I have tried to find the Deutsches Namenlexikon but to no avail. Can someone help me in finding reference to names: Guttner Guettner Gittner Gattner Guenther Gunther Guntter Gutterus I will be grateful Darius von Guttner Melbourne -----Original Message----- From: Johannes Sempert <sempert@circular.de> To: BUNDESLAND-L@rootsweb.com <BUNDESLAND-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 5:52 PM Subject: Re: BUNDESLAND-D Digest V98 #52 >> Von: Donna Kjendlie <kjendlie@bootheel.net> > >> I looked in the Deutsches Namenlexikon - dictionary of German names >> and did not find it. That doesn't mean it is not German tho. >> Donna > > >Donna, > >this book is not exhaustive. That means, it doesn't contain every >German surname. It's not a Bible for onomasticians. There are many >different books like this one, and each of these authors often has a >different opinion. Onomastics or onomastology, which is the science >of the history of names, is full of theories. Not every name's origin >is absolutely sure, especially those surnames which are of Germanic >or Pre-Germanic origin. Just a little minority of surnames, those >which derive from professions, occupations, town names and first >names are clear. Mostly. > >You not even will find my surname in this book, but I am German. All >of my ancestors are of German origin. You'll find Semper and Semperl >- but no Sempert. > >Best regards, > >Johannes Sempert > >