[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Birth record abbreviations - Col. vs. Kol.

Wed Apr 19 13:00:08 PDT 2006

Thank you all for your input regarding this question. Interestingly enough, my great-great-grandfather's name on this document was written as 'C'hristof,(and subsequent children being Carl and Caroline) going with the theory of experimenting with C as opposed to K.

I truly appreciate everyone's insight and learn so much every time I read an inquiry!
Wendy

>>> Karl Krueger <dabookk54 at yahoo.com> 04/19/06 11:50 AM >>>

Before your explanation here I was siding with George (only because of my knowledge of present German). Now I would probably agree with Jerry. I guess you would have to see how this person used the C and K in all records. I have seen one guy keep switching around over a period of several years as he appeared to be spelling phonetically so whatever his whim was in that period, that's the way he spelled it.

Jerry Frank <FranklySpeaking at shaw.ca> wrote:  In this case, I have to disagree with George. While his suggestion may be valid in certain times and places, I would suggest it does not apply to Volhynia for 2 reasons.

1. Kolonie is certainly the correct modern form of the word. However, it appears that in the 19th century, Germans were experimenting with a switch to "C". There are numerous instances in the German language Volhynian records, especially as recorded by some pastors, where Karl is written as Carl, Karoline as Caroline, Kristof as Christof, etc. Similarly, Kolonie is written as Colonie and abbreviated as Col.

2. If Colporteur were correct, then the vast majority of Germans in Volhynia would have to be salesmen. This simply was not true. Most records show the father as a Col. or Colonist which is an accurate depiction of their role in society at that time.

Jerry Frank

----- Original Message -----
From: shoning at att.net
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 3:48 am
Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Birth record abbreviations

> Hi Nelson,
> 
> I responded to Wendy privately inadvertently, because I had 
> intended to append to this thread. "Col" most likely is the word 
> "Colporteur" which means one of the following: land (tract) 
> salesman, a street salesman, an itinerant book seller, or 
> newsmonger (one who disseminates news on the streets). It is of 
> French derivation. If "Col" were "colonist" and appeared in a 
> German document, it would be most likely "Kol" for the German 
> "Kolonist".
> George Shoning
> 
> -------------- Original message from "Nelson Itterman" 
> : -------------- 
> 
> 
> > 
> > 
> > Hi Wendy and Rita: 
> > That's OK for Paten. What about the "Col" in front of the male 
> names? Is 
> > that short for Colonist? 
> > Nelson 
> > 
> > -----Original Message----- 
> > From: ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org 
> > [ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org] On Behalf Of 
> > rlyster at telusplanet.net 
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:30 PM 
> > To: Wendy Otness 
> > Cc: ger-poland-volhynia at eclipse.sggee.org 
> > Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Birth record abbreviations 
> > 
> > Hi Wendy, 
> > "Paten" are godparents according to my understanding of the 
> language. 
> > "Paten Mutter" godmother and "Paten Vater" godfather. It was 
> very much the 
> > relgious custom of the day to have godparents. 
> > 
> > Rita Lyster 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Quoting Wendy Otness : 
> > 
> > > Good morning, everyone! 
> > > I have been fortunate enough to come across a birth record for 
> my great 
> > > grandmother. It is written in German for the most part, and I 
> have 
> > > noticed in front of most of the male names, it says "Col". Can 
> anyone 
> > > tell me what that might mean? Also, there was the heading 
> "Paten", which 
> > > I am assuming is Godparents, but can't find it in my German-
> English 
> > > dictionary. This document is from 1878, so maybe this word is 
> just an 
> > > old word not in use anymore? 
> > > 
> > > Thanks in advance. 
> > > Wendy 
> > > 
> > > 
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