Von: CrayonB@aol.com ()
  Datum: 10.10.98, 08:26:48
Betreff: Naming traditions

I found this on another list and thought it might answer some questions or
provide further insight to the "Johann question"


1800's PA/German Name Customs

 Fellow researchers,
       I gleaned something interesting from Dad's PA,Bedford list.
This would be helpful when dealing with either PA ancestors or
ancestors directly from Germany.  Remember the Pennsylvania
Dutch are actually Germans.
       At Baptism,(Christening) the child is given two names in
addition to his surname.  This custom was derived from the
Roman Catholic and continued in the later Protestant sects.
The First Name of the child was usually a spiritual name, taken
from a favorite saint.  The Second name was the child's name
to be used in everyday life.  Often you will see a family of eight
children, with all five of the male children being called John______
Webster,  John________Webster, etc ,etc,etc.  Three girls in the
same family would be called Maria_______Webster, Maria_______
Webster, Maria_______Webster.  The only discriminating feature
besides the actual Date of Birth will be what we refer to as the
middle name.  So, in studying this family group, look at the
Fritz, Conrad, Wilhelm, Peter, or George.-----you'll see Anna,
Kirsten, and Catharina.
     The reason this is significant,is that if you are looking at
legal documents,  you may find a Baptism record with John
Conrad Webster  and continue with your search looking for
and FINDING John Webster.  He will be the wrong ancestor!
You should have been looking for Conrad Webster all along,
as that is how he is referred to in every legal document signed
or written about him.  That "John Webster" who was so easy to
find(because ,of course, he's NOT the one you need.) has a
spritual/first name of Phillip as do the rest of his brothers.
     So when looking at deeds, tax records, census records.....
you are looking for the second/given/call name.  Also, when
reading a history written by a 20th century writer, be advised
that unless they were well schooled, the author will be using the
first/spiritual name.  Again, if you are using this history as
a clue, you will be looking for the wrong ancestor--to reuse the
example--John Webster instead of the Conrad you really needed
for your search.