Citing German Names

Question

It's taken me quite a while to get used to the German naming convention which has made it easier for me to identify individual German ancestors.  But, I still need help in filling in the basic boxes with German ancestors' names.  If most of the males have Johann or Hans and then the actual name they use, like Jerg, Casparus, Johann, etc. Which is the name put in the Proper, Preferred, etc. boxes?

Answer 1

Put the full name, "Johann Heinrich," "Anna Barbara. or whatever variations that appear in the birth/christening records, in the first name box. Put the call name in the preferred name box.

Comments

Thank you, that's exactly what I need.

Answer 2

Hello Lorraine,

unfortunately it's sometimes a bit more difficult.

Normally all given names should go into the Proper First Name as mentioned in the birth record, as Daniel wrote.

But in the case of a Church Baptism record, it can be that the priest wrote the name in Latin form. "Johannes Casparus" sounds like the Latin version of the German "Johann Caspar".

So if there are other sources for "Johann Caspar" it CAN BE a better choice to take the German version. In your example I would prefer the German version.

Comments

I also prefer the German version of the name, because that is what the parents used. If, however, the name was written in Latin, I make a note of that in the profile text.