlesien | ||
*'''Letters E and A | *'''Letters E and A ''' | ||
Gutm'''''e'''''udingen = Gutm'''a'''dingen<br> | Gutm'''''e'''''udingen = Gutm'''a'''dingen<br> | ||
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Borod'''ee'''no, Bessarabia = Borod'''i'''no, Bessarabia<br> | Borod'''ee'''no, Bessarabia = Borod'''i'''no, Bessarabia<br> | ||
*'''Letters Ei | *'''Letters Ei and I''' <br> | ||
*'''Letters F and V''' | *'''Letters F and V''' | ||
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I'''g'''en = E'''ck'''en, Schleswig-Holstein | I'''g'''en = E'''ck'''en, Schleswig-Holstein | ||
*'''Letter H''' | *'''Letter H''' (it can be added to a word or omitted). | ||
Hoen-Selchow = Ho'''h'''enselchow, Pommern<br> | Hoen-Selchow = Ho'''h'''enselchow, Pommern<br> | ||
*'''Letters I and | *'''Letters I and E''' | ||
Pos'''i'''n = Pos'''e'''n<br> | Pos'''i'''n = Pos'''e'''n<br> | ||
*'''Letters I and Ei | *'''Letters I and Ei ''' | ||
Kr'''i'''s = Kr'''ei'''s [district]<br> | Kr'''i'''s = Kr'''ei'''s [district]<br> | ||
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*'''Letters Qu and Kw or Kv<br>''' | *'''Letters Qu and Kw or Kv<br>''' | ||
'''Qu'''ars [German] | '''Qu'''ars [German] is the same as '''Kv'''aers [Danish]<br> | ||
*'''Letters R and H <br>''' | *'''Letters R and H <br>''' | ||
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*'''Letters Sch and S''' | *'''Letters Sch and S''' | ||
'''Sch'''wanstrup = '''S'''vanstrup | '''Sch'''wanstrup = '''S'''vanstrup [Also note that w and v are interchangeable].<br> | ||
*'''Letters Sch and Cz <br>''' | *'''Letters Sch and Cz <br>''' | ||
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*'''Letters Sch and Sk''' | *'''Letters Sch and Sk''' | ||
'''Sch'''eldegaard [German] is | '''Sch'''eldegaard [German] is found in Danish gazetteers as '''Sk'''eldegaard. | ||
*'''Letters Sh and Sch''' | *'''Letters Sh and Sch''' | ||
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*'''Letters Ts and Z <br>''' | *'''Letters Ts and Z <br>''' | ||
*'''Letters Tsch, | *'''Letters Tsch, Tzsch and Z <br>''' | ||
*'''Letters Tz and Z <br>''' | *'''Letters Tz and Z <br>''' | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
'''Bibliography'''<br>1. Ferguson, Laraine K. "Census Records in Northern Germany, Pt. 1 Schleswig-Holstein" in ''German Genealogical Digest ''Vol. 6 No. 4 (Winter 1990).<br>2. Gardner, Duncan B. ''German Towns in Slovakia and Upper Hungary. A Genealogical Gazetteer''. Lakewood, Ohio, 1988.<br>3. Gölzer, Bernd. "Fehler in der Familienforschung" in ''Saarländische Familienkunde'', Vol. 9, pp. 96-107.<br>4. Heintz, A. "Verschollene Ortsnamen" in ''Mitteilungen des Historischen Vereins der Pfalz'' 5 (1875), pp. 49-122.<br>5. Jensen, Larry O. ''A Genealogical Handbook of German Research''. Revised Edition. Pleasant Grove, Utah: 1978. <br>6. Jensen, C. Russell Ph.D. ''Parish Register Latin: An Introduction''. Vita Nova Books, 1988. <br>7. Jeske, Gerhard. ''Place Names in German-Speaking Countries''. Unpublished manuscript.<br>8. Kowallis, Gay P. and Elly Poulsen. ''The Danish Genealogical Helper''. | '''Bibliography'''<br>1. Ferguson, Laraine K. "Census Records in Northern Germany, Pt. 1 Schleswig-Holstein" in ''German Genealogical Digest ''Vol. 6 No. 4 (Winter 1990).<br>2. Gardner, Duncan B. ''German Towns in Slovakia and Upper Hungary. A Genealogical Gazetteer''. Lakewood, Ohio, 1988.<br>3. Gölzer, Bernd. "Fehler in der Familienforschung" in ''Saarländische Familienkunde'', Vol. 9, pp. 96-107.<br>4. Heintz, A. "Verschollene Ortsnamen" in ''Mitteilungen des Historischen Vereins der Pfalz'' 5 (1875), pp. 49-122.<br>5. Jensen, Larry O. ''A Genealogical Handbook of German Research''. Revised Edition. Pleasant Grove, Utah: 1978. <br>6. Jensen, C. Russell Ph.D. ''Parish Register Latin: An Introduction''. Vita Nova Books, 1988. <br>7. Jeske, Gerhard. ''Place Names in German-Speaking Countries''. Unpublished manuscript.<br>8. Kowallis, Gay P. and Elly Poulsen. ''The Danish Genealogical Helper''. Everton Publishers.<br>9. Minert, Roger. ''Spelling Variations in German Names: Solving Family History Problems Through Applications of German and English Phonetics''. Woods Cross, Utah, 2000.<br>10. Ortell, Gerald. ''A. Polish Parish Records of the Roman Catholic Church, Their Use and Understanding in Genealogical Research''. Genun Publishers, 1989.<br>11. Schlyter, Daniel M. ''A Handbook of Czechoslovak Genealogical Research'', Genun Publishers, 1990.<br>12. Shea, Jonathan D. Russian Language Documents from Russian Poland. A Translation Manual for Genealogists. Genun Publishers, 1989. | ||
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<span style="display: none" id="1270245902947E"> | <span style="display: none" id="1270245902947E"> </span> | ||
[[Category:Germany]][[Category:Germany Gazetteers]][[Category:Germany Research Strategies]] | [[Category:Germany]][[Category:Germany Gazetteers]][[Category:Germany Research Strategies]] | ||