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Naming Practices

Hi Everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone might now the answer to this question. Here is the background.

I'm researching the surname Guenther. I've discovered that my 4x great grandfather's name is Peter Guenther. He married a woman by the name of M. Elis. Theisinger. I've only found it abbreviated but I'm assuming it is Maria Elisabetha or something similar.

When I typed in the last name Theisinger with Peter Guenther in my familysearch.org search engine a marriage record came up in the town that I know my family have been a resident of for generations around the time that would make sense. However, the man's name is Jean-Pierre Guenther. I'm wondering how come Jean-Pierre was in Germany around the late 1700s/early 1800s. Having a nickname of Peter would make sense which is what is listed on all of his children's baptismal records.

Has anyone come across a similar situation? Would that make sense that I'm looking at my 4x great grandfather and he just went by Peter for everything else?

Any suggestions would be great.

--Michelle

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hart on April 29, 2014 at 5:24am

Hi Michelle,

I do a lot of research in this area of Germany. The area jumped back and forth a few times between Germany and France. When going through the records here, I often see marriage records with birth dates noted. Often when I look up the birth records, I find their names in French and sometimes the complete record in French. This is especially true for Civil Records.

If you are looking at church records, you may also find the Latin versions of their names. For instance, my 6x-great grandfather was Friederich Lanzer. His birth record has him listed as Fridericus.

Permalink Reply by Joy Rehm Benninghoven on July 21, 2014 at 10:50am

I read that around 1800 in Germany, settling on a surname was encouraged... We have some of the Benninghoven family as they lived around Duesseldorf for MANY generations. Benninghofen is a spelling also.Most have two given names.

However what I'm hoping to find & to share is on my Dad's father's side... Henry Rehm md Carolyn Louisa Thieme in Milwaukee, Wis. A German Obit researcher Gary Rebholz posted, we connected & VOILA!! Verified information PLUS. I don't know German. Anyway I found Johann HENRY was his name. Double first names very common & often one part not used

Permalink Reply by Joy Rehm Benninghoven on July 21, 2014 at 11:10am

OH they used like dads' name for baby.. Lots of Marys.. I think my families were Lutherns. I'd like to know what the name customs were... any ideas? Thanks, Joy mgarabians@eaglecom.net

Naming Practices

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