Bob, According to the site http://www.geopatronyme.com/ the name ABBA was present in Alsace & Lorraine between 1891-1915: -8 births in the department Moselle (Lorraine), in the town Walscheid -4 births in the department Meurthe-et-Moselle (Lorraine), in Cirey-sur-Vezouze and Bertrambois -1 birth in the department Vosges (Lorraine), in the town Val-d'Ajol At that time, the name ABBA was also present elsewhere in France than in Alsace & Lorraine. If you suspect that your ancestors originate in Moselle, than the first step would be to see the microfilms of Walscheid: -Naissances, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1792-1820 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006968 Items 4-6 ] -Naissances (un autre filmage) 1793-1802 - FHL INTL Film [ 1895252 ] -Naissances, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1821-1857 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006969 ] -Naissances, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1858-1871 Naissances 1872-1889 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006970 ] -Naissances 1890-1892 Mariages, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1872-1892 - FHL INTL Film [ 2006971 Items 1-3 ] Hope this helps. Ewald (living in Alsace) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----- Original Message ----- From: <annagottmann@aol.com> To: <alsace-lorraine@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:45 PM Subject: Re: [A-L] The Abba name in France? > Bob, > > Do you know which Catholic Church?? If you do; then contact the church or try to contact The Cincinnati Library.? It is an excellent library.??They may have this information. > > Anna? > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bob Krebs <rnkrebs@wcnet.org> > To: ALSACE-LORRAINE@rootsweb.com > Sent: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:47 am > Subject: [A-L] The Abba name in France? > > > > > I have a Jean/John and Rosina Oberlie Abba, that were born in France per > the USA census. They were born between 1804 to 1810. They emigrated to > Cincinnati, Ohio around 1837. They attended a German Catholic Church in > Cincinnati. The name on their tombstone was Abba. I have also found > it spelled as Aber, Apgar, Appel, Abel and Hopple and probably a few > other ways I have not yet found. I have not been able to identify where > they were born, but believe they were born in Moselle. > > Any thoughts on the source of this name and what the original name would > or could have been? It seems to be such an unusal name for France or > Germany. > > Thanks very much. > > Bob Krebs > > > --

Does anyone know if it is possible to write to the city hall in Wissembourg? If so, do you know the address? I would like to see if I can get a birth certificate for my gggrandfather and/or gggrandmother. Thank you, Barbara Eidel