TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN RESEARCHING
YOUR GERMAN ANCESTORS
Below are some tips and research pointers that I've collected over the years while researching. If you have a good tip and/or pointer you'd think would be helpful to others, please contact me.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Variations in surnames occur when German names are written and/or pronounced by an englishman. A name will be spelled the way that particular person is hearing it.
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The "in" suffix is sometimes added to the surnames of females, ie. "Wentz" becomes "Wentzin".
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The "lein" suffix was sometimes added to the surnames.
INTERCHANGEABLE LETTERS
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An initial "W" is often pronounced as "V", ie. "Wilhelm" becomes "Vilhelm" or "Wentz" becomes "Ventz"
An initial "B" and "P" are interchangeable, ie. Bentz and Pentz, could be the same names.
An initial "T" or "Th" is often pronounced as a "D", ie. "Thomas" becomes "Domas" or "Trostle" becomes "Drostle".
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An initial "V" is often pronounced as an "F", ie. "Vocht" becomes "Focht".
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A "d" used on the end is pronounced as a "t".
A "g" at the end is pronounced like a soft "k".
A "j" is pronouced like the english "y", ie. Jeager = Yeager.
|
GERMAN |
ENGLISH |
| Ahnen | ancestor |
| Ahnentafel | pedigree chart |
| Alter | age |
| auswandern | to emigrate |
| Bruder | brother |
| Burger | male citizen |
| Familie | family |
| Familiename | family name |
| Frau | wife |
| Geboren | born, maiden name |
| gestorben | died |
| getauft | baptized |
| Getraut | married |
| Gevatter | godfather |
| Gevatterin | godmother |
| Jahr | year |
| Katholisch | Catholic |
| Kinder | children |
| Mutter | mother |
| Nichte | niece |
| Patenkind | godchild |
| Schein | certificate |
| Schwester | sister |
| Sohn | son |
| Tauf | baptism |
| Taufpate | godfather |
| Taufpatin | godmother |
| Tochter | daughter |
| Vater | father |
| Vetter | male cousin/kinsman |
| Witwe | widow |
| Witwer | widower |
| Zwilling | twin |
|
German |
English |
| Januar; Janner | January |
| Februar; Feber | February |
| Marz | March |
| April | April |
| Mai | May |
| Juni | June |
| Juli | July |
| August | August |
| September | September |
| October | October |
| November | November |
| Dezember | December |
| Montag | Monday |
| Dienstag | Tuesday |
| Mittwoch | Wednesday |
| Donnerstag | Thursday |
| Freitag | Friday |
| Samstag; Sonnabend | Saturday |
| Sontag | Sunday |
