Acceptable Alternatives for First Names

As I was reading my latest issue of American Ancestors (Fall 2013, vol. 14, no. 4), from the New England Historic Genealogical Society, I found an interesting article by Henry Hoff.  The article was entitled “Developing Acceptable Alternatives for First Names in Colonial New York”.  He provides information on names among the Dutch, English, French and German settlers in Colonial New York.

There are resources that can provide English equivalents for Dutch names.  Arthur Kelly’s book, Names, Names, & More Names, Locating your Dutch Ancestors in Colonial America, provides an extensive list on pages 161 to 216.  Since I am writing this on St. Nicholas’ feast day, I want to point out that the list includes thirty Dutch equivalents for the English name, Nicholas.  Some are easy to recognize as equivalents, such as “Klaas”, or “Niklas”.   But would you have recognized “Klobes” or “Klaywitz” as an equivalent?

For those researching their German ancestry, the notion of a “Rufname” should be familiar.  It is not uncommon for a German to have a first name (Vorname), and a Rufname.  Several children in the family may have the same Vorname, e.g. Johann.  However each would have a different second name (the Rufname).  For example two brothers might be named Johann Georg and Johann Karl.  The names that the two would be known as would be Georg and Karl.

The article by Hoff passes along information the author received in an email from Henry Z Jones.  There were apparently some German names that would be considered an appropriate equivalent even though we might not see the connection.  Jones indicated that a boy who was baptized as Theobald might be called David, but that a boy baptized as David, would not be called Theobald.  As another example, a boy baptized as Adolf might be called Adam, but not the other way around.

It might be difficult to find an individual baptized as Theobald if he later used David as his name on records.  Understanding the possible alternative could be important to your research.

A Library Big Enough for All My Books

I have read with interest Dick Eastman’s newsletters.  One of the issues that he has addressed several times is his attempts to convert his library from paper to digital.  With all the books we acquire for our personal research and interests, it is not difficult to imagine running out of bookshelf space and end up with piles of books on the floor surrounding the desk.  Dick had apparently reached that point when he began taking books apart so that he could more easily convert them to a digital format.

I face a similar problem.  Perhaps you do too.  Books are expensive and the paper versions require space if they are to be available when needed. While I was attending a Civil War symposium in Virginia last month, I learned that Kent State University had published a number of books on the participation of Germans in the American Civil War.  It was easy enough to go online and find three books that would be useful in one of my ongoing projects.  I bought them at a not so cheap price and then had to find space for them on my bookshelves when they arrived. August Willich’s Gallant Dutchmen by Joseph R. Reinhart, A German Hurrah!, also by Reinhart, and Long Road to Liberty, the Odyssey of a German Regiment in the Yankee Army, by Donald Allendorf, all sit on my shelves now, and I am happy to have them there.  However, I had to remove several books to find them space. 

What is the answer to the problem of homeless books?  There are several possible solutions.  First, there are many books available in digital format that can be read on your Kindle, Nook or other reader.  They usually cost about one half what a paper copy would cost.  Some, if they are older books might be available at no cost through Google Books (books.google.com). Rather than buy another book that required shelve space, I purchased my copy of William Burton’s Melting Pot Soldiers from Google Books for a saving in space and money. 

Of course there are companies that scan older books and make them available on CD or DVDs.  I recently purchased a DVD from www.adigitalhistory.com that contained 48 German history books, many dealing with Pennsylvania Germans.  The most recent had been published in 1917.  The first on the DVD was A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss… Immigrant to Pennsylvania.  All 48 books take up the space of a thin DVD, and cost me $8.99.

One final possibility might be considered.  Even though I cringe at the thought of cutting the spine off a book on my shelves in order to make a digital copy, there is a company that will do it for me.  Dick Eastman suggested this possibility.  The company, www.1dollarscan.com will make a high quality digital copy of a book you send them and provide you with the digital copy for your use.  The book you sent is then cut up and recycled.  You are left with space on your shelve.  They charge $1 per 100 pages.  I still am not entirely comfortable with cutting apart books, but I may soon reach that point.

Perhaps you haven’t run out of space on your bookshelves, but when the time comes, owning digital copies of books may appeal to you more.

New York Family History Conference

This weekend, I returned from Syracuse, New York, where I attended and spoke at the New York State Family History Conference.  It was co-sponsored by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society and the Central New York Genealogical Society.  The conference organizers billed the conference as “The First”, because they intend this conference to become a regularly scheduled conference focused on those researching New York families. This first conference was well attended.  In fact it was sold out with about 400 attending.  Those who tried to register in the final weeks for events such as the bus tour or the luncheon on Friday at which Terry Koch-Bostic spoke about “Finding Spicy Stories of New York Ancestors in Newspapers Online”, were out of luck.

The conference offered two tracks of presentations, one on New York State, and the second entitled “Beyond the Basics”.   One of my two presentations was “German Heritage and History in New York State”.  The second of my talks was entitled“Were Your Ancestors Refugees from the 1848 German Revolution?”  I was pleased that the conference made the decision to include at least those two German themed presentations.  Based on feedback from those who attended my two talks, there were many who were seeking information to help them research their German ancestors.  I am sorry to say that there were no other presentations dealing with German research.

However, the lack of more German content does not mean that the conference didn’t have a lot to offer.  Paula Stuart-Warren gave several talks, including one on indexes and databases for American Indian research. Karen Mauer Green spoke of the Huguenots in New Amsterdam and New York.  There was an interesting presentation sponsored by the National DAR and given by Eric Grunset on New York in the Revolution.

Next time this conference is held, I hope they will find a larger venue to hold all the people who wanted to attend this one.  

Learning More about German Research

If you are just beginning to research your German ancestors, it can seem to be a very daunting task.  You know that your ancestor was German, but you don’t know where they came from in Germany.  You don’t speak or read German, yet you understand that the records that you will need in your research will most likely be written in German.  And then of course you have seen some German records written in a script that is alien to you.  For some people, that is enough reason for them to throw up their hands and decide to give up researching that part of the family.

What you need is some guidance and resources to help you with your research. Of course there are many books that can provide you with information.  If you go to Google search and look for “genealogy books German”, you will find a number of available books.  Finding Your German Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide, by Kevan Hansen, or A Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering Your Germanic Ancestors, by S. Chris Anderson, might be all that you need.

However, in this age of instant information, you might prefer to find your instruction in German research online.  If so, go to what should be a familiar site for all genealogists, www.familysearch.org, and click on “Getting Help” in the upper right hand corner.  You will find several choices available.  You can obtain some research assistance online or on the phone.  You can find a number of published articles on the Research Wiki, just select Germany to focus on your interest.

There is a third option that might be even more helpful.  Click on “Learning Center” and select Germany, and you will find 16 different online courses available to help you acquire the tools for doing German research.  The courses, which include videos and interactive slideshows contain the following offerings:

1.       “German Research”, a basic course in German genealogy.

2.       “German Beginning Research Series”, a three part course that uses interactive slides.

3.       “German Script Tutorial”, to help you deal with the writing you find in many German records.

4.       “My Ancestors Are from Germany, and I Don’t Speak German”.

5.       “Reading German Handwritten  Records”, a three part course.

6.       There are also three lessons in Spanish for those researching German ancestors.

These online courses can be done in the comfort of your own home, and are free.  You will be asked to register for the first course you take, but the registration process is simple, and will be taking your first course in minutes.  Happy learning.

Surnames being research, Part 2

At the 2013 Palatines to America Conference in Albany, NY, we asked those who registered to list any names that they are researching.  This blog will provide the names being researched, and the person who is interested in that name.  We have not provided the mail or email addresses of the person who listed the name, because of privacy concerns.  However if you are also interested in the same name, leave a comment with your email address, and we will leave if up to the person who listed the name to contact you.  I have never tried this way of linking people. I hope it works.  This is part two of the list.

Surname	Researcher	Surname	Researcher
Lant	Hansen, Lucia L.	Lauck	Jones Bob
Laux	Burns, Jean B.	Lawyer	Rightmyer, Susan M.
Leffler	Grigsby, Sharon K.	Keub	Swineheart, Carol
Lieby	Lieby, Joseph	Listermann	Burck, Kenny R.
Mack	Harsh, Clara H.	Mann	Swantz, Sally J.
Marzolf	Martzolf, Gary	Mathis/ Mathis	Burck, Kenny R.
Mening	Hansen, Lucia L.	Mesick	Wilson, Karen
Meyer	Meyer, Col. George	Miller	Miller, Odell
Miller/Heist	Harder, John E.	Muehleisen	Oppenheimer, Christine Crawford
Mueller	Thompson, Wendy	Muller	Miller, Odell
Munich/Muench	Hansen, Lucia L.	Nestell/Nestle	Nestell, Michael
Nies	Nies, Ruth E.	Ostranger	Andersen, Randy
Pickel	Apgar, George N. Jr.	Pritting/Pruetting	Saatman, Grace
Quellmalz	Fruh, Robert, P.	Regula	Eppler, Ruth C.
Reidt	Grigsby, Sharon K.	Reidt/Rieth	Swinehart, Thomas
Rickard	MacGowan, Sally R.	Rickard	Rightmyer, Susan M.
Rifenburgh	Rightmyer, Susan M.	Rockefeller	Burns, Jean G.
Roesch	Martzolf, Gary	Rosenbaum	McDaniel, Lauren
Rossman	Swantz, Sally J.	Ruff/Roof	Cross, John
Rypenberger	Rightmyer, Susan M.	Saatman/Saatmann	Saatman, Grace
Schaefer	Apgar, Geroge N. Jr.	Schauer	Jones, Bob
Scheffer	Andersen, La Cinda	Schneider	Meyer, Col. George
Schneider	Schmieder, Linda	Schneider	Swinehart, Thomas
Schreckinggest	Oppenheimer, Christine Crawford	Schultheis	Townsend, Jeanne Watersl
Schultz	Townsend, Jeanne Waters	Schwab	Powell, Jocelyn P.
Schwechheimer	Swackhamer, GeneL.	Seerbenz	Caylor, Eugene
Shirey	Clarke, Shannah Ehrhart	Showers	Jones, Bob
Simon/Simmons	Finkell, Garry	Snell	Nies, Ruth E.
Stager/Staker	Lieby, Joseph	Sternberg	Andersen, La Cinda
Stickle	Goddard-Lyle, Charlene	Stoll	Martzolf, Gary
Strecker	Goddard-Lyle, Charlene	Streit	Caylor, Eugene
Suits/Suts	Paris, John M.`	Swackhamer/Swackhammer	Swackhamer, Gene L.
Teeple	Eppler, Ruth C.	Treadway/Strong	Harder, John E.
Uhrich/Uhrig	Uhrick, David A.	Unzicker	Unsicker, Ruth
Van Norman	Harsh, Clara H.	Vanderhoff	Lieby, Joseph
Viehman/Feeman	Van Houten, Sylvia	Wager	Saatman, Grace
Warner	Clarke, Shannah Ehrhart	Warner	Swantz, Sally J.
Weiss	MacGowan, Sally R.	Wennerich/Venerich	Newcomer, Roberta M.
Wenrich	Daniels, Shirley M.	Wertman	Daniels, Shirley M.
Williamson	Townsend, Jeanne Waters	Wise	Harder, John E.
Wopperer	Schmieder, Linda	Young	Coons, William
Zerbe	Daniels, Shirley M.

This is the entire list.  Don’t forget to leave comments with your email address if you want someone to contact you who is researching the same name.

Surnames being researched

At the 2013 Palatines to America Conference in Albany, NY, we asked those who registered to list any names that they are researching.  This blog will provide the names being researched, and the person who is interested in that name.  We have not provided the mail or email addresses of the person who listed the name, because of privacy concerns.  However if you are also interested in the same name, leave a comment with your email address, and we will leave if up to the person who listed the name to contact you.  I have never tried this way of linking people. I hope it works.

Surname	Researcher	Surname	Researcher
Ache	Newcomer, Roberta M.	Anspach	Grigsby, Sharon K.
Anspach	Swinehart, Thomas	Barnhart	Caylor, Eugene
Becker	Becker-Sanford, Diane	Becker (widow)	Becker-Sanford, Diane
Belanger	Powell, Jocelyn P.	Bellinger	Anderson, Randy
Bellinger	MacGowan, Sally R.	Bellinger/Bouck	Burns, Jean G.
Belz	Paris, John M.	Bender	Dillon, Susannah H.
Berringer	Andersen, LaCinda	Boehrs	McDaniel, Lauren
Boesch/Bösch	Lieby, Joseph	Boeskaar	Becker-Sandford, Diane
Borroway/ Burrowy	Uhrick, David A.	Borst	Burns, Jean G.
Bossheren	Becker-Sanford, Diane	Bricker	Van Houten, Sylvia
Brown	Harsh, Clara H.	Brown/Braun	Van Houten, Sylvia
Buerck	Burck, Kenny R.	Castler	Andersen, La Cinda
Caylor/Koehler	Caylor, Eugene	Clark	Harsh, Clara H.
Colehamer/Kohlhamer	Finkell, Garry	Collins	Wilson, Karen
Daubebspeck	Oppenheimer, Christine Crawford	Demuth	Uhrick, David A.
Deonick	Paris, John M.	Diehl	Goddard-Lyle, Charlene
Diehl	Uhrick, David A.	Drutschel/Dritschol	Swinehart, Carol
Eacker	Paris, John M.	Ehrhart	Clarke, Shannah Ehrhart
Embury	Andersen, Randy	Eschbach	Oppenheimer, Christine Crawford
Essig/Essick	Eppler, Ruth C.	Fahl	Barker, Brenda
Feller	Goddard-Lyle, Charlene	Ferber	McDaniel
Ferry	Daniels, Shirley M.	Fife	Clarke, Shannah Ehrhart
File	Finkell, Garry	Finkel/Finkle	Finkell, Garry
Fischer	Swinehart, Thomas	Foss/Voss	Swinehart, Carol
Fox	Fox, Thomas	Fruh	Fruh, Robert P.
Gall	Dillon, Susannah H.	Gerngross	Andersen, Randy
Greenawalt	McDaniel, Lauren	Haag	Apgar, George N. Jr.
Haalo	Schmieder, Linda	Hagadorn	Wilson, Karen
Halm	Unzicker, Ruth	Harder	Harder, John E.
Harger	Dillon,  Susannah H.	Hauser	Cross, John
Haverstick	Dillon, Susannah H.	Hedgemen	Wilson, Karen
Heger,	Schmieder, Linda	Heiszenbuttel	Unzicker, Ruth
Helman	Martzolf, Gary	Helwig	Powell, Jocelyn P.
Herfle	Meyer, Col. George	Herrmann	Swinehart, Carol
Heuer	Burck, Kenny R.	Hiley	Thompson, Wendy
House/Haus/Hauss	Zeske, Marilyn	Huenagle	Van Houten, Sylvia
Imel	Newcomer, Roberta M.	Jung	Coons, William
Kaufman	Fruh, Robert P.	Keller	Thompson, Wendy
Kilts/Kiltz/Hilts	Zeske, Marilyn	Kilz/Kiltz	Powell, Jocelyn P.
Klintworth	Unzicker, Ruth	Klumpp	Thompson, Wendy
Knishern	Swantz, Sally J.	Kobel/Koble	Cross, John
Kober/Cover	Newcomer, Roberta M.	Kotterman	Cross, Joohn
Kuhn	Coons, William	Kuhn/Coon	Eppler, Ruth C.
Kuntz	Coons, William	Landt	Hansen, Lucia L.

I will post additional names in the next blog. Don’t forget to leave comments with your email  if you want someone who is researching the same name to contact you.