What is the guideline to use with German surnames when I think different suffixes have been added an
I am searching church records from Germany in the 1600's and 1700's. I am told that 'in' or 'en' may be added to the father's surname when the record is speaking about his daughter? I might find the same father's surname ending with an 's' or 'n' or neither. What should I assume the name really is? Also, the spelling seems to change over generations from such as Baier to Beyer, should I standardize it for all generation or let it change?
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I take the added grammatical suffixes off, since they are not part of the actual name. That goes for Latin name forms and case endings as well. Phonetic spellings like Baier, Bayer , Beyer etc. can be standardized. You can always add the actual spelling from the record in the notes or sources. However, there is no requirement to do so.
As for what the name "really is", look for a male in the nominative position in a record as in "Johnn Miller had a child", not "I have baptized John Miller's child". And do keep in mind that there was no such thing as "correct spelling" before 1900. So names, like all other words, can be spelled in a variety of ways, as long as they sound right when read.
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Great! Thank you for your help!
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I'll add a bit.
' I am told that 'in' or 'en' may be added to the father's surname when the record is speaking about his daughter?'
This is not entirely true. The suffixes -en and -in are not the same thing at all. -in is a feminine suffix, similar to the English -ess, as in steward/stewardess, lion/lioness, and so on. IT might be tacked on to a female's name. The reason for this is inexplicable. It just happens. Drop it off.
Example: Maria Bayerin.
The -en suffix is a genitive form and is used exactly as we use apostrophe s in English e.g. John's son. It has nothing to do with whether the child is male or female. It is a grammatical marker, telling relationship of two nouns. You should drop this as well.
Example: Johann Bayeren Sohn... (Johann Bayer's son...)
Hope that helps clarify.
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Yes, it is stating to make more sense. Maybe because the scribes where not always consistent it is harder to see the grammatical pattern. Plus I don't speak German! But I am working at trying to read the old script.
Thank you for your help!
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The scribes will actually be very consistent. They new the difference between these two suffixes very well, just as you know the differences in your own language. There may be instances, though, where an 'e', for example, might look like an 'i'. That will confuse you.
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Okay, thank you!
I know I will have more questions to come.
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