Hi! I'm very new to this list and to research in Germany and hope the following question isn't annlying to more experienced German researchers. I'm researching the surname Merkel. I have a George Merkel born in Wirbenz, Germany in December of 1828. This information is not verified. I've found a George Andreas Merckel bpatized in Evangelische, Alsenz, Pfalz, Bayern in September of 1828 but I don't know enough about German town names to understand what I've found. Can someone explain to me what Alsenz, Pfalz, Bayern means and whether the name Merkel is a common one in Bavaria? Kathy