| Notes |
- There is much false or misinterpreted data attached to Adam. We as family historians have to dig out and separate fact from fiction where possible. Some we can eliminate by simple logic. Others are harder and with the advent of the internet and the insidious data miners who glean info from others and post it as their own work make separating fact from fiction very hard. The Trollinger monument in in Haw River is a case in point. There are some rumors that it was originally wood. That would account for the error in the dates. What we do know is Adam crossed the Atlantic in 1738 with his family and that of his first cousin Johann Eberhard. They landed in Philadelphia in 1738 and then the data becomes scarce.
U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Name: Adam Drollinger
Age: 30
Birth Year: abt 1707
Arrival Year: 1737
Arrival Place: America
Primary Immigrant: Drollinger, Adam
Source Publication Code: 1815
Source Bibliography: EHMANN, KARL. Die Auswanderung in die Neuengland-Staaten aus Orten des Enzkreises im 18. Jahrhundert. (Suedwestdeutsche Blaetter fuer Familien- und Wappenkunde, special supplement, 1977.) 59p.
Household Members:
Name Relation
Adam Drollinger
U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Name: Adam Drollinger
Age: 30
Birth Year: abt 1708
Arrival Year: 1738
Arrival Place: Pennsylvania
Primary Immigrant: Drollinger, Adam
Source Publication Code: 1804
Annotation: Taken from original manuscripts in the state archives. Names given throughout pages 1-677. Foreigners arriving in Pennsylvania named on pages 521-667. No. 3776, Kelker, supplements this.
Source Bibliography: EGLE, WILLIAM HENRY, editor Names of Foreigners Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania, 1727-1775, with the Foreign Arrivals, 1786-1808. (Pennsylvania Archives, ser. 2, vol. 17.) Harrisburg [PA]: E.K. Meyers, 1890. 787p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967.
Household Members:
Name Relation
Adam Drollinger
U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Name: Adam Drollinger
Age: 30
Birth Year: abt 1708
Arrival Year: 1738
Arrival Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Primary Immigrant: Drollinger, Adam
Source Publication Code: 2855.5
Source Bibliography: HACKER, WERNER. Auswanderungen aus Baden und dem Breisgau: Obere und mittlere rechtsseitige Oberrheinlande im 18. Jahrhundert archivalisch dokumentiert. Stuttgart [Germany]: Konrad Theiss, 1980. 743p.
Household Members:
Name Relation
Adam Drollinger
U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Name: Adam Drollinger
Arrival Year: 1738
Arrival Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Primary Immigrant: Drollinger, Adam
Source Publication Code: 7820
Annotation: An index by Marvin V. Koger, Index to the Names of 30,000 Immigrants...Supplementing the Rupp, Ship Load Volume, 1935, 232p. is inferior to Wecken's index in the third edition (above). Page 449 contains "Names of the First Palatines in North Carolina, as
Source Bibliography: RUPP, ISRAEL DANIEL. A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, with a Statement of the Names of Ships, Whence They Sailed, and the Date of Their Arrival at Philadelphia, Chronologically Arranged, Together with the Necessary Historical and Other Notes, also, an Appendix Containing Lists of More Than One Thousand German and French Names in New York prior to 1712. Leipzig [Germany]:
Household Members:
Name Relation
Adam Drollinger
U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Name: Adam Drollinger
Arrival Year: 1738
Arrival Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Primary Immigrant: Drollinger, Adam
Source Publication Code: 9041
Annotation: Contains 29,800 names, with annotations written by Krebs (see no. 4203). Various references to the names in Strassburger will be found in other listings, mostly where authors have attempted to line up their information with that in Strassburger. This work
Source Bibliography: STRASSBURGER, RALPH BEAVER. Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808. Edited by William John Hinke. Norristown [PA]: Pennsylvania German Society, 1934. 3 vols. Vols. 1 and 3 reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1964. Repr. 1983. Vol. 1. 1727-1775. 776p.
Household Members:
Name Relation
Adam Drollinger
Adam's age on arrival in Philadelphia 20 September 1738 is given as 30 which is consistant with his birth record in the Ellmendingen Church Books. The dates on the monument in the Trollinger Cemetery in Haw River are more consistant with Hans Michael, his father. The land grant to Adam, entered 13 May 1778, issued 13 March 1780, entry number 11 and his listing on tax lists 1780 - 81 make his death in 1776 unlikely. I place it in 1803 because of the multiple grantor deeds listing his heirs.
I would be doing an injustice if I didn't mention Brigitte Burkett's excellent research book. "Emigrants from Baden and Wuertemberg in the Eighteenth Century" volume 1 Baden Durlach and vicinity by Picton Press October 1996. She combines Hacker's work along with Strassburger and Hinke lists and her original work in German Church Books. Adam and family are treated on pages 61 and 62.
Most sources say Adam was in Haw River as early as 1745. There are three sources that place Adam in Pennsylvania as late as 1750. Published archives of PA, 3rd series volume XXIV page 122 Warrantees of Land, Adam Drollinger 100 acres 11 March 1746; page 170 Throllinger Adam 50 acres 23 April 1746. A short explanation of the obtaining of land in the colony of Pennsylvaia is in order. As proprietors, the young Penns had absolute authority to dispose of their lands. Using the Land Office and land distribution policies instituted by William Penn, they updated surveying procedures to accommodate as many settlers as possible from 1732 to 1765. Two categories of land were established to reflect land settlement up to that point: improved and unimproved land. During William Penn's proprietorship, much of the land settlement was never recorded formally so squatting on land was common practice. Land that had been settled under this policy was considered improved land. All other lands vacant were considered unimproved lands. In order to regulate the settling of their lands and to retrieve payment from squatters who settled before 1754, the Penns further updated the application system, which consisted of a series of documents including application, warrant, survey, and patent. So the land warrant was permission to survey the land and also a first claim part of the process.
Bucks County Pennsylvania court records, 12 April 1750 Oath of Allegiance Adam Drollinger. This oath is referred to as a Quaker Baptism possibly as it is mentioned in Guisuippi's Quaker Records. The possibility exists that between obtaining land warrants and the 1750 Oath of Allegiance, Adam traveled overland to Haw River to see his father. Returning by water would account for his 2nd Oath in 1750.
Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Name: Adam Drullinger
Year: 1750
Place: Pennsylvania
Source Publication Code: 2564
Primary Immigrant: Drullinger, Adam
Annotation: Data derived from return-forms connected with the naturalization of foreign Protestants, papers that were sent from the Colonies to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. Transcribed from two Entry Books, once the property of the Board of Trad
Source Bibliography: GIUSEPPI, MONTAGUE SPENCER, editor. Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants in the American and West Indian Colonies (Pursuant to Statute 13 George II, c.7). (Publications of the Huguenot Society of London, 1921, vol. 24.) Manchester [England]: The Huguenot Society of London, 1921. 196p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1964. Repr. 1979.
Page: 44
These sources place Adam in Pennsylvania but don't explain the Haw River location. The answer is that Adam moved around a lot more that earlier believed. He would have traveled south via the Great Wagon Road but returned to Philadelphia by ship on one trip. One can imagine Adam as a German speak with little English skills getting caught up in bureaucracy and having to take another oath of allegiance to the British after being unable to explain he had taken one prior.
The Road South
The heavily traveled Great Wagon Road was the primary route for the early settlement of the Southern United States, particularly the "back country". Although a wide variety of settlers traveled southward on the road, two dominant cultures emerged. The German Palatines and Scotch-Irish American immigrants arrived in huge numbers because of unendurable conditions in Europe. The Germans (also known as Pennsylvania Dutch) tended to find rich farmland and work it zealously to become stable and prosperous. The other group (known also as Presbyterian or Ulster Scots) tended to be restless, clannish, and fiercely independent; they formed what became known as the Appalachian Culture. Partly because of the language difference, the two groups tended to keep to themselves.
Beginning at the port of Philadelphia, where many immigrants entered the colonies, the Great Wagon Road passed through the towns of Lancaster and York in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Turning southwest, the road crossed the Potomac River and entered the Shenandoah Valley near present-day Martinsburg, West Virginia. It continued south in the valley via the Great Warriors' Trail (also called the Indian Road), which was established by centuries of Indian travel over ancient trails created by migrating buffalo herds. The Shenandoah portion of the road is also known as the Valley Pike. The Treaty of Lancaster in 1744 had established colonists' rights to settle along the Indian Road. Although traffic on the road increased dramatically after 1744, it was reduced to a trickle during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) from 1756 to 1763. But after the war ended, it became the most heavily traveled road in America.
South of the Shenandoah Valley, the road reached the Roanoke River at the town of Big Lick (today, Roanoke). South of Roanoke, the Great Wagon Road was also called the Carolina Road. At Roanoke, a road forked southwest, leading into the upper New River Valley and on to the Holston River in the upper Tennessee Valley. From there, the Wilderness Road led into Kentucky, ending at the Ohio River where flatboats were available for further travel into the Midwest and even to New Orleans.
From Big Lick/Roanoke, after 1748, the Great Wagon Road passed through the Maggoty Gap (also called Maggodee) to the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Continuing south through the Piedmont region, it passed through the present-day North Carolina towns of Winston-Salem, Salisbury, and Charlotte and sites of earlier Indian settlements on the historic Indian Trading Path. The Great Wagon Road ultimately reached Augusta, Georgia, on the Savannah River, a distance of more than 800 miles (1,300 km) from Philadelphia.
Despite its current name, the southern part of this road was by no means passable by wagons until later colonial times. The 1751 Fry-Jefferson map on this page notes the term "Waggon" only north of Winchester, Virginia. In 1753, a group of wagon travelers reported that "the good road ended at Augusta" (now Staunton, Virginia), although they did keep going all the way to Winston-Salem. By all accounts, it was never a comfortable route. The lines of settlers' covered wagons moving south were matched by a line of wagons full of agricultural produce heading north to urban markets; these were interspersed with enormous herds of cattle, hogs, and other livestock being driven north to market. Although there surely would have been pleasant areas for travel, road conditions also could vary from deep mud to thick dust, mixed with animal waste. Inns generally provided only the most basic food and a space to sleep.
That Adam and his father made use of the road there should be no doubt. Probably the father Hans Michael was the first to use it while Adam was engaged in acquiring land in Pennsylvania. There should be no doubt that Adam made use of the road before finally settling in Haw River. He returned to Pennsylvania by ship and did have to swear another oath of allegiance to the English King in 1750. That Adam made a further trip north is evidenced by his selling of a land warrant in 1753.
Some thing that is often missed is the fact that Adam's father, Hans Michael, also came over to the new world. He is listed in "Auswanderungen aus Baden und dem Breisgau" Konrad Theiss Verlag, Stuttgart and Aalen 1980 by Werner Hacker. Hacker #1710 Hans Michael Drollinger of Ellmendingen, with wife and children, wants to go to his son, Adam, in Pennsylvania, who emigrated 1738 and has asked to join him; Hans Michael was released in 1740 with 8 other parties, 47 persons, but stayed for a while to sell his property. He leaves for Pennsylvania with his wife and 1 son 1743. Ship Rosanna, James Reason, Master, from Rotterdam 26 Sep 1743... Hance Michel Droliner... Gabriel Drollinger.
Orange County Records, volume 1, Trolinger, Adam Warrant 18 Aug 1761, 700 acres on south side of Haw River, includes plantation he now lives on. Surveyed 16 Sep 1761, deed 6 Dec 1761.
Abstracts of the minutes of the court of pleas and quarter sessions of Orange County in the Province of North Carolina September 1752 through August 1766. Court of March 1757 ... Adam Trollinger appointed Overseer of Road from Haw River to the Great Alamance. Court of September 1757 ... Deed from Adam Trollinger to Jacob Mason, 1 acre in Corbintown. Court of May 1765 ... Mary Henson (aged 5 years) daughter of Benjamin Henson, bound to Adam Trollinger until she is 18 years of age.
Land Deeds Orange County NC
Trollinger, Jacob Henry Survey, 6 Dec 1756, 160 acres on west side of Haw River & both sides of the New Trading Path; Stophel Head, George Trout SCC
Jacob Henry Trollinger 18 Aug 1759 160 acres in Orange county in the Parish of St Mathew on the west side of Haw River and on both sides of the New Trading Path, joining the said river.
Trolinger Adam Warrant 18 Aug 1761, 700 acres on south side Haw River, includes plantation he nows lives on, surveyed 16 Sep 1761, Deed 6 Dec 1761
Mar 1760 Orange County Court Minutes Ordered that Michael Trollinger have Liberty to keep Public Ferry near the pine ford over the Haw River on his making a Good and Sufficient road thereto at his own proper cost and likewise giving Alexander Mebane and Adam Trollinger or any other two freeholders in this County Security's for the performance thereof. (Father of Adam?)
Court Minutes Orange County
March 1757 Adam Trollinger appointed Overseer of Road from Haw River to the Great Alamance.
Sep 1757 Deed from Adam Trollinger to Jacob Mason, 1 acre in Corbintown
May 1765 Mary Henson (aged 5 years) daughter of Benjamin Henson, bound to Adam Trollinger, until she is 18 years of age.
Henry Trollinger's Grist Mill on the upper Ford of Haw River to be a Public Mill.
Orange County State Land Grants
entered 13 May 1778, issued 13 Mar 1780, entry number 11, Adam Trollinger, 250 acres, bounded on the E & S by Henry Trollinger, beginning at a Hickory on the bank of Haw River Henry Trollinger corner then along his line S 75 Ch to a Post Oak thence E 38 Chains to a Shugar on the Haw River then down the meander of the river 20 Chains to Red Oak thence W 65 Ch & 50 Links to a BJ thence N 93 Ch to a White Oak & Post Oak thence E to the first station, surveyed 20 Mar 1779 by Thomas Taylor, John Huffman & John Elmore SCC
entered 20 Dec 1779, issued 9 Nov 1784, entry no 1147, John Trolanger (Drolanger) entered for 100 acres, issued for 93 acres, beginning upon a Stone Thomas Sharp Corner thence 30 Ch Ch to a Hickory then E 15 Ch to P oak then S 12 & a half Ch to B Jack then W 33 Ch to the County line on P Oak then County line N 42 & a half Ch to Stake thence E 18 & a half chains to the beginning, surveyed 10 Jul 1782 by Benjamin Rainey DS, Wm Phillips & Wm Gant SCC. On the branches of Haw River adjoining Guilford County line and the land of Thomas Sharp. On the waters of Travises Creek of Haw river.
Oct. 31. The road was miserable, but we made 26 miles, crossed the Haw River, and camped near Drollinger's. He was not at home when we arrived but returned late, somewhat intoxicated. He made a great stir when he saw that a fire had been built on his land, but when he learned who we were he excused himself, he was ashamed that he had drunk so much, we should not think ill of him, we were
heartily welcome, he was a poor fellow who could not help himself, but he was at our service. He soon went to his house, and we were well content. We nearly had a serious misfortune today, for fire was discovered in the beds in the Sisters' tent. Fortunately it was found in time and extinguished. As the Brethren slept by the fire at night a burning log rolled toward them, but they were waked in time.
Nov. 1. Drollinger attended our morning prayers, and gave our drivers some hay, and went with us to a road leading to a mill. He was much ashamed of last night, and wished that we could spend the day with him so that he might kill a cow, and share it with us as a peace offering. We felt sorry for the poor man, for he seems to love the Brethren, and the Saviour will not let his willingness to serve us go unrewarded. After dinner Br. Sauter rode ahead to the Wachau; Br. Christian Henrich gave him a letter to the Brethren there announcing our approach. We had a fairly good night, but toward day the wolves waked us with their not particularly agreeable howling. Our Graff joined in the concert, but when the wolves heard the new voice they suddenly stopped.
Source: Diary of the Little Pilgrim Congregation that on Oct. 2, 1755, left Bethlehem for the Wachau in North Carolina.
Deed recorded 1779, Aug 11, Wast PA.
Nicholas Gower Easton, Penna
All men by these presents that I Adam Trollinger near Nazareth and the County of Northampton and Province of Pennsylvania and in consideration of Ninety-five pounds current lawful money of Pennsylvania, to me in hand paid by Nicholas Gower in the township of Salisbury, County and Providence as for said, the receipt where I do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargined and hold by the present do grant, bargin and sell unto the said Nicholas Gower, his heirs Executors and Assign all my right property and interest of a certain piece of land, situated on Tetamy Creek adjoining the lands of John Lefevr. Containing one hundred acres more or less and with all the buildings and improvements or so intended to be to the said Nicholas Gower, his heirs, Executors, Admin. Assign. With all and singular the said improved buildings, unto the said Nicholas Gower.
In the presence of two honorable witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this 22nd day in the year of our Lord 1753.
(X) Adam Trollinger
Signed and sealed and delivered in the presence of Jacob Weif, Joseph Wollnot, Northampton County, on the 28th day of July 1779 before me the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace, personally appeared Jost Wollart and upon his solemn affirmation according to the law did declare and say he was present and did see Adam Trollinger Trollinger the grantor together with Teller Jacob Weif witness the execution thereof and for. Taken before me, Abraham Berlin
**THIS LAND OF ADAM'S IS NOW IN SALISBURY TOWNSHIP, LEHIGH COUNTY, ALONG THE SACONY CREEK. LEHIGH, CREATED 1812. SALISBURY TODAY IS A SMALL TOWNSHIP ON THE SOUTH BORDER OF ALLENTOWN. IF YOU CAN FIND THE TOWN OF EMMAUS, LOCATED NEAR THE JOINTURE OF HIGHWAYS 309 (TO PHILADELPHIA) AND 78 (TO NJ) , SALISBURY IS JUST NORTH OF THIS. THE SAUCONY CREEK CAN BE SEEN ON DETAILED MAPS--IT HAD SOME FORGES LOCATED THERE IN THE 1700'S. THIS WOULD PUT ADAM JUST UP HIGHWAY 309 FROM WHERE EBERHARD IS BELIEVED TO HAVE LIVED--GO DOWN TO THE TELFORD/SOUDERTON AREA ABOUT 15-20 MILES. OUR JACOB (son of Johann Eberhard) IS FOUND WORKING AT THE HEREFORD FURNACE IN 1754--FROM EMMAUS TAKE RTE. 100 INTO THE NE TIP OF BERKS--ONLY ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY. INTERESTING. (Laree Trollinger)
http://www.progenealogists.com/palproject/pa/1738friend.htm (site is no longer in existance)
Gordon L Drollinger 2014
1738 Friendship
[List 58 A, B, C] Friendship
Captain: Henry Beech
From: Rotterdam
By Way of: Dover
Arrival: Philadelphia, 20 Sep 1738
87 qualified (men 16 and over), women & children 195, whole 282.
Name, Age Place of Origin (Town, Province)
Source
Remarks (USA, Spelling Variations, Occupation, Relationships, etc.)
Florian Bübinger, 22 Bobinger
Christian Jung, 37 Young
Jacob Brust, 24
Stephan Glaser, 48
Jacob Rost
Valentin Schaller, 24 Ellmendingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996 Shaller
Michael Karcher, 46
Hans Jörg Becher, 18
Johannes Kuhn, 30 Kohn
Dewald Klingler, 24
Lorentz Dibong, 43 Debong
Johannes Negele, 30
Abraham Eker, 52
Phillip Stover, 31
Adam Kreps, 19
Henrich Seibel, 27
Johanna Magdalena (Boll)
Ursula Elisabetha, 4
Johann Conrad Hassloch, Bayern (Pfalz) Bur2000 To Berks Co., PA
Johannes Schreiber, 32
Adam Pence, 22
Jacob Vollmer, 40
Jacob Fulmer, 15
Hans Peter Rodberger, 40 Rausenberger
Christian Meyer, 32
Tobias Dittis, 35
Dewalt Stenard, 31 Stormer
Jacob Zorn, 20
Michael Hubrich, 25 Hooverich
Jure Bukh, 30
Johannes Schwartzwelder, 50
Johannes Schaller, 26
Catharina (Weinhardt) Ellmendingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996 Shaller
Jacob Huper, 25
Johann Granget, 38
Michael Mö�ner, 37, tailor
Salome (Reister)
Casper Mö�ner, 16
Christian, 14
Christoph, 9 Brötzingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996 Messner
Leobold Jost, 36
Agnesia (Weick)
Andreas, 11
Dorothea Margaretha, 7
Maria Agnesia, 4 Brötzingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996 Yost
Jurg Müller, 21
Bartle Bach, 54
Adam Bach, 18
Jure Hartman, 40
Paul Hime, 17
Jacob Hime, 16
Johannes Schwaner, 20 Schwanner
Jacob Stamler, 18
Jurg Moler, 33 Makale
Johannes Stinglie, 21
Friedrich Pfunder, 33 Pender
Bernhard Motz, 46
Maria Elisabetha ()
Eva Elisabetha
Margaretha
Anna Maria
Maria Catharina Niederhochstadt, Bayern (Pfalz) Bur2000 To Berks Co, PA
Hans Michel Bronst, 33 Brouch
Valentin Pence, 48 Bence
Johann Jierdan, 26 Jordan
Christoph Wies, 17
Jacob Dertie, 32 Durie
Nicholas Straus, 25
Johann Gofries, 36 Gauffres
Valentin Reintzel, 17 Niederhochstadt, Bayern (Pfalz) Bur2000
Abraham Wendell, 26
Johannes Fryling, 25
Michael Borer, 25 Burret
Jurg Kaufman, 20 Bur2000
Adam Ritter, 27
Peter Laux, 32
Anna Catharina
Georg Theobald, 7
Catharina, 5
Catharina, 3
Johann Jacob, 1 Niederhochstadt, Bayern (Pfalz) Bur2000 Laencus, Berks Co.
Philipp Sowber, 20 Summer
Jacob Schup, 38 Shup
Eberhard Drollinger, 32
Anna Maria (Böhner)
Johann Eberhardt, 11
Anna Christina, 10
Friederich Jacob, 7
Anna Maria, 4
Daniel, 1 1/2 Ellmendingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996 Trollinger
Adam Schwartzwäld, 19
Jurg Kern, 38
Wendell Jacobie, 29
Bernherd Eger, 50
Jacob Eger, 25
Michael Eger, 23
Adam Drollinger, 30
Margaretha (Beck), 37
Jacob Heinrich, 7
Eva Catharina, 5
Christina, 1 Ellmendingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996 Trollinger
Friedrich Harle, 26 Karle
Sebastian Neas, 55
Henrich Herher, 46 Hernner
Georg Daniel Gensemer, 45
Christina
Johannes
Catharina
Jörg Jacob
Margretha Niederhochstadt, Bayern-Pfalz Bur2000 to Berks Co.
Veit Bechtoldt, 26
Magdalena (Weick) Brötzingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996 Bechtle
Jacob Wagner, 45
Anna Maria (Jung)
Maria Clara, 14
Maria Magdalena, 14
Hans Jacob, 13
Christianus, 9 Nöttingen, Baden Hac1980
Bur1996
Johannes Längle, 33 Lenglie
Philip Lorentz Hautz, 23
Anna Catharina Hassloch, Bayern-Pfalz Bur2000 Hauds, Berks Co.
Johannes Gensemer, 17
Johannes Fredrich, 17
Markus Schmidt, 34 Smith
Martie Karcher, 19
Friedrich Reinekh, 32
Hans Jurg Bough, 40 Buck
Friedrich Haylie, 20 Hilie
Martin Speck, 35
Jurg König, 30 Kenich
Johann Wendel Braun, 37 Brown
Does your German family tree seem to be overloaded with Johanns and Marias? German children were given two names. Boys commonly were baptized with the first name Johannes (or Johann, often abbreviated Joh). German girls were baptized Maria, Anna or Anna Maria. This tradition started in the Middle Ages.
So a family could have five boys with the first name Johann. You can see the potential for confusion until you understand that the first name doesn't mean a thing.
This is because German boys almost always were baptized with the first name Johannes (or Johann, abbreviated Joh). German girls were baptized Maria, Anna or Anna Maria. (This tradition started in the Middle Ages.) This means a family could (and commonly did) have five boys with the first name Johann. You can see the high potential for confusion until you understand that the first name doesn't mean a thing.
Second Naming Tradition
The second name, known as the Rufname, along with the surname is what would be used in marriage, tax, land and death records.
So in a family with boys Johann Friedrich, Johann Peter, Johann Daniel, etc., the children would be called by (and recorded in documents as as) Friedrich, Peter and Daniel. Usually, the name Johannes in these records marked a ?true John? who would continue to be so identified.
By the 19th century, more Germans gave their children three names. Again, typically only one of the middle names was used throughout the person's life. Roman Catholics often used saints' names, while most Protestant groups also included names from the Old Testament or even nonChristian mythology.
Nicknames
Another naming tradition involves nicknames, often called Kurzformen. In English, most nicknames are created by dropping the last syllable of the given name (for example, Christoper and Christine become "Chris"). Germans, however, often shorten a given name by dropping the first part of it. It's important to note that these familiar forms are used in church or other records, even though by today's standards we might expect full or formal names to be used.
Some of the many examples (using more authentic but understandable German spellings) are:
Nicklaus = Klaus
Sebastian = Bastian
Christophel = Stophel
Christina = Stin or Stina
Katharina = Trin
Note that these familiar forms are used in church or other records, even though by today's standards we might expect formal names to be used.
First daughter received the name of the maternal grandmother. Second daughter received the name of the paternal grandmother. However, such naming patterns were not consistently or universally followed in all of Germany.
|
1708 - 1803 (94 years)
