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Patterns in Dutch Naming
I have been following a small group of Protestants in the Eindhoven area of Noord Brabant for the years from 1700 through 1850, attempting to get accounts of my ancestors from that area. I am using a site called "Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoeven" (which is MUCH easier for me to follow, now that I've found their English interface). Currently I'm exploring the 216 names listed in the baptismal records from all the cities and towns in this area and have only reached the year 1712. I know that in the more recent years I'll be able to see scans of some of these records, but this far back I'm dealing only with abstracts. (I believe I can order photos or transcriptions of these early records, but since I haven't done enough research yet, i don't wish to spend money on the wrong party of that name.)
I am finding names like Johannes Johannes Michael or Maria Michael Leenders which is making me wonder if there is a pattern of Given Name, Patronymic, and Last names in certain places in this time period. J. J. Michael is a witness, so I have no other relationship to go by. Maria Michael Leenders is the mother; her child and the child's father both carry the surname Geeve.
Knowing about naming patterns may help me separate my immediate lines, along with the siblings of each generation, from other people with the same or similar names. I know that I will find both "Lambert" and "Lambertus" Micheal for the same person. I know also that it is recurring name among these people.
As I noted in the beginning. This is a small group of protestants among a Catholic population; there is much intermarriage among them, with the attending overlap of names. Any help I can get will be appreciated.
I am finding names like Johannes Johannes Michael or Maria Michael Leenders which is making me wonder if there is a pattern of Given Name, Patronymic, and Last names in certain places in this time period. J. J. Michael is a witness, so I have no other relationship to go by. Maria Michael Leenders is the mother; her child and the child's father both carry the surname Geeve.
Knowing about naming patterns may help me separate my immediate lines, along with the siblings of each generation, from other people with the same or similar names. I know that I will find both "Lambert" and "Lambertus" Micheal for the same person. I know also that it is recurring name among these people.
As I noted in the beginning. This is a small group of protestants among a Catholic population; there is much intermarriage among them, with the attending overlap of names. Any help I can get will be appreciated.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Madehlinne on
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Sue:
The best explanation--and perhaps the simplest--I have found comes from my family history book, A Frisian Family: The Banta Genealogy, by Theodore M. Banta. While the author was talking of family surnames for Dutch immigrants to New Netherlands, he gives information that also applies, I believe, to naming practices in Holland. Information found within the brackets [ ] is my addition.
"The use of family names was not common among the early emigrants from Holland to New Netherlands. To distinguish one Jan [John], for example, from another, there was added to the name the BAPTISMAL name of his father, usually with the addition of 's', 'es', or 'sen', indicating the relationship. Thus: Epke, the son of Jacob, was known as Epke Jacobs or Epke Jacobse [my emigrant Dutch ancestor].
"Sometimes a surname was derived from the place of birth. Thus: Jan, from the town of Wyck, was called Jan Van Wyck to distinguish him from Jan, from the city of Norden, who was called Jan Van Norden.
"Frequently the surname represented the trade of its bearer. For instance, Jan, the cooper, was known as Jan Kuiper and Jan, the mason, was Jan Metselaar.
"The progenitor of the Banta family in America did not bear this surname on his arrival to this country. In all records yet found, his name appears as Epke Jacobs, which, as stated above, means simply Epke, the son of Jacob....The sons of Epke Jacobs,--namely, Cornelius, Seba, Hendrick, Dirck, and Wiert--appear in the earliest records as Cornelius Epke, Seba Epke, Hendrick Epke, Dirck Epke and Wiert Epke, or Epkese, etc...."
So, in your case, Johannes Johannes Michael would be Johannes Michael, the son of Johannes Michael. Maria Michael Leenders would be Maria Leenders, the daughter of [Name] Michael. Maria's child would be then, for example, [Lambert] [Michaels or Michaelse] Geeve. The child's father would be known as [First Name] [HIS Father's First Name] + 's', 'es' or 'sen' Geeve.
Your witness, J. J. Michael, therefore may be a brother or an uncle of Maria Michael Leenders.
I hope this rather simple explanation helps you. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Madehlinne -
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Permalink Reply by Sue McCormick on
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Hi "Neighbor,"
I didn't know we had Dutch ancestry as well as "neighborliness" in common. But we won't become cousins (the common GenTrek joke) unless we find some far-reaching U. S. connection (which is always possible, considering the Wanderlust of the people of the U. S.).
Thank you for your explanation. I had begun to expect these patterns (I also have the "from" pattern in the names, but haven't recognized any occupations yet.)
I'm making a copy of your explanation to keep beside me as I wend my way through these records. If you're searching The New Netherlands, you're probably earlier in time than I am. The 1700s is early enough for me at this point; luckily, I LOVE jigsaw puzzles, so I hope I can piece together all these records well enough to follow my lines.
Thank you for your help.
Sue -
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Sue:
Thanks for the kind words!
Most of my Dutch families emigrated and were settled in Nieuw Amsterdfam, Nieuw Netherlands, before 1700--some in 1659, others in 1662 or 1663. So our time periods almost coincide with one another.
Good luck on your research!
Madehlinne -
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