Stoffel is a diminutive for Christophel (Christopher - "Christ -bearing" in Greek). It can also be seen as a diminutive for Theophilus ("god-loving", "friend of god"). There are cases where the same individual might be seen as either Christophel or Theophilus, as "Stoffel" or "Stophel" can be a diminutive for either. Christian is a different name and can be either male or female (Christianus - Latin for "follower of Christ"). Technically speaking Christian and Christopher are different names. Chris Chester On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 1:27 AM, juliasgenes <juliasgenes@yahoo.com> wrote: > I know that the Sensebachs (w/numerous & imaginative spelling variations) > are Palatine, not Dutch, but they lived within the Dutch sphere and perhaps > given names followed Dutch traditions. > > > A 2nd generation son of Johann Philip Sensebach appears as Christophel, > Christopher, and Christian in records. Are these names equivalents? Is > Christian a Dutchified or Anglicized version of Christophel/ Christopher? > Is Stoffel a related name, perhaps a nickname for Christophel? The man's > daughter, Catharina, married Johann Jost Frantz and had a son they named > Christian. Apparently a namesake? > > Thank you. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DUTCH-COLONIES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >