It does sound as if it is more common than I have been led to believe, for sure! These are all earlier than I need right now to find Fred's birth/baptism but any could well be his family - natural and or "adoptive". Perhaps I will never know... Thank you Jon Dawn -----Original Message----- From: baden-wurttemberg-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:baden-wurttemberg-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Jon Scott Sent: Wednesday, 25 September 2013 4:44 AM To: BADEN-WURTTEMBERG@rootsweb.com Subject: [BW] Bernhard Hello Dawn, I have a list of names in Baden in which there are 4 Bernhards listed, so I am not so sure that the surname is so rare. This is just Baden, and there are probably more in other parts of Germany also with several variations.. These names are also widely scattered, Rastadt (Rastatt) and Jestetten are opposite ends of Baden. Bernhard, Bernhard Hügelsheim, Rastadt Vorladung Conscriptionspflichtiger, geboren 1825 1849 72 Bernhard, Christian Präclusiverkenntnisse in Gantsachen 1847 863 Bernhard, Franz Xaver Dettighofen, Jestetten Vorladung Conscriptionspflichtiger, geboren 1825 1849 163 Bernhard, Valentin Schuldenliquidation und Gantedikte 1847 738 Jon ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BADEN-WURTTEMBERG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message