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Identifying Place Names in German documents (view source)
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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 Spelling<br>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: | ==== Places by the same Spelling ==== | ||
<br>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: | |||
35 places by the name of Rosenberg<br>44 places by the name of Kirchberg<br>60 places by the name of Bruch<br>32 places by the name of Bruck<br>48 places by the name of Bühl<br>75 places by the name of Holzhausen<br>81 places by the name of Grünhof<br>96 places by the name of Weinberg<br>100 places by the name of Moos<br>308 places by the name of Neuhof<br>347 places by the name of Neumühle | 35 places by the name of Rosenberg<br>44 places by the name of Kirchberg<br>60 places by the name of Bruch<br>32 places by the name of Bruck<br>48 places by the name of Bühl<br>75 places by the name of Holzhausen<br>81 places by the name of Grünhof<br>96 places by the name of Weinberg<br>100 places by the name of Moos<br>308 places by the name of Neuhof<br>347 places by the name of Neumühle | ||
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<br> Since gazetteers are incomplete it is important to check more than one gazetteer to find certain places. The importance of checking several gazetteers is illustrated in three examples provided by Gerhard Jeske in Place Names in German-Speaking Countries. | <br> Since gazetteers are incomplete it is important to check more than one gazetteer to find certain places. The importance of checking several gazetteers is illustrated in three examples provided by Gerhard Jeske in Place Names in German-Speaking Countries. | ||
Example 1:<br>A place from which an ancestor came was given as Gellen, Brandenburg, Prussia. Meyers gazetteer did not list a place by this spelling in the former Prussian province of Brandenburg, but there were three places listed by this spelling in other parts of Germany, two of which were in Prussia. These places were: | Example 1:<br> A place from which an ancestor came was given as Gellen, Brandenburg, Prussia. Meyers gazetteer did not list a place by this spelling in the former Prussian province of Brandenburg, but there were three places listed by this spelling in other parts of Germany, two of which were in Prussia. These places were: | ||
1. Gellen, Oldenburg, Germany<br>2. Gellen, Westpreussen (West Prussia), Prussia<br>3. Gellen, Pommern (Pomerania), Prussia | 1. Gellen, Oldenburg, Germany<br>2. Gellen, Westpreussen (West Prussia), Prussia<br>3. Gellen, Pommern (Pomerania), Prussia | ||
Other places in connection with this research problem were given as Jädickendorf and Nordhausen, both in Brandenburg, Prussia. When checking Meyers gazetteer for Nordhausen, reference was made to Göllen. Checking the gazetteer for Göllen reference was found to Jädickendorf. According to these findings the given spelling of Gellen was wrong and the correct spelling should be Göllen.<br>Meyers gazetteer indicated that there is no parish in Göllen. Trying to find the parish for Göllen another gazetteer was checked. This gazetteer, Gemeindelexikon für den Freistaat Preussen (Gazetteer for the Free State of Prussia), year 1932, microfilm 806,636 did not list a place by the name of Göllen as given in Meyers, but here it was spelled Gellen, and the parish was given as Nordhausen for Evangelical church records and Königsberg/Neumark for Catholic church records.<br>Next, maps were checked. The map of the German Empire of 1871 [FHL 068,814] page 246 gave the place as Göllen. Another map (#53) published by GEO Center in Stuttgart, Germany listed it as Gellen. The gazetteer Amtliches Gemeinde- und Ortsnamenverzeichnis der Deutschen Ostgebiete unter fremder Verwaltung was also checked, and here the place was also given as Gellen. However, in part B of this gazetteer on page 813 reference was made that the former spelling of Gellen was Göllen. | Other places in connection with this research problem were given as Jädickendorf and Nordhausen, both in Brandenburg, Prussia. When checking Meyers gazetteer for Nordhausen, reference was made to Göllen. Checking the gazetteer for Göllen reference was found to Jädickendorf. According to these findings the given spelling of Gellen was wrong and the correct spelling should be Göllen.<br>Meyers gazetteer indicated that there is no parish in Göllen. Trying to find the parish for Göllen another gazetteer was checked. This gazetteer, Gemeindelexikon für den Freistaat Preussen (Gazetteer for the Free State of Prussia), year 1932, microfilm 806,636 did not list a place by the name of Göllen as given in Meyers, but here it was spelled Gellen, and the parish was given as Nordhausen for Evangelical church records and Königsberg/Neumark for Catholic church records.<br> Next, maps were checked. The map of the German Empire of 1871 [FHL 068,814] page 246 gave the place as Göllen. Another map (#53) published by GEO Center in Stuttgart, Germany listed it as Gellen. The gazetteer Amtliches Gemeinde- und Ortsnamenverzeichnis der Deutschen Ostgebiete unter fremder Verwaltung was also checked, and here the place was also given as Gellen. However, in part B of this gazetteer on page 813 reference was made that the former spelling of Gellen was Göllen. | ||
Example No. 2<br> A patron wanted to find out where the town of Kleinich, now in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, was formerly located. Meyers gazetteer was checked but a place by the name of Kleinich was not listed. Then Müllers gazetteer was checked and here Kleinich was found. However, this gazetteer does not indicate the former state or province in which the places were located before World War II. Next the German General Atlas (Deutscher General Atlas), [FHL Ref Q 943 E3m] was checked and on page 71 Kleinich was found. In addition a place by the name of Oberkleinich, south of Kleinich, and a place by the name of Thalkleinich, north of Kleinich, were found in the atlas.<br> All three of these places are listed in Müllers gazetteer, but only one of them, Thalkleinich, is listed in Meyers gazetteer. When the gazetteer of Prussia was checked it was found that Kleinich was formerly spelled with a "C," Cleinich. This was the reason why it was not found in Meyers under "K," Kleinich. Oberkleinich was also spelled with a 'C," Obercleinich, but Thalkleinich was spelled with "k." The spellings of the places as listed in the Prussian gazetteer (on microfilm 475,861) were also found in Meyers gazetteer and the former province in which these three places were located was Rhineland, Prussia. | |||
Example No. | Example No. 3<br> A birth and christening record from the Evangelical parish of Gontkowitz Kreis Militsch, Schlesien (Silesia), Prussia, now G¹dkowice, Wroc³aw, Poland for the year 1839 indicated that the residence of the parents was Nr. Woidnikowe. The residences of the godparents were listed as Ob. Woidnikowe and N. Woidnikowe. The abbreviations N. and Nr. Stand for the descriptive word "Nieder" meaning "lower" and the abbreviation Ob. stands for the descriptive word "Ober," meaning "upper." The birth record was very legible, omitting the possibility of misinterpreting the handwriting.<br>Listed below are some of the most common reasons why place names cannot be found when the given spelling is wrong:<br>1. Misinterpretation of handwriting.<br>2. Incorrect spellings given by those recording the information, including official scribes, ministers, and civil registrars.<br>3. Localities have been absorbed by larger towns.<br>4. Places are no longer in existence because of destruction by nature or through wars.<br>5. Place name changes have occurred over the years. | ||
<br> Taking these possibilities into consideration, 12 different gazetteers were checked to find Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe, but none of these gazetteers listed the places. Following is a list of gazetteers that were checked:<br>1. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. [FHL 943 E5mo].<br>2. Gemeindelexikon für die Provinz Schlesien. [FHL 943 E5kp vol. 6]<br>3. Gemeindelexikon für den Freistatt Preussen, Provinz Niederschlesien. [FHL 943 E5fp Vol. 6]<br>4. Müllers Grosses Deutsches Ortsbuch. [FHL 943 E5m]<br>5. Amtliches Gemeinde- und Ortsnamenverzeichnis der Deutschen Ostgebiete unter fremder Verwaltung. [FHL 943.8 E5b Vol. 2]<br>6. Historisch-geographisches Wörterbuch des deutschen Mittelalters. [Ref 943 E5oe].<br>7. Henius Grosses Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon für das Deutsche Reich. [943 E5ho]<br>8. Namensänderungen ehemals preussischer Gemeinde von 1850 bis 1942. [FHL 943 E5vf].<br>9. Deutsch-fremsprachiges (fremdsprachig-deutsches) Ortsnamenverzeichnis. [Q 940 E5kt].<br>10. Gemeinde und Ortslexikon des Deutschen Reichs (1901). [FHL 599,563]<br>11. S³ownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego. [FHL 943.8 E5c]<br>12. Spis Miejscowosci Polskieg Rzeszypospolitej Ludowej. [943.8 E5s]<br>13. Kowallis, Otto. A Genealogical Guide and Atlas of Silesia. | |||
==== Checking Detailed Maps ==== | |||
==== | In some cases certain places, especially those that are misspelled can only be found by checking detailed maps of different time periods. This was done to find Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe.<br>A map of the province of Schlesien, scale 1:300,000 was checked [FHL 943.85 E7s] but Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe were not found on this map. However, the map listed the parish of Gontkowitz and a number of other localities that were mentioned in the birth records of Gontkowitz for the years 1838-1849. Just a few miles north of Gontkowitz the places of Nieder and Ober Wiesenthal were found. It seemed that these place names were the spellings for Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe. However, no proof could be found that this assumption was correct.<br>The map of the German Empire of 1871 [FHL film 068,814) was also checked. This map has a scale of 1:100,000 and is more detailed that the individual map of Schlesien. The area of Gontkowitz parish is shown on page 375. Checking this map brought the same results. The localities mentioned in the birth records of Gontkowitz, including Nieder and Ober Wiesenthal were found, but Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe were not on it. In addition several others maps and atlases of different time periods were checked but it was impossible to find Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe.<br>The time period involved with the problem of finding Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe was the year 1839. A search was made to find an earlier gazetteer. The search was successful and the gazetteer Die Gemeinde und Gutsbezirke des Preussischen Staates and ihre Bevölkerung was found on microfilm 491,037; 491,038; 491,039; and 491,041. This gazetteer had been prepared according to the census that was taken on 1 December 1871 and it was published in 1874. <br> The province of Schlesien (Silesia) was found on film 491,039 and the place name index on page 497 indicated that Nieder Woidnikowe is listed in section V under number 138 and under number 230. Ober Woidnikowe was listed to be found in Section V under number 139 and number 231. Section V of the gazetteer covers the district of Militsch. The reason for having two entries of each locality in the gazetteer is that they are listed under both rural communities [Landgemeinden] and Farm Districts [Gutsbezirke].<br> The gazetteer indicated that Nieder Woidnikowe had a population of 370 on 1 December 1871. The population of Ober Woidnikowe was 223. A comparison with Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs- Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs of the population of Nieder and Ober Wiesenthal was made to find out the difference. Meyers was printed in 1913 and listed a population of 366 for Nieder Wiesenthal and 220 for Ober Wiesenthal. For both places together there was a difference of only 7 people. This observation stressed the fact that Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe and Nieder and Ober Wiesenthal could be the same places as was assumed earlier.<br>Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe are now located in the province of Wroc³aw, powiat [district] <br>of Milicz, Poland. According to the parish inventory of Wroc³aw Schematyzm Archidiecezji Wroc³awskiej [FHL 943.853 K22w] the Polish name of Ober Woidnikowe is Wodników Górny, which belongs to the parish of G¹dkowice. Reference was made to the German spellings, Nieder and Ober Woidnikowe.<br> This example is a good illustration of how important it is to check several different gazetteers to find certain places in Germany and neighboring countries. An excellent overview of German gazetteers and how to use them can be found in ''[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=Ger_BMD_RefDoc_HandbookGermanResearch.ASP A Genealogical Handbook of German Research]''by Larry O. Jensen. | ||
==== Places names in foreign languages ==== | |||
<br>Place names can take a variety of forms when applied to different languages. Note these endings of place names and the changes that can occur when applied to various languages. | |||
-dorf = ville [French] = wieƒ [Polish] = village<br>-hof = -gaard [Danish] = farm<br>-feld = mark [Danish] = field<br>-wald = -fôret [French] = forest<br>-mühle = mølle [Danish] = mill<br>-holz = skov [Danish] = grove | -dorf = ville [French] = wieƒ [Polish] = village<br> -hof = -gaard [Danish] = farm<br> -feld = mark [Danish] = field<br> -wald = -fôret [French] = forest<br> -mühle = mølle [Danish] = mill<br> -holz = skov [Danish] = grove | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
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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 ==== | ||
<br>Both Polish and Russian are highly inflected languages. This means that endings are added to stems of words to signal changes in meanings. Nouns, adjectives and pronouns can be declined and change the structure of a word. A place name can take on a different look when various endings are added. This can be confusing to researchers even if the Polish or Russian equivalent name of the place is known. Some common place name forms in Germany and Polish are:<br>Ober = górny = upper<br>Unter = dolny = lower<br>Gross = wielki = large<br>Neu = nowy = new | <br>Both Polish and Russian are highly inflected languages. This means that endings are added to stems of words to signal changes in meanings. Nouns, adjectives and pronouns can be declined and change the structure of a word. A place name can take on a different look when various endings are added. This can be confusing to researchers even if the Polish or Russian equivalent name of the place is known. Some common place name forms in Germany and Polish are:<br> Ober = górny = upper<br> Unter = dolny = lower<br> Gross = wielki = large<br> Neu = nowy = new | ||
German and equivalent Sorbic place names from the German Postal Directory. Wendish (Sorbic) areas of Germany include: | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
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==== Latinization of Place Names ==== | ==== Latinization of Place Names ==== | ||
<br>Latin names for localities are found frequently in parish register entries. Villa nova (Latin); Villeneuve (French); and Neuhof (German), and Newtown or Newton (English) are names for the same place. . Latin or Greek place names are very common in University matriculation records. (see illustration). The Latin prepositions "ex"[from or out of] and "de"[from] often precede the Latin places names. Latinized place names when following a preposition commonly have these endings: -anus, -inus, and -ensis. Examples of Latin places names:<br>Parthenopolis = Magdeburg<br>Regiomont(i)um or "ex Regiomontanus" = Königsberg or "from Königsberg"<br>Borussia = Prussia<br>Marchia = Mark Brandenburg<br>Gryphiberga = Greiffenberg, Schlesien, Prussia<br>Guelferbytum or Wolfenbuttela = Wolfenbüttel, Braunschweig | <br>Latin names for localities are found frequently in parish register entries. ''Villa nova ''(Latin); ''Villeneuve'' (French); and ''Neuhof'' (German), and Newtown or Newton (English) are names for the same place. . Latin or Greek place names are very common in University matriculation records. (see illustration). The Latin prepositions "ex" [from or out of] and "de" [from] often precede the Latin places names. Latinized place names when following a preposition commonly have these endings: -anus, -inus, and -ensis. Examples of Latin places names:<br> Parthenopolis = Magdeburg<br> Regiomont(i)um or "ex Regiomontanus" = Königsberg or "from Königsberg"<br> Borussia = Prussia<br> Marchia = Mark Brandenburg<br> Gryphiberga = Greiffenberg, Schlesien, Prussia<br> Guelferbytum or Wolfenbuttela = Wolfenbüttel, Braunschweig | ||
Thomas Otto Achelis in "Die Bedeutung der Universitätsmatrikeln für den Familienforscher" [The importance of University Registers for the Family Researcher] states that students often gave the name of a larger, more well-known city as their place of origin instead of their native village or birthplace. Place names in Latin can be found on the internet at Orbis Latinus online at: www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/contents, html. | Thomas Otto Achelis in "Die Bedeutung der Universitätsmatrikeln für den Familienforscher" [The importance of University Registers for the Family Researcher] states that students often gave the name of a larger, more well-known city as their place of origin instead of their native village or birthplace. Place names in Latin can be found on the internet at Orbis Latinus online at: www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/contents, html. | ||
Key to Locating Places Names<br>Often the first letter of a given spelling for a certain place name is incorrect, but many times other letters in the middle of the place name are also incorrect. Some place names may have additional letters at the end which should not be there, other place names may have letters missing that should be there. The researcher who is familiar with German place names may recognize the correct name of a misspelled town or village, but often it is very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to determine the correct spelling of a given place name. The examples below from actual research problems indicate how certain letters may have been used by the scribe and how they appear in modern gazetteers. | Key to Locating Places Names<br>Often the first letter of a given spelling for a certain place name is incorrect, but many times other letters in the middle of the place name are also incorrect. Some place names may have additional letters at the end which should not be there, other place names may have letters missing that should be there. The researcher who is familiar with German place names may recognize the correct name of a misspelled town or village, but often it is very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to determine the correct spelling of a given place name. The examples below from actual research problems indicate how certain letters may have been used by the scribe and how they appear in modern gazetteers. | ||
KEY TO LOCATING PLACE NAMES | ==== KEY TO LOCATING PLACE NAMES ==== | ||
'''Letter A and E'''<br> | '''Letter A and E'''<br>'''Ai'''chberg, Württemberg found in gazetteer as '''Ei'''chberg | ||
'''Letters B and P''' | '''Letters B and P''' | ||
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'''B'''ermesens, Pfalz, Bavaria was the place name given in United States records. It was identified as '''P'''irmasens in German gazetteers. | '''B'''ermesens, Pfalz, Bavaria was the place name given in United States records. It was identified as '''P'''irmasens in German gazetteers. | ||
''' | ==== Letters C and K ==== | ||
Calbine, Arswaldy, Brandenburg = Kölpin, Arnswalde, Brandenburg<br> | |||
==== Letters C and Z ==== | |||
'''C'''yzow = '''Z'''üssow, Pommern<br> | |||
==== Letters Ch and G ==== | |||
Ch G Bercheim = Bergen<br> | |||
==== '''Letters Ch, Ck & K''' ==== | |||
Na'''ch'''e = Na'''ck'''<br>Ck Ch <br>Cz Sch Caczlin (parish Zirke) Posen = Katschlin<br>D T Breedsen = Brietzen, Schlesien<br>E A Gutmedingen = Gutmadingen<br>E I Borodeeno, Bessarabia = Borodino, Bessarabia<br>Ei I <br>F V Alfertissen = Alverdissen<br>F Pf Rhinefalls = Rheinpfalz<br>F W <br>F Ph <br>G K Igen = Ecken, Schleswig-Holstein<br>H H (can be added or omitted) Hoen-Selchow = Hohenselchow, Pommern<br>I E Posin = Posen<br>I Ei Kris = Kreis [district]<br>I Y Baiern = Bayern<br>I J Gierrup = Gjerrup<br>J Y <br>J I <br>K C <br>K Ch Tükskov = Tüchschau, Schleswig-Holstein<br>K G Aklitten, East Prussia = Auglitten, Ostpreussen<br>Ks X Rocksheim = Roxheim, Pfalz<br>L N <br>M N <br>N M <br>O U Bookheim, Friberg = Buchheim, Freiburg, Baden<br>Ow Au Schwiesow = Schwiesau<br>P B <br>Ph F <br>p ss (deciphering ß as p) Prupia [Prußia]= Prussia or Hepe [Heße]= Hessen<br>Qu Kw <br>Qu Kv Quars - Kvaers [Danish]<br>R H <br>S Z Elsens = Elsenz, Pfalz<br>Sch Sz Borschymman, East Prussia = Borszymmen, Ostpreussen<br>Sch Ch <br>Sch S Schwanstrup = Svanstrup<br>Sch Cz <br>Sch G <br>Sh Sch Bamesh Leebow = Böhmisch Liebau<br>T D Alfertissen = Alverdissen<br>Ts Z <br>Tsch & Tzsch Z <br>Tz Z <br>T Th Tedinghaused = Thedinghausen<br>U O Stulp = Stolp, Pommern<br>U V <br>V F <br>V U Faverby = Fauerbye, Schleswig-Holstein<br>V W Vestermølle = Westermühle, Schleswig-Holstein<br>W V <br>W M <br>X Z <br>X Chs Hexum = Hechtsheim<br>Y J <br>Y I Bylevelt = Bielefeld, Westfalen<br>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: | ||