2025
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Week 3
Prompt – Nickname
I can't really think of any ancestors that had a nickname which would have suggested his size, hair colour, or occupation. In this blog I will list a few ancestors or relatives who go by names other than the “legal” name given at birth. However I would like to remind you that it is a German tradition to name children with two given names and use the second name as the one that they go by in everyday life.
I will use my paternal grandfather's family as an example.
He married Elisabeth Dueck and I found in multiple sources that she went by Lizzie or Elizabet.
Their first son was Franz Peters and went by Frank in most of his documents. John's wife was Helena Penner but was often called Helen.
Their second child was Helena Peters who went by the name of Helen and on a few sources as Lena. She married Gerhard Heide. I knew them as Aunt Helen and Uncle George.
Their third child was David Peters but he died young under the age of 3.
The fourth child was Johann Peters and he was known as John Peters. He married Anna Penner.
The fifth child was David Peters. Dad called him Dave.
The sixth child was Jacob Peters and again he died very young.
The seventh child was Wilhelm Peters. He went by William but more often Bill. He married a Gertrude Schellenberg who was called Gertie by all who knew her.
The eighth child was Katharina Peters. She was known as Aunt Katie or Aunt Shirley. And this has caused some problems in the above family source. They thought that Katharina and Shirley were two different children (as noted by identical birth dates!). Shirley married a Bernhard Royce Noxel and he went by Bernie Roy or for whatever reason as Jack.
Their ninth child was my father who was Jacob Peters. Most people knew him as Jake but at his place of employment he was known as Jack Peters. My mother's name was Lydia Vivian Peters. She did not like the name Lydia and thus was Vivian Peters but she was often called Viv.
Their tenth child was Mary Peters and as far as I know that was her legal name.
The last child was named Abraham Peters but was known as Abe.
And more random examples from family are. My sister is Mary Elizabeth but is known as Betty. My brother is Robert Peters but is known as Rob and sometimes Bob. My other brother is Donald but is most often known as Don. My younger sister's legal name is Bonita but is known by Bonnie or Bonnie-Lou by grandmother.
My maternal grandmother was Maria Katherina but was often called Mary McLaughlin. Also she was called Mrs. Mac by her boarder or was referred to The Mac's in my mother's diary from 1942. In that same diary she called her husbands' parents “The Old Folks”.
My husband's name is William Kenneth but like most Williams, he goes by Bill.
His father's name is Anton Hoffart but went by Tony. Tony's father was Rochus Hoffart but was known as Roy Hoffart. Bill's Uncle Henry Hoffart was known to us as Uncle Hank.
Bill's maternal great-grandfather was Friedrich Wilhelm August Bachmann and was known as August. August's wife was Wilhelmina who was often called Minnie.
The shortened names are many and sometimes can trip you up when researching people. It is always prudent to keep in mind alternate names or even nicknames.
Wendy
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