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Many given names have variants and dialectical forms. Barbara, for example, can appear as Barbel, Barbele, Barbeli, Bärbel, Bärbchen, Bärmel, Bäbi, or even Wawerl or Wetti. Some areas of Germany may use diminutive forms of names more than others. A good way to determine naming customs of the area is to study the patterns found in the records of birth/christening, marriages, and burials/deaths. If major changes occur in the naming patterns or form used, that could indicate a ministerial change, perhaps one coming from another area. Several books are available that list variant forms of given names.  
Many given names have variants and dialectical forms. Barbara, for example, can appear as Barbel, Barbele, Barbeli, Bärbel, Bärbchen, Bärmel, Bäbi, or even Wawerl or Wetti. Some areas of Germany may use diminutive forms of names more than others. A good way to determine naming customs of the area is to study the patterns found in the records of birth/christening, marriages, and burials/deaths. If major changes occur in the naming patterns or form used, that could indicate a ministerial change, perhaps one coming from another area. Several books are available that list variant forms of given names.  
==For Further Reading==
==For Further Reading==
*For more details about German naming customs, spellings, grammatical endings, and variants read Kenneth L. Smith's [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=498963&disp=German+church+books%20%20&columns=*,0,0 ''German Church Books: Beyond the Basics''] Camden, Maine : Picton Press, 1989. (943 D27skL.)  
*For more details about German naming customs, spellings, grammatical endings, and variants:
**Kenneth L. Smith's [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=498963&disp=German+church+books%20%20&columns=*,0,0 ''German Church Books: Beyond the Basics''] Camden, Maine : Picton Press, 1989. (943 D27skL.)  
**Melchers, Paul &amp; Wasserzieher, Ernst.&nbsp; <u>''Hans Und Grete&nbsp;''</u>&nbsp;(2500 First names explained).&nbsp; Bonn, Germany: Ferd. Dümmlers Verlag, 1972.&nbsp; (FHL book 943 D4w 1972)
**Minert, Roger P. ''Spelling Variations in German Names:&nbsp; Solving Family History Problems Through Applications of&nbsp;German and English Phonetics''.&nbsp; GRT Publications; Woods Cross, UT, 2000.&nbsp; (FHL book 943 D47m)&nbsp;
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There are also many books that discuss German names and their meanings. Some indicate the cities or regions where some surnames are most common or the earliest date and place the name was documented. One such source is listed below:


*Bahlow, Hans. ''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/303379 Deutsches Namenlexikon] (German name dictionary).'' Frankfurt/Main, Germany: Suhrkamp Taschenbuch, 1972. (FHL book 943 D4ba 1972.)
*There are also many books that discuss German names and their meanings. Some indicate the cities or regions where some surnames are most common or the earliest date and place the name was documented:
**Bahlow, Hans. ''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/303379 Deutsches Namenlexikon] (German name dictionary).'' Frankfurt/Main, Germany: Suhrkamp Taschenbuch, 1972. (FHL book 943 D4ba 1972.)


Another source which gives roots and variants of Germanic and other names is:


*Melchers, Paul &amp; Wasserzieher, Ernst.&nbsp; <u>''Hans Und Grete&nbsp;''</u>&nbsp;(2500 First names explained).&nbsp; Bonn, Germany: Ferd. Dümmlers Verlag, 1972.&nbsp; (FHL book 943 D4w 1972)


Part of a German's first name(s) could come from the "saint name" associated with the date on which he/she was christened.&nbsp; Two&nbsp;sources which could be used&nbsp;for checking this out are:&nbsp;


*Weidenhan, Joseph L.&nbsp; <u>''Baptismal Names...''</u>&nbsp; Baltimore, Maryland:&nbsp; Kenmore Productions, 19--.&nbsp;&nbsp; Republished by&nbsp;Gale Research Company:&nbsp; Detroit, Michigan, 1968.&nbsp; (FHL book 929.4 W426b)  
*Part of a German's first name(s) could come from the "saint name" associated with the date on which he/she was christened. Twosources which could be used for checking this out are:  
*Grotefend, H &amp; Ulrich, Th.&nbsp; <u>''Taschenbuch der Zeitrechnung des Deutschen Mittelalters und der Neuzeit&nbsp;''</u>&nbsp;Hannover, Germany: Verlag Hahnsche Buchhandlung,1971.&nbsp; (FHL book 943 H3gh 1971)


Anciently, names were given because they had a specific meaning.&nbsp; A source which&nbsp;lists&nbsp;names and their meanings is:  
**Weidenhan, Joseph L.&nbsp; <u>''Baptismal Names...''</u>&nbsp; Baltimore, Maryland:&nbsp; Kenmore Productions, 19--.&nbsp;&nbsp; Republished by&nbsp;Gale Research Company:&nbsp; Detroit, Michigan, 1968.&nbsp; (FHL book 929.4 W426b)
**Grotefend, H &amp; Ulrich, Th.&nbsp; <u>''Taschenbuch der Zeitrechnung des Deutschen Mittelalters und der Neuzeit&nbsp;''</u>&nbsp;Hannover, Germany: Verlag Hahnsche Buchhandlung,1971.&nbsp; (FHL book 943 H3gh 1971)


*&nbsp;&nbsp;Loughead, Flora Haines. <u>''Dictionary of Given Names.''</u> Glendale, California: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1958.&nbsp; (FHL book 929.4 L929d)


Even within the records themselves the names can have variations.&nbsp; 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:&nbsp; Solving Family History Problems Through Applications of&nbsp;German and English Phonetics''.&nbsp; GRT Publications; Woods Cross, UT, 2000.&nbsp; (FHL book 943 D47m)&nbsp;


More such books are listed in the Place Search section of the FamilySearch Catalog under:  
More such books are listed in the Place Search section of the FamilySearch Catalog under:  
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