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'''Alias Surnames.''' In some areas of Germany, individuals took a second surname. In the records, the second surname may be preceded by the word genannt, vulgo, modo, sive, or alias. This practice was common in the provinces of Westfalen and Hannover and parts of Rheinland and Schlesien. | '''Alias Surnames.''' In some areas of Germany, individuals took a second surname. In the records, the second surname may be preceded by the word genannt, vulgo, modo, sive, or alias. This practice was common in the provinces of Westfalen and Hannover and parts of Rheinland and Schlesien. | ||
The development of alias surnames was often tied to agriculture. When a man moved to a new farm, he sometimes changed his name to the name of the farm. Also, when a man married a woman who had inherited a farm, his name may have changed to her family name. In this situation, some of the children born to the couple may have used his surname, while others in the same family used the wife's family name. | The development of alias surnames was often tied to agriculture. When a man moved to a new farm, he sometimes changed his name to the name of the farm. Also, when a man married a woman who had inherited a farm, his name may have changed to her family name. In this situation, some of the children born to the couple may have used his surname, while others in the same family used the wife's family name. | ||
'''Jewish Naming Customs.''' Before the 1800s, the use of a family name by Jews was left to the discretion of the individual. Jews in Germany followed the custom of using only a given name and the name of the father, such as Isaac, son of Abraham. Most Jews did not adopt hereditary family names until required to do so by law. In 1790 Baden was the first German state to require fixed surnames. Preußen issued an edict on 11 March 1812 that required that permanent family names be adopted within six months. Compulsory surname laws were enacted in the German states of Bayern and Mecklenburg in 1813 and 1814. By the 1820s, most small German states had extended civil rights to Jews and required them to adopt surnames. | '''Jewish Naming Customs.''' Before the 1800s, the use of a family name by Jews was left to the discretion of the individual. Jews in Germany followed the custom of using only a given name and the name of the father, such as Isaac, son of Abraham. Most Jews did not adopt hereditary family names until required to do so by law. In 1790 Baden was the first German state to require fixed surnames. Preußen issued an edict on 11 March 1812 that required that permanent family names be adopted within six months. Compulsory surname laws were enacted in the German states of Bayern and Mecklenburg in 1813 and 1814. By the 1820s, most small German states had extended civil rights to Jews and required them to adopt surnames. | ||
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*[http://www.tr62.de/names/surnames1.html Here is a helpful site about names] and naming practices. | *[http://www.tr62.de/names/surnames1.html Here is a helpful site about names] and naming practices. | ||
'''Surname "Changes" of German Immigrants in the United States''' | '''Surname "Changes" of German Immigrants in the United States''' | ||
Most of the time the surname spelling changed to accomodate the different phonetic spelling in the English language. In other words, the recorder tried to write the name the way he heard it. In that case the genealogist needs to remember that <br>"Spelling doesn't count!" | Most of the time the surname spelling changed to accomodate the different phonetic spelling in the English language. In other words, the recorder tried to write the name the way he heard it. In that case the genealogist needs to remember that <br>"Spelling doesn't count!" | ||
Surnames may also have been translated outright into English, sometimes with a slight twist. | Surnames may also have been translated outright into English, sometimes with a slight twist. | ||
Examples: Feuerstein= Firestone, Schwarzenbach(er) = Blackcreek [ which evolved into "Blackrick" and other phonetic spellings], or simply "Black". | Examples: Feuerstein= Firestone, Schwarzenbach(er) = Blackcreek [ which evolved into "Blackrick" and other phonetic spellings], or simply "Black". | ||
Within the German community, such as the local parish, immigrants may continue to use the proper German name, while '''at the same time '''using English-language equivalents when dealing with local government, census takers, and other non-Germans. | Within the German community, such as the local parish, immigrants may continue to use the proper German name, while '''at the same time '''using English-language equivalents when dealing with local government, census takers, and other non-Germans. | ||
Different branches of the same family may adopt various surname spellings. For example, one branch of the Schwarzenbach(er) family adopted the surname Blackcreek, later Blackrick. The cousin who came over with his family at the same time chose to use "Black". | Different branches of the same family may adopt various surname spellings. For example, one branch of the Schwarzenbach(er) family adopted the surname Blackcreek, later Blackrick. The cousin who came over with his family at the same time chose to use "Black". | ||
Prior to 1900 formal surname changes documented in local court records are relatively rare. | Prior to 1900 formal surname changes documented in local court records are relatively rare. | ||
During the early 20th Century, especially the World War I era, surname changes are recorded more frequently, as immigrants or, more often, their children, tried to adopt more neutral surnames. | During the early 20th Century, especially the World War I era, surname changes are recorded more frequently, as immigrants or, more often, their children, tried to adopt more neutral surnames. | ||
=== Given Names === | === Given Names === | ||
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Because German genealogical records were kept in various languages, you may find your ancestor's name in different languages at different times. For example, your great-grandfather's name could be in Latin on his birth record, in French on his marriage record, and in German on his death record. Some given names are often very different when translated into different languages, as shown by the following table. | Because German genealogical records were kept in various languages, you may find your ancestor's name in different languages at different times. For example, your great-grandfather's name could be in Latin on his birth record, in French on his marriage record, and in German on his death record. Some given names are often very different when translated into different languages, as shown by the following table. | ||
{| width="40% | {| align="center" width="40%" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''German''' | | '''German''' | ||
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* Loughead, Flora Haines. <u>''Dictionary of Given Names.''</u> Glendale, California: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1958. (FHL book 929.4 L929d) | * Loughead, Flora Haines. <u>''Dictionary of Given Names.''</u> Glendale, California: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1958. (FHL book 929.4 L929d) | ||
Even within the records themselves the names can have variations. A resource which could be used to phonetically figure out if names truly are the same or not is: | Even within the records themselves the names can have variations. A resource which could be used to phonetically figure out if names truly are the same or not is: | ||
*Minert, Roger P. ''Spelling Variations in German Names: Solving Family History Problems Through Applications of German and English Phonetics''. GRT Publications; Woods Cross, UT, 2000. (FHL book 943 D47m) | *Minert, Roger P. ''Spelling Variations in German Names: Solving Family History Problems Through Applications of German and English Phonetics''. GRT Publications; Woods Cross, UT, 2000. (FHL book 943 D47m) | ||
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[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=topicdetails&subject=360506&subject_disp=Germany+%2D+Names%2C+Personal&columns=*,0,0 GERMANY - NAMES, PERSONAL] | [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=topicdetails&subject=360506&subject_disp=Germany+%2D+Names%2C+Personal&columns=*,0,0 GERMANY - NAMES, PERSONAL] | ||
{{Place|Germany}} | |||
[[Category:Germany]] | [[Category:Germany]] | ||