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Identifying Place Names in German documents (view source)
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==== Introduction ==== | ==== Introduction ==== | ||
What do these 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 can be a challenge for all researchers. It becomes the "highest priority" to determine the correct spelling of a place name. Indeed, without such knowledge, it is virtually impossible to proceed.<br> When you find two or three German family researchers huddled in a library around one microfilm reader in animated conversation and with puzzled looks on their faces, it is quite likely they are 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? In what language was the place name written? Has the name been Latinized? Was the document written near the boundaries of another language area, for example: France ? Denmark, or Poland? Was the document recorded in a German colony in Russia, or Hungary? When was the document written? Is the handwriting difficult to decipher? Has the name been abbreviated? The answers to these and numerous other 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. <br> German research is first of all "locality" research, then surname research. To begin genealogical research in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other German-speaking areas in Europe it is necessary to know the exact place of origin. In many areas of Germany "even the slightest error in the locality searched could easily produce a pedigree of incorrect lineage." A surname can be very common in any given area. Search for complete family units, specific time periods, verify the location, and search all available records to build a correct pedigree. | What do these 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 can be a challenge for all researchers. It becomes the "highest priority" to determine the correct spelling of a place name. Indeed, without such knowledge, it is virtually impossible to proceed.<br> When you find two or three German family researchers huddled in a library around one microfilm reader in animated conversation and with puzzled looks on their faces, it is quite likely they are 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? In what language was the place name written? Has the name been Latinized? Was the document written near the boundaries of another language area, for example: France ? Denmark, or Poland? Was the document recorded in a German colony in Russia, or Hungary? When was the document written? Is the handwriting difficult to decipher? Has the name been abbreviated? The answers to these and numerous other 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. <br> German research is first of all "locality" research, then surname research. To begin genealogical research in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other German-speaking areas in Europe it is necessary to know the exact place of origin. In many areas of Germany "even the slightest error in the locality searched could easily produce a pedigree of incorrect lineage." A surname can be very common in any given area. Search for complete family units, specific time periods, verify the location, and search all available records to build a correct pedigree. | ||
==== Phonetic Spellings ==== | ==== Phonetic Spellings ==== | ||
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The reference consultant then check the gazetteers for many different spellings but could not find any of them, and he realized that such place does not exist. He wanted to get a clue and find out what was wrong with the spelling of this place name in order to help the patron with this research problem. The consultant asked the patron how the spelling of this place name was obtained and who had given the name to the patron. 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.<br>When the patron asked this relative where his ancestor was born, the answer given was: "Weiss nicht." The answer had been given in the German language. "Weiss nicht" translated into English means "I don't know." The patron, who didn't know the German language thought that "Weiss nicht" was the place where the ancestor was born, which phonetically spelled would be recorded as "''Viceneck''." | The reference consultant then check the gazetteers for many different spellings but could not find any of them, and he realized that such place does not exist. He wanted to get a clue and find out what was wrong with the spelling of this place name in order to help the patron with this research problem. The consultant asked the patron how the spelling of this place name was obtained and who had given the name to the patron. 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.<br>When the patron asked this relative where his ancestor was born, the answer given was: "Weiss nicht." The answer had been given in the German language. "Weiss nicht" translated into English means "I don't know." The patron, who didn't know the German language thought that "Weiss nicht" was the place where the ancestor was born, which phonetically spelled would be recorded as "''Viceneck''." | ||
==== Places by the same name ==== | ==== Places by the same name ==== | ||
Phonetic spellings of place names is only one of several difficulties in trying to determine correct spellings for places of origin for ancestors from Europe. Another difficulty is that there are sometimes 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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=325694&disp=Meyers+Orts%2D+und+Verkehrs%2DLexikon+de%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs- Lexikon]. This gazetteer lists: | Phonetic spellings of place names is only one of several difficulties in trying to determine correct spellings for places of origin for ancestors from Europe. Another difficulty is that there are sometimes 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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=325694&disp=Meyers+Orts%2D+und+Verkehrs%2DLexikon+de%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs- Lexikon]. This gazetteer lists: | ||
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Illustrations: | Illustrations: | ||
Below are a few French place names and their German equivalents:<br> Aspach le Haut [Upper] = Oberaspach<br> Blanche Eglise = Weisskirchen [White church]<br> Basse Rentgen = Niederrentgen<br> Bellefosse = Schöngrund<br> Petite Rosselle = Kleinrosseln<br> Zabern = Saverne | Below are a few French place names and their German equivalents:<br> Aspach le Haut [Upper] = Oberaspach<br> Blanche Eglise = Weisskirchen [White church]<br> Basse Rentgen = Niederrentgen<br> Bellefosse = Schöngrund<br> Petite Rosselle = Kleinrosseln<br> Zabern = Saverne | ||
==== Slavic Influence ==== | ==== Slavic Influence ==== | ||
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'''Letters Cz and Sch''' | '''Letters Cz and Sch''' | ||
Ca | Ca'''''cz'''''lin (parish Zirke) Posen = Kat'''''sch'''''lin | ||
'''Letters D and T''' | '''Letters D and T''' | ||
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'''Letters E and A ''' | '''Letters E and A ''' | ||
Gutm | Gutm'''''e'''''dingen = Gutm'''a'''dingen<br> | ||
'''Letters E and I''' | '''Letters E and I''' | ||
Borod | Borod'''ee'''no, Bessarabia = Borod'''i'''no, Bessarabia<br> | ||
'''Letters Ei and I''' <br> | '''Letters Ei and I''' <br> | ||
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'''Letters F and V''' | '''Letters F and V''' | ||
Al | Al'''f'''ertissen = Al'''v'''erdissen | ||
'''Letters F and Pf''' | '''Letters F and Pf''' | ||
| Rhinefalls = Rheinpfalz<br> | ||
'''Letters F and W <br>''' | '''Letters F and W <br>''' | ||
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'''Letters G and K''' | '''Letters G and K''' | ||
I | I'''g'''en = E'''ck'''en, Schleswig-Holstein | ||
'''The letter H''' (it can be added to a word or omitted | '''The letter H''' (it can be added to a word or omitted). | ||
Hoen-Selchow = Ho | Hoen-Selchow = Ho'''h'''enselchow, Pommern<br> | ||
'''Letters I and E''' | '''Letters I and E''' | ||
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'''Letters I and Ei ''' | '''Letters I and Ei ''' | ||
Kr | Kr'''i'''s = Kr'''ei'''s [district]<br> | ||
'''Letters I and Y''' | '''Letters I and Y''' | ||
Ba | Ba'''i'''ern = Ba'''y'''ern<br> | ||
'''Letters I and J''' | '''Letters I and J''' | ||
G | G'''i'''errup = G'''j'''errup<br> | ||
'''Letters J and Y <br>''' | '''Letters J and Y <br>''' | ||
<br>'''''Letters J and I <br>''''' | <br> | ||
'''''Letters J and I <br>''''' | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
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'''<u>Qu</u>'''ars [German] is the same as '''<u>Kv</u>'''aers [Danish]<br> | '''<u>Qu</u>'''ars [German] is the same as '''<u>Kv</u>'''aers [Danish]<br> | ||
R H <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
S Z | |||
Elsens = Elsenz, Pfalz<br> | |||
<br> | |||
Sch Sz Borschymman, East Prussia = Borszymmen, Ostpreussen<br> | |||
Sch Ch <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
Sch Cz <br> | |||
Sch G <br> | |||
'''Letters Sch and Sk''' | '''Letters Sch and Sk''' | ||
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'''<u>Sch</u>'''eldegaard [German] is found in Danish gazetteers as '''<u>Sk</u>'''eldegaard. | '''<u>Sch</u>'''eldegaard [German] is found in Danish gazetteers as '''<u>Sk</u>'''eldegaard. | ||
Sh Sch | |||
Bamesh Leebow = Böhmisch Liebau<br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
T D | |||
Alfertissen = Alverdissen<br> | |||
<br> | |||
Ts Z <br> | |||
Tsch & Tzsch Z <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Tz Z <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
T Th Tedinghaused = Thedinghausen<br> | |||
U O Stulp = Stolp, Pommern<br> | |||
< | <br> | ||
U V <br> | |||
V F <br> | |||
V U Faverby = Fauerbye, Schleswig-Holstein<br> | |||
<br> | |||
V W Vestermølle = Westermühle, Schleswig-Holstein<br> | |||
W V <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
W M <br> | |||
X Z <br> | |||
X Chs Hexum = Hechtsheim<br> | |||
<br> | |||
Y J <br> | |||
Y I Bylevelt = Bielefeld, Westfalen<br> | |||
<br> | |||
<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1269036228734_822" />Z C <br> | |||
Z S | |||
Zelnowo = Sellnowo<br> | |||
Note: Vowel sounds can be substituted in a variety of combinations: For example: | Note: Vowel sounds can be substituted in a variety of combinations: For example: | ||