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→Given Names
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German given names are usually derived from Biblical names, such as Josef (Joseph); from the names of saints, such as Joannes (Joan); or from Old German, such as Siegfried. | German given names are usually derived from Biblical names, such as Josef (Joseph); from the names of saints, such as Joannes (Joan); or from Old German, such as Siegfried. | ||
When baptized, children were usually given two or more given names. | When baptized, children were usually given two or more given names. Which name they actually went by can vary by location and time period. In many areas, however, it was common for the child to be called by the second name. For example, if the first two males born in a family were named Johann Christoph and Johann Friedrich, they were usually called by their second given names. If an elder child died young, the parents frequently reused the deceased child's exact name on the next born child of the same gender. This can be a good guide in terms of your research, but it is not an absolute. <u>''Do not assume ''</u>'' ''the older child with the exact name died unless you find his/her death date. | ||
Some children received as many as four or more given names at baptism. Multiple given names were often the names of parents or other relatives. Many of these names were frequently dropped as the child matured. Thus, a person's later records do not always use the name he or she was given at birth. | Some children received as many as four or more given names at baptism. Multiple given names were often the names of parents or other relatives. Many of these names were frequently dropped as the child matured. Thus, a person's later records do not always use the name he or she was given at birth. | ||
To let others know you are confident you followed the same person from birth to death, make sure to record in your notes the different name combinations you find your ancestor listed with in each record, as per reasons in above situation. Leave such good tracks that anyone could find exactly the same record you found by tracking your source, page number, entry number. | To let others know you are confident you followed the same person from birth to death, make sure to record in your notes the different name combinations you find your ancestor listed with in each record, as per reasons in above situation. Leave such good tracks that anyone could find exactly the same record you found by tracking your source, page number, entry number. | ||
=== Grammatical Effects on German Names === | === Grammatical Effects on German Names === | ||