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Help[Facts] Re: Why are so many biblical names rarely used in continental Europe, unlike English-speaking countries?
in reply to a message by tibby
I liked your answer.
After I read Wilhelm's question I was curious of what % were biblical in a 21-generations line of my tree, back to 1266.
[The oldest 17 gens. resided in the same spot... (Latest 4 gens. were born in the U.S.) ...a village in canton Schwyz on a plateau 880 m. / 2,890 ft. above sea level.]
-------Over a span, fathers/sons forms of John/Joe alternated, which I'm thinking could've been per custom (to honor?) rather than for religious reason.
*starred names appeared more than once (re-given)
Hans (b. 1296, oldest recorded occurance of biblical form)
Jacob (Genesis)
*Johann (John, Revelation)
*Johannes
*Joseph (Genesis)
Mattheus (in Matthew)
Michael (Daniel, Revelation)
Nicolaus (Acts)
*Thomas (Mt., Mk., Lk., John)
--
*Anna (Luke)
Elizabeth (Luke)
*Josefa
*Magdalena (Mt., Mk., Lk., John)
*Maria (Mt., Mk., Lk., John, Acts, Romans)
Susana (Daniel, Luke)
---------------Same village, non-biblical:
Albert
*Alois
*Anton
*Berthold (Abt.1266 - 1335, oldest recorded ancestor)
*Dietherich
*Dietrich
Dominick
Martin
Meinrad
Melchior
Rudolf
--
Antonia
Benedicta
*Catharina
*Catherina
Franciska
Helena
Kunigunde
Madura
Margret
Marinda
Meinrada
After I read Wilhelm's question I was curious of what % were biblical in a 21-generations line of my tree, back to 1266.
[The oldest 17 gens. resided in the same spot... (Latest 4 gens. were born in the U.S.) ...a village in canton Schwyz on a plateau 880 m. / 2,890 ft. above sea level.]
-------Over a span, fathers/sons forms of John/Joe alternated, which I'm thinking could've been per custom (to honor?) rather than for religious reason.
*starred names appeared more than once (re-given)
Hans (b. 1296, oldest recorded occurance of biblical form)
Jacob (Genesis)
*Johann (John, Revelation)
*Johannes
*Joseph (Genesis)
Mattheus (in Matthew)
Michael (Daniel, Revelation)
Nicolaus (Acts)
*Thomas (Mt., Mk., Lk., John)
--
*Anna (Luke)
Elizabeth (Luke)
*Josefa
*Magdalena (Mt., Mk., Lk., John)
*Maria (Mt., Mk., Lk., John, Acts, Romans)
Susana (Daniel, Luke)
---------------Same village, non-biblical:
Albert
*Alois
*Anton
*Berthold (Abt.1266 - 1335, oldest recorded ancestor)
*Dietherich
*Dietrich
Dominick
Martin
Meinrad
Melchior
Rudolf
--
Antonia
Benedicta
*Catharina
*Catherina
Franciska
Helena
Kunigunde
Madura
Margret
Marinda
Meinrada
1
Replies
Thanks!
This book explains a lot about the history of naming in Germany: Wilfried Seibicke: Die Personennamen im Deutschen. Eine Einführung. (for those, who know german).
Also, quite a few of the non-biblical names you mentioned have a christian background via meaning (Dominick, Benedicta) or saints/legends (Melchior, Martin, Catharina, Albert ...).
My own family doesn't trace as far back as yours, but the oldest names are mainly christian (versions of John, Catherine, Eve and Elizabeth). The 3 most popular names in my family tree are versions of Anna, John and Elizabeth.
I found a non-representative list of the 49 most popular German women's names from the late Middle Ages:
10 of them were biblical, 2 were non-Christian, I couldn't find out the origin of 5 of them (presumably short forms, they are sometimes difficult to assign) and the remaining 32 names had a Christian background, e.g. saints.
https://www.beliebte-vornamen.de/1701-1495-w.htm
I guess, it's just a different sense of naming tradition.
In European countries, other biblical names have a longer tradition than in the USA or UK.
This book explains a lot about the history of naming in Germany: Wilfried Seibicke: Die Personennamen im Deutschen. Eine Einführung. (for those, who know german).
Also, quite a few of the non-biblical names you mentioned have a christian background via meaning (Dominick, Benedicta) or saints/legends (Melchior, Martin, Catharina, Albert ...).
My own family doesn't trace as far back as yours, but the oldest names are mainly christian (versions of John, Catherine, Eve and Elizabeth). The 3 most popular names in my family tree are versions of Anna, John and Elizabeth.
I found a non-representative list of the 49 most popular German women's names from the late Middle Ages:
10 of them were biblical, 2 were non-Christian, I couldn't find out the origin of 5 of them (presumably short forms, they are sometimes difficult to assign) and the remaining 32 names had a Christian background, e.g. saints.
https://www.beliebte-vornamen.de/1701-1495-w.htm
I guess, it's just a different sense of naming tradition.
In European countries, other biblical names have a longer tradition than in the USA or UK.
2