What is the correct format for the German town names?
I have ancestors are from Grossgartach, Germany. I have been using Grossgartach, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg. I was told not to use Germany for anyone before 1921 as Germany wasn't a country. For who were born or married or died after 1921 to use Grossgartach, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany.
I notice that people are making changes to my place on the tree to Grossgartach,Neckarkreis,Wuerttemberg → Großgartach, Heilbronn, Neckarkreis, Württemberg, Germany Should I change it to my way or leave his/her way?
Why Heilbronn? I realize that town is near Heilbronn. I also notice that Großgartach, Großgartach, Kirchhausen, Heilbronn, Neckarkreis, Württemberg, Germany Why list the town TWICE? what is Kirchhausen??
Großgartach, Großgartach, Heilbronn, Württemberg, Germany
Großgartach, Leingarten, Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
The modern name for Wuerttemberg is Baden-Württemberg, Germany
PLEASE help and explain - there is way too many options in place. Should we write in the English format or German format?
Answers
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That is a loaded question, because there are a number of strong opinions out there on what is "correct". Perhaps some basic guidelines will help.
- The primary objective is to identify the location in such a way that there only one of them; that it is unique. With a name like "Grossgartach" that's not a big problem, but if you have an ancestor that comes from "Weiler" or Oberdorf that can be a challenge.
- There is nothing wrong with using "Germany" as the country, even though it technically only existed since 1871. The important thing is identify where the place is located.
- In the past, one guideline was to identify the locality by the jurisdictions in place at the time the record was created. In Germany, this can cause major confusion, and that's why I discourage that approach. Jurisdictions in most parts of Germany changed significantly over time.
- Once you have decided on a description, it makes it easier for others if you use that description consistently when referring to that locality.
- Localities are usually identified from the smallest to the largest jurisdiction, i.e. "village, parish, county, state, country".
- The locality authority file used by the FamilyTree includes jurisdictions culled from numerous gazetteers, as well as those that had already been used in the older collections, like the IGI.
- In Wuerttemberg specifically, the "Kreis" is the region, not the county jurisdiction, as it is in other states. The "county" level is the Oberamt. Again, with a unique place name, it's no big deal, but there will be several Weilers in one Kreis, but if you're lucky, only one in a given Oberamt. If there are two, you would look for some other way to identify that particular place, perhaps a descriptor like "Offenbach am Main" rather than just "Offenbach".
- Some people are very detail-conscious and think this way: "Grossgartach the village, Grossgartach the parish, Oberamt Heilbronn, Neckarkreis region, Wuerttemberg country, Germany so we know where it's today." I'm not sure where Kirchhausen fits in there, because from what I see, it's on the same jurisdictional level as Grossgartach. But again, if the place name is common, listing the closest nearby town may help identify it.
- Personally, I prefer to use Meyers Gazetteer jurisdictions over the modern ones, because they generally tend to identify the places more clearly and make it easier to find them. Today's counties are often much larger, and many village names have disappeared in the process of repeated redistricting and realignment.
- In my opinion, if the village and parish are the same, you don't need to list them twice. But that is the gospel according to Baerbel. To me it makes sense to list the small village where your ancestor was actually born, followed by the parish so it's easier to find, and then the larger jurisdictions.
- So, using my logic, I would use "Grossgartach, Heilbronn, Wuerttemberg, Germany". Adding "Neckarkreis" doesn't make it any easier to find the place, so I would leave it out.
- If you want to, you can decide to use the modern jurisdictions. Many Germans do.
- Whether you use English or German place names makes no difference.
- Whatever you decide on, be consistent, so that others who tie into your tree can understand what you are doing.
I hope this helps. I am open to more discussion on this. Questions and/or comments are welcome.
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>In my opinion, if the village and parish are the same, you don't need to list them twice. >But that is the gospel according to Baerbel.
I am a disciple in the gospel of Baerbel. she has been doing this a long time and has much experience in working with these issues.
I might throw in my own heretical opinion, though. I prefer to spell places in the German manner, rather than English. I do not, for example, expand umlauts ü>ue unless the Germans do it, too, for that exact spot on a regular and official basis. Meyersgaz.org does not recognise expansions.
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Thank you!
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Thank you!
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