Request for contextual insight of 1638 Dutch marriage record [closed]

Question

Johannes Hagius and Wijbe Cornelis are mentioned in the 1638 marriage record of Pieter Cornelis and Meije Wapkes. I'd like to understand Johannes and Wijbes' relationship (if any) to Pieters' father Cornelis Menses who is also mentioned in the record. Note a transcription and google translation of the marriage record is accessible via Pieter's profile page. Cornelis is likely from Leer.

Comments

Note that "Low German" (Niederdeutsch) usually was a reference to the Dutch language.

These records look to me more like Dutch than German, but it is possible that they are in the Frisianl language.

---

Thanks Ellen for the clarification, the father is reportedly from Leer - so I guess it could be Frisian.

Answer 1

Johannes Hagius and Wijbe Cornelis were sons of Cornelis Menses and so they were brothers of Pieter Cornelis.

Comments

After looking at the google translation again, I guess that was an easy one :-).

---

In 1811/1812 Napoleon forced the Dutch to take a familyname. Before 1811 people in the north of the Netherlands (except in the cities) mainly used patronymics, like Pieter Cornelis and Wijbe Cornelis. Their brother Johannes used the surname Hagius. Possibly to enhance his status as a "redger", a local governor / judge.

---

Thank you Tineke -I’ve seen in geeaologyonline that Pieter  also used the surname Hagius - although I’m unclear what  the evidence is for that. Could a surname just be chosen in the 1600s in the North or is it shared by a family over many generations. Is it awarded by some higher authority? I’m familiar with the patronymic system in Groningen but use of surnames before 1811 still confuse me.

---

I wonder if Pieter Cornelis ever used the surname Hagius. Perhaps the genealogists on genealogieonline.nl are confusing Pieter Cornelis with Peter Hagius, who was a sexton of the church of Noordbroek in the province of Groningen circa 1618.

Before 1811 you could use any surname you liked or you could choose not to use a surname at all. In 1811/1812 you had to confirm your surname or you to had to adopt one. In some families there were siblings who chose different surnames, so that can complicate genealogy in the north of the Netherlands. Since 1812 it's no longer possible to change your surname unless the court allows it.