Most of the names in the Gemmingen baptismal birth register are easy enough to read, but some of them leave one shaking his head and hoping that a clarification will turn up later. Here are some of the more unusual given names:
Johann Johannes Dietrich Conrad(t) Christian Michael Heinrich Martin Matthaus Philipp Christoph Görg Ludwig Moritz Leonhard Lorentz Andreas Jacob Adam Joseph(only once in several years) Gorg Dietrich Carl
The girl’s given names are drawn from an even narrower set, I believe. These are readily found:
Margaretha Barbara Christina Elisabetha Catharina Anna Juliana Sophia Eva Maria Veronica Susanna Magdalena Agnes Martha
The given names are among the easiest to read, though it is necessary to learn how a few letters can be written.
Most surnames are a little harder, just because so many of the names are totally new. Some of them are very well known such as:
Bäch
Mayer
Weber
Müller
Zimmermann
Backh
Schmid
Sauter
Edel Ifantz Gauger Brendle Bruckher Holl Hamler Weibel Stösser Clar Kain Knagg Weisner Geiger Wentzel Manner Dups Bardle Stohlin Buchmüller Hermann Kehler Dietrich Guttman Bronner Keller
Raiser G—f Zohendhaus Masschäcter Devio Haibher Rischubob Jilip or Julip Gras Fran-lih Weisner Weichkin Lalthhass Mauner Bardle DaVisKerberg Boetha Wiadberger ?ischuber Worickhimb Grust Bresse Dawner Raissner
Don’t let these comments discourage you. Some of the parts are easy, and some take more time. The basic way of overcoming the doubtfuls is patience. Maybe they will turn up again in a better handwriting. Also, it is surprising how often that coming back later when the mind has been refreshed will help. One of the big clues in determining whether two surnames at different points are the same name is to compare the given names; however, a person may use both of his given names at one time, and only one at another time.
But it is a lot of fun even if it is slow in the beginning.
(18 Sep 03)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.