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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. | ||
*[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''' | |||
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. | |||
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. | |||
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. | |||
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 === | ||