[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Jesswein or Gesswein

[Jerry Frank]

Yes and no and maybe.

There is no easy answer on this issue.  There is no doubt that 
historically, some pastors and other record keepers were not careful about 
the use of J vs. G.  So:

Jess can = Gess
Jeske can = Geske
Jutersonke can = Gitersonke

etc.

This does not necessarily apply to every name that begins with J or G.  I 
have never seen Girschewski spelled Jirschewski nor Job spelled Gob.  I 
have no explanation for why it occurs with certain surnames.

Some families were particular about the spelling and so there are branches 
where the spelling has been consistent for many years.  The Jesswein and 
Gesswein families were probably connected at some historical point but 
where the division occurred is something that can only be proven through 
documentation of 2 families tracing backwards to a common origin.



At 08:07 PM 13/07/2003 -0700, Ancestors wrote:
>In the EWZ records there are both Jesswein families and Gesswein families. I
>wonder whether the families are connected. Are these the same family names, or
>could they be two distinct family groups? Is anyone familiar with the two
>names? The area is Protowka or Neuheim, near Zhitomir.
>
>Thanks
>
>Dwayne

Jerry Frank - Calgary, Alberta
jkfrank at shaw.ca