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Johann
by Michael Calder (guest)
10/6/2014, 10:49 PM
I am doing a family history project on a family who originated from Silesia (Prussia/Germany) in about 1850. Among the original family and their descendants are more than 30 males born with the name "Johann". It is always their first given name, never their second or third given name. Is there a reason for this? Can anyone refer me to a reference in a book or on internet that discusses this?
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- elbowin   +1
10/7/2014, 12:50 AM
It was a fashion. Johann (and its short forms like Hans or Jan) was a long time favourite name in Germany.For comparison, look at the family tree of the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach; you will find the same pattern:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_family
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- Sabertooth
10/8/2014, 10:28 PM
QuoteIt was a fashion. Johann (and its short forms like Hans or Jan)

Was HANS CHRISTIAN Andersen an example of the second configuration?JAN-MICHAEL Vincent might be considered a modern example of the third.
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- Andy ;—) (guest)   +5
10/7/2014, 12:17 AM
I found two things:1. Johann = short form of Johann(es Baptist or Evangelist/a)SEIBICKE, Wilfried: Historisches Deutsches Vornamenbuch, 1996ff.2. Johann […] It was a fashion in the 17./18 century to combine Johann with a second forename, which was the actual first name: Johann Sebastian Bach […], Johann Gottfried Herder […], Johann Wolfgang Goethe […]KOHLHEIM, Rosa und Volker: Das große Vornamenlexikon, Mannheim 2003Hope this helps.Andy ;—)
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- Sabertooth   +4
10/7/2014, 12:26 AM
IIRC, the French use their version, JEAN, in the same fashion, such as:
  • Jean-Claude
  • Jean-Luc
  • Jean-Paul
  • Jean-Pierre, etc.

This message was edited 10/7/2014, 2:15 AM

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- LH (guest)   +2
10/7/2014, 2:08 AM
Good point - and the same is found in Italian with Gian- as the John prefix:Gianluca
Gianmarco
Gianpaolo
etc.
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- Sabertooth   +1
10/8/2014, 12:55 AM
It looks like Spanish completes a Latinate trifecta with:
  • JUAN-Carlos
  • JUAN-Domingo
  • JUAN-Miguel
  • JUAN-Pablo, etc.
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- SugarPlumFairy
10/12/2014, 11:30 AM
And in Portuguese, of course. João Pedro, João Carlos, João Manuel, João Francisco, and many, many more.
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- Michael Calder (guest)
10/7/2014, 12:51 AM
Thanks Guys for a quick reply. You have provided the verification I need. Cheers!
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