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What's in a Name? (Continued)

Dutch First Names

In the Somerset County Historical Quarterly (New Jersey) VI, pp. 47-48 a list of Dutch names and their English equivalents is given. It was originally prepared by William Nelson of Paterson, NJ, Editor of the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society. We have added a few entries.

Dutch	English Equivalent	Dutch	English Equivalent
Aaghje	Agatha Aaron	Joost	Justus,George
Aart	Arthur	Joris, Jurian, Jurge	George
Adela	Adelaide	Josyntje, Josina	Justina
Adrianntje	Adriana	Karel	Charles
Aefje	Eve	Kasper	Jasper
Aert	Arthur	Katryne, Kaatje, Katrynje	Catherine
Agnietje	Agnes	Kersten, Cirstiaan	Christian
Aaltje	Adeline, Adelia, Aletta	Klaartje	Clara
Andries	Andrew	Klass	Nicholas
Anneken, Annetje	Ann	Klassje/Klasyne	Nicola
Arie	Adrian	Krelis, Kees, Kors	Cornelius
Arnoult	Arnold	Jacobus, Jacob	James
Balt	Bathazar	Kryn	Quirine
Barber	Barbara	Laurens, Louris	Lawrence
Barent	Bernard	Leendert	Leonard
Bartel	Batholomew	Lieven, Liewe	Leo
Bartje	Bertha	Leentje, Lena	Helena, Leonora
Bastiaan	Sebastian	Lenoor	Elleanor
Bandewyn	Baldwin	Letje	Letitia
Beletje		Lodewyk, Louis	Ludovieus, Lewis
Bella	Isabella	Lotje	Charlotte
Bell	Arabella	Lukas, Luytje	Luke
Betje	Betty	Lysbet, Lysje	Elizabeth
Carels, Carles	Carl, Charles	Matthys	Matthias
Catrina, Catryntie	Catherine	Mneewes	Batholomew
Christoffel	Christiana	Machtelde	Matthias
Daam	Adam	Meewes	Bartholomew
Denys	Dionysius, Dennis	Machtelde	Matilda
Diederik	Theodore, Derrick	Margrietje	Margaret
Dirk	Richard	Martyntje	Martina
Dirkje	Dorothy	Maria, Mariken, Marritje, Maytje, Maartje, Maaike	Mary
Diewertje	Deborah	Natje, Annaatje	Anna
Dries	Andrew	Neeltke	Cornelia, Nelly
Elsje	Alice	Nieske	Agnes
Emmetje	Emma	Obadja	Obadiah
Engletje	Angelica, Angeline	Paulus, Pauwel	Paul
Epje	Egbert	Paulyntje	Paulina
Ernst	Ernest	Phlip	Philip
Evert	Everard	Roelof	Ralph
Frans	Francis	Roosje	Rose
Filips, Flip	Philip	Rutgert	Roger
Floris	Florence	Rykaard	Rucgard
Floortje	Flora	Saal	Solomon
Gillis, Jellis	Giles	Saartje	Sarah
Giel	Michael	Sander	Alexander
Govert	Godfrey, Geoffrey	Seytie	Cynthia
Gysbert, Guisbert	Gilbert	Staats	Eustace
Geertruyd, Geesje, Geertje, Giertje	Gertrude	Stoffel	Christopher
Grietje	Margaret	Styntje	Christiana
Guilliam	William	Tanneken	Ann
Hans	John	Teewes	Matthew
Hansje	Johanna	Teunis	Anthony
Hendrik	Henry	Teuntje	Eunice
Hillegonda	Huldah	Tibout	Theobald
Hugen	Hugh	Toontje	Antonia
Hendrickje	Henrietta	Truytje	Gertude
Heyltje	Hail	Tryntje	Catherine
Jakobus	James	Tymen	Timothy
Jakomina(Jaapje) Jakomyntie	Jacoba	Tys	Matthias
Jannetje, Janne	Jane	Wouter	Walter
Jelle	Gellius	Wyntie	Lavinia
Jeltje	Gellia	Ydtje	Ida
Janneken	Joan, Jane	Zanneke	Susanna
Johannes, Jan	John

Using the Index of a book

· When you can’t find the mention of a person on the page of the book indicated in its index, go to the first page of the index and look for a key or description... You may find that the the author had a different numbering system or scheme. A given index number may refer to a paragraph number, for example, rather than a page number.

· If that doesn't work, check the page subsequent to the page indicated by the index; occasionally the indexer failed/forgot to change the page number when he went from one page to the next. Example: Adams, John Q. is supposed to be mentioned on page 64, but is not found. Check page 65.

· Sometimes the names are purposely omitted from the index. Example: The Calendar of New Jersey Wills has an index which does not include the names of the decedents, citing the fact that the testators are arranged alphabetically within the book. Occasionally there will be more than one index - one for grooms and one for brides, for instance.

Reading Dates

The following phrase, “died in the nth year of his/her age” is frequently misunderstood. If the newspaper obituary says, for instance, that John Smith died in the 78th year of his age, it means that he had not yet turned 78. In other words he was age 77.

Julian vs. Gregorian

The transition from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian system creates many problems. The switch took place in Britain and her colonies in 1752. During the period of the Julian Calendar, the Christian church and the countries within its sphere of influence used an ecclesiastical calendar which had New Year’s Day falling on March 25. This was the day of the Feast of the Annunciation commonly called Lady Day which commemorates the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. Note that this date is exactly nine months before Christmas. (Note that the pagan names correspond to the numerical month, e.g., November having the latin root for nine, etc.)

The problem with the transition comes to light when researchers run into what appears to be a mistake such as a person’s will dated 5 April 1723 and proved 3 March 1723. Fortunately most scribes would note the latter date as 3 March 1723/4. Also look for the use of number prefixes for months. For example: 9 ber 1720 would be November 1720. Xber would indicate December.

Quaker Dates

The Quakers refused to use the pagan names for months and instead used numbers, such as 1st day., 2nd month, 1724 which would mean 1 April 1724.

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All rights reserved. No portion of this material may be used without the author's permission. Copyright 2004.

Tree Talk Column 1, Jun 2003.

Tree Talk Column 2, Nov 2003.

Tree Talk Column 3, Apr 2004.

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