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Many genealogical researchers have been confused and
frustrated by the variation in spellings of German names and also as
German names are translated into English. German names beginning in 'C'
usually start with 'K' in English. The table below is intended to help a
researcher determine which person is the searched for ancestor. Early
American nicknames are also a source of confusion
| English
German Word or Name
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| Elizabeth |
Elisabeth |
| Catharine |
Cathtarine, Cathtarina |
| George |
Georg |
| Henry |
Heinrich, Hinerich |
| Jacob |
Jakob |
| John |
Johannes |
| Katherine |
Kathtarine, Kathtarina |
| Kinser/Kinzer |
Küntzer, Kuentzer, Künzer, Cünser |
| Mary |
Maria, Maria Magdalene, Magdalena, Polly |
| Sally or Sarah |
Salme |
| "in" |
"In" is ofter added to German
surnames to make the feminine form, i.e. Kinser becomes Kinserin
when denoting a female. |
| "b" |
Pronounced as "v" resulting in
a change in spelling with "v
replacing the "b." |
| "K" |
frequently became "G" and
sometimes "C" when surnames were translated into English. |
| "V" |
pronounced as "W" in German
causing confusion and a spelling change. |
| "W" |
is pronounced as "V" in German
and names beginning in "W " often are spelled with a
"V". Thus Wolfersweiler in German is pronounced as
Volfersveiler. |
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© R. C. Kinser www.kinser.org |
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