Hello Aileen an lists , It fits IF you know the rest of the story ! , my gggrandfather ran away from an Abusive Father / Family , He Married a lady MUCH MUCH younger than him , I believe he took the name of Joseph to hide from his family , There is NO Joseph anywhere in the family , NONE NEVER !!!! , And They are not Catholic ! , Lutheran His father is Adam , his father is Johan George , his father is Peter from Lampertheim , Hesse , , Thanks to all who wrote , Phil ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aileen Sloane" <aileen.sloane@sympatico.ca> To: <GERMAN-SURNAMES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 8:11 AM Subject: Re: [Ger-Sur] a Good German name ?? > In a message this morning, > Phil at <joe2phil@drizzle.com> > asks: > > ".... I am Joseph Philip as is my father and Grandfather , BUT There is > NO one else EVER with it. I am thinking my grandfather changed his name > to disguise his identity, Adding Joseph ...." > > Phil: > > The thought that Grand-Father had changed his first name but not the > Surname in order to hide an identity? > Doesn't fit! He would have had to change both to achieve that end. > > As to the name - Joseph ... > > ... for a boy, particlarly when born to a Catholic family, whether in > Germany/Bavaria, or any other place for that matter, in my humble > opinion, JOSEPH was and will always be, an excellent Baptismal name > choice. > > You see, he was being given the name of a Saint. In this case, St. > Joseph. > > Catholics named their children after particular Saints. In so doing, > through their devotions, they enlisted the aid of that Saint in > protecting the spiritual life of their child and in keeping him out of > "harm's way". > > Had it been a girl, she might have received the names Maria Josephina > (Mary Josephine), in honor of Christ's Mother Mary, and at the same > time, of St. Joseph, the man to whom Christ's and Mary's care was > entrusted by Christ's heavenly Father. Could a parent entrust a child > to any better care than that of Christ's sainted earthly parents? > > If your ancestors followed normal naming patterns, > while it appears to you that no male behind your Grand-Father carried > the name Joseph, it could have been the name of a male from one of the > other branches of your family Tree. > > It might also have been the name of your Great-Grand-Father's > God-Father, a male relative, or a beloved friend, whom his parents > wished to honor by choosing him as God-Father to their son. > > Then too, they could have simply decided it was about time to restore, > or introduce, the name "Joseph" into the family. > > It might even have been your maternal Great-Grand-Father's name! Just > as we use their names to-day! > > I am certain there are many other suppositions which address your > thoughts, yet, in the end, all boil down to one simple fact. Parents > choose names for various reasons be they sentimental or practical. > > One particularly practical reason comes to mind. > > Among families of limited income it was an accepted and quite normal > practice to choose a person of influence, even of wealthier standing as > God-parent. They chose a person they knew would take their sponsorial > duties/promises seriously, thus ensuring their child's future should > something unforeseen happen to them while he was yet of minor age. The > child would be named after it's God-parent at Baptism. At which time, > in your Grand-Father's case, Joseph might have been introduced as a new > name on the Tree. > > Hope this helps. > > Aileen > > If you have any idea of the life situation of your ancestors, you will > be able to figure out if such a decision could have been made to ensure > the future of your ancestors. > > In your own case, your were probably named after your Dad, perhaps as > the elder son? Remember too, through use of the naming pattern we are > able to pass on their names to future generations, thus honoring their > very existence. After all, it is thanks to them that you carry the > genes of your ancestral line. > > In today's world - many parents choose names according to the way they > "roll off the tongue" in union with the Surname! Some just do not fit > together - comfortably. > > Rest assured ... IMHO, there was no name change. > > >