I believe that Johann would be the father (if they are father and son), and that Johannes is a diminutive, similar to John and Johnnie. I was also told that in the early German naming pattern, the first name was given to honor a saint or a revered or respected person, and that the second name was the one actually used. My husband's ancestor was Johann Antony Beck, anglicized to John Anthony, and always called Anthony. If I am wrong about any of this, I hope more knowledgeable list members will provide the correct, and/or more complete answer. Regards, Virginia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karen Deeds-Jarvie" <deeds@bghost.net> To: <PFALZ-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2000 3:03 PM Subject: [PFALZ] which to choose??? > I have a question that only another frustrated genealogist can answer. If you were searching for the wife of a man named Johannes, and two possibilities in the death index occurred, which would you choose, the one listed as the wife of JOHANNES, or the wife of JOHAN? Would there be an old world distinction? Both women I have found could be my 6-ggrandfather's wife. They are both named Maria Catharina, and both died within two years of each other, and both were only 8 years apart in age. I tend to lean toward the Johannes, because it is definite. So many of the people we research in the Pfalz have the name Johann before the name they go by. All of my 5-ggrandfather's sons were named Johann-something, even the one named Johannes. > > Any thoughts on this from anyone???? > > Thanks, > Karen Deeds-Jarvie :-) > B.G., Ohio > > > ==== PFALZ Mailing List ==== > Going on vacation longer than 4 days? > send your message to Pfalz-L-request@rootsweb.com (click and ready to go) > mailto:Pfalz-L-request@rootsweb.com?subject=unsubscribe > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.166 / Virus Database: 79 - Release Date: 6/20/00