What are the rules for hyphenated names
When we see a names like Anton Hediger-Steiner and Maria Inderbitzen-Schuler, what are the rules for knowing which was the birth name and which id the married name? Are the rules the same or different for males and females? Thank you for your help.
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Prior to 2013 a married couple had to decide on a common surname; unless there were "worthy reasons" for adopting the wife's name, it usually was the husband's name.
Hyphenated alliance names are/were quite common in Switzerland - but they are not official names, despite the fact that a person could require to have it noted in the passport. The alliance name would be the common (e.g. the husband's) surname with the partner's name added. In other words, usually the wife's maiden name would be added to the husband's name - for the wife (doesn't make sense to give the husband's name twice).
It's difficult to give a specific year - but I would guess before about 1970 it was extremely rare that the wife's name was chosen as common name - so usually "Meier-Müller" indicates husband = Meier and wife = Müller … for the wife. If you check the phone directory however, you'll often find "Hans and Anna Meier(-Müller).
It is not as easy as that! Despite the fact that the alliance name is not an official name, my tax form states Seelentag for me - and Seelentag-Rohmann for my wife … and some time ago (would have to dig up my old tax declarations) I was put down as Seelentag-Rohmann … which in theory would make Seelentag my wife's maiden name 😉.
To complicate things a bit, it was allowed for some time (not sure about the exact time span) that a family could choose a combination of both names as common name - not hyphenated! I don't remember which rules applied to the order of the two names.
Whilst you may have the problem to decide about the birth names when interpreting information, I can only give a single recommendation about your familytree data: forget about double names - each person is defined by birth name (plus given names plus years) for all the life. Anna Müller (above example) should be noted as Anna Müller for all her life - whether she got married to Hans Meier (and possible a few more husbands). That women adopted the husband's name by marriage is a modern habit anyway, coming up during the 19th century. Before that a women kept her name in official records, like church registers … which makes genealogy much easier 😉.
To come back to your examples: the most likely(!) solution would be Anton Hediger-Steiner is Anton Hediger, and Maria Inderbitzen-Schuler is Maria Schuler.
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Albin:
This is a really good question, especially nowadays when many married women keep their maiden name. In my mind, this is why sourcing is paramount in our family history work. We have to find the birth and marriage records to establish what the names were/are.
In some countries middle names are the father's names, and the last names are the mother's names. So, it is important to be aware of country customs, too.
So, look at the name and then start the detective work to find out why it is that way. Welcome to family history, Albin! Again, this is an excellent question and demonstrates why you will do very well in the family history field. PaulaAnn
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Thank you for pointing this out, PaulaAnn … gives me a chance for another "forget about comment": forget about the system of first and middle names in German speaking countries! Might be applicable in English speaking countries - but does not apply at all in German speaking regions. You will often find brothers named Johann Albert, Johann Jacob, Johann Wilhelm, Johann Friedrich, …. i.e. "first" name identical, and the "middle" name identifying the person.
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Thank you for your answers. The reason I asked the question is because I am working with some death notices from Canton Schwyz. One for Anna Marie Holdener-Fassler is attached. From your answers I think she was born Anna Fassler and that she married a man that was a Holdener.
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Correct: Anna Marie Holdener-Fäßler was born as Anna Marie Fäßler.
Just in case you don't know it already: https://www.portraitarchiv.ch/ (click on "Liste" to get to the search screen).
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