[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Mieske/Mueske

[Otto]

Evening Dale,
The following is only a basic overview.

Phonology is an in-depth subject.
Phonemes are distinct units of sound.
They can be altered using diacritical makings.
Again, not simple- This is the German language-
'umlauts, 'ichlauts, 'achlauts, 'ablauts, 'ruckablauts.
'i' is not written with a diacritc umlaut. 'u' is.
(a-o-u)
A trailing vowel usually would call for a leading guttural vowel (in  
german speech) to be brought half way out of the throat onto the back  
of the tongue-'umlaut'.  Language is about getting the ‘sounds’ right.

MIESKE/MUESKE are undoubtedly the same surname.
The surname spelling is passing through time.
Flatland Germanic dialects, Latin records, Polish records, Russian  
records, Modern German records, Modern Russian records, changing  
language meanings... It is about sound.

Anything that sounds close to a surname I'm researching gets me excited.
Only a paper trail will establish them as close relatives though-

Each family usually had many children and cousins.  Sometimes a  
spelling was altered a bit to firm up immediate personal identity and  
create a bit of uniqueness. Most of the time it was due to political  
events, national language change, ministers spellings and civil  
servants spellings.
Mechanical typewriters contributed to use again of 'e' to designate  
an umlaut. No diacritic umlaut keys.

MIESKE, a Platt (flatland) Germanic spelling-(Many subgroups.)
'Me~es'keh' or in a clipped sounding 'Mes'keh' (we are probably  
looking at an 'ie' diphthong)

MUESKE -a later spelling- with a phonological umlaut depicted with an e.
Mais'keh' or in a clipped sounding 'Mes'keh'

MÜSKE ( later yet spelling with an umlaut depicted with use of a  
diacritic marking- Müske -
'Mais'keh' or in a clipped sounding 'Mes'keh'

'UE' and umlaut 'U' sre the same letter sound here.
A similar sound could be generated with an 'O' umlaut.
Be mindful of the 'Moeske' spelling of the surname also.
Maeske and Meske are possibles also.

. . .   Otto

          " The Zen moment..." wk. of October 28, 2007-
              ________________________________
           "Life continues. . .  only from breath to breath."