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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 ==== | ==== 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: | <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: | ||
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==== Research Examples Using Gazetteers ==== | ==== Research Examples Using Gazetteers ==== | ||
<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: | ||
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<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. | <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 ==== | ==== 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. | 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 ==== | ==== 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. | <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. | ||
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<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 [http://www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/contents.html 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. | ||
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'''C'''yzow = '''Z'''üssow, Pommern<br> | '''C'''yzow = '''Z'''üssow, Pommern<br> | ||
==== Letters Ch and G ==== | ==== Letters Ch and G ==== | ||
Ch G Bercheim = Bergen<br> | Ch G Bercheim = Bergen<br> | ||
==== '''Letters Ch, Ck & K''' ==== | ==== '''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> | 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> | ||