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== Given Names == | == Given Names == | ||
*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'''. 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 Christoph and Friedrich. | ||
*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.''Do not assume ''</u>'' ''the older child with the exact name died unless you find his/her death date. | |||
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 | *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. | |||
=== Grammatical Effects on German Names === | === Grammatical Effects on German 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. | ||
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=== Variations on Given Names === | === Variations on 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. | 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:''' | *For more details about German '''naming customs, spellings, grammatical endings, and variants:''' | ||