ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2849 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2849 ************************************ 6 Jul 2004 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked if the German masculine given name was used as a surname in the 16th century. Here is what we found: was already in use as a surname by 1341, when we find the name ; here is just a variant form of . The more familiar spelling was also in use in the 14th century, along with other variants: we find the given names in 1332, in 1393, and in 1316 and 1322. [1,2,3] In the name , is very likely a patronymic byname, i.e., one indicating the name of the person's father: Fritsche was probably the son of a man named . Any of the variants of could have been used in the same way: if Fritsche were the son of a man named , he might have been called . During the 15th and 16th centuries more and more people started using inherited surnames. Hensel the son of Fritsche Wolfram might have beeen known as instead of as . In this way patronymic bynames formed in the 14th century and even earlier often became hereditary surnames. In particular, became a hereditary surname and survived down to the present. [4] Thus, it was undoubtedly in use in the 15th and 16th centuries. We hope this information has been useful to you. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to write us again. We were assisted in researching and writing this letter by Maridonna Benvenuti, Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, Mor inghean Chathail, and Kolozsvari Arpadne Julia. For the Academy, Jayme Dominguez del Valle & Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 06Jul04 References: [1] Bahlow, Hans, _Dictionary of German Names_, tr. Edda Gentry (German-American Cultural Society, 1994 ISBN: 0924119357). s.n. [2] Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann, _Etymologisches Woerterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen_ (Limburg a. d. Lahn, C. A. Starke-Verlag, 1957-1960). s.n. [3] Talan Gwynek, "Medieval German Given Names from Silesia", revised edition (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1999). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/bahlow/ [4] Ancestors of Maria Wolfram: Generation No. 1 (WWW: Rootsweb.com) http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~swurm/ancestors_of_maria_wolfram.htm