Michael On the way to Yellowstone, we stopped in Salt Lake City for a day to browse around in our favorite library, the Family History Library of the Mormons. Rundbrief 11/2006 The translation to English is: "We have already reported on this fascinating collection of books and microfilms.

I read an essay this time by a Robert Thomas from the year 1938 titled "Family Names and Family History, Publications of the Bavarian State Association for Family Culture e.V., Issue 6". It states in old German script that people in the past only had first names and no last names.

Around the year 1200, there were, for example, about 12 men named "Heinrich" in Augsburg. With increasing population density, it became necessary to distinguish individuals by additional names. Thus, a Heinrich who worked as a weaver might become "Heinrich the Weaver." An unusually tall one might be called "Heinrich the Tall," and one who had traveled from Bobingen might be "Heinrich the Bobinger." Over centuries, these additions developed into the surnames as we know them today. For a long time, however, the first name remained the primary name. For instance, if you look at the signature on Albrecht Dürer's paintings, you notice a large "A" and a much smaller "D" disappearing into the "A.

Other surnames refer to hair color, such as "Schwarzkopf" (black head), "Weißhaupt" (white head), and "Fuchs" (for redheads). If a place name is found in a surname, it refers to immigrants. In the Swabian region, there was no one with the name "Schwab" unless they had moved away and then returned to Swabia.

The translation to English is: "As job titles, 'Meier' is known as a word for vassal, tenant, or also owner of an estate. Schultheiß The derived form "Schulze" was a court official who "demanded debts," meaning he collected dues. The "Krüger" was the innkeeper, as he handled jugs. And the fact that there was virtually no division of labor in the Middle Ages meant that each craftsman made a product from start to finish, but had to limit themselves to a small range of products. As a result, even "Löffler" (spoon maker) and "Gabler" (fork maker) existed, leading to corresponding surnames!

Some names are meant to be mocking, such as "Krebs" (crab), which refers to a rope maker who walks backwards, or "Breitkopf" (broad head) or "Gnugesser" (glutton) for someone with a large belly. Noble-sounding names like "König" (king), "Graf" (count), or "Fürst" (prince) do not necessarily originate from actual nobility, but also from people who presented themselves as such, as well as from shooting and beggar kings. Additionally, those who worked for a count or prince often received this name suffix.

If you want to study the little booklet and happen to be in Salt Lake City, you can simply go to the Family History Library, take the elevator to floor B1 to the international section, and look on the shelf under "Europe 943.3 B4." Just walk right in, no registration required. A top-notch place!

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• More topics you might be interested in:

  	Fire in California
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  	Yellowstone-Nationalpark
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  	Do not Feed the Bears
  	Geysers and bubbling mud pots
  	Bisons
  	Party canceled: Halloween in the Castro