German Names from Nürnberg, 1497

by Sara L. Uckelman
known in the SCA as Aryanhwy merch Catmael

© 2005-2006, 2013-2014 Sara L. Uckelman; all rights reserved
last updated 22May14

Introduction

The following names are taken from taxation records from 1497. There are roughly 2600 men and woman from Nürnberg, Germany, and around 7000 men and women from surrounding cities (the list from the surrounding cities is not complete; I moved out of the country and had to return the book to the library before I could complete the transcription. I hope to find another copy of the book from which I can complete the transcription). The language spoken here at this time is one of the Middle High German dialects, East Franconian, which is similar to Lower Bavarian. A letter in brackets indicates one which was superscripted above the previous letter.

Naming patterns

Everyone had only one given name, and almost everyone had only one surname. In the few examples of double surnames, the second was always a locative, e.g. Jorg Moler von Eystet. There is a list of surnames available, as well as information about how women's surnames were formed.

Place Names

The place names were given in the spelling from the tax record, and cross-referenced to the modern spelling of the place name. There is an an incomplete index of the place names available.

Given Names

Because there appear to be some significant spelling (and hence dialectal) differences in the names from Nürnberg proper and the ones from the surrounding cities, I have listed the given names, by frequency, in two lists, one for each data set. The lists are given side by side, and this will hopefully display the similarity in the frequencies and the differences in spellings.

Masculine given names, by frequency

NürnbergSurrounding cities
NameNumber
Hanns691
     Hanns527
     Hans155
     Johannes3
     Johann3
     Johan1
     Johanns1
     Johans1
Contz225
     Contz163
     Cuntz48
     Conrat10
     Kuntz2
     Conra [sic]1
     Conrade1
Heintz161
     Heintz66
     Haintz65
     Hainrich22
     Heinrich7
     Haints1
Fritz120
     Fritz118
     Friderich1
     Frietz1
Jorg120
     Jorg119
     Jörg1
Peter81
     Peter81
Ulrich79
     Ulrich79
Michel73
     Michel53
     Michell19
     Mickel1
Clas72
     Clas36
     Niclas33
     Klas1
     Nickell1
     Niclaus1
Linhart58
     Linhart53
     Lienhart4
     Linhar [sic]1
Jacob51
     Jacob51
Endres45
     Endres45
Herman44
     Herman41
     Hermann2
     Hermen1
Erhart43
     Erhart43
Steffan35
     Steffan30
     Steffann5
Paulus32
     Paulus32
Mertin31
     Mertin18
     Mertein11
     Martin1
     Merte1
Mates26
     Mates14
     Mathes11
     Mathews1
Sewolt25
     Sewolt25
Lorentz21
     Lorentz21
Bartelmes19
     Bartelmes18
     Bartlmes1
Jobst17
     Jobst17
Wolfgang17
     Wolfgang7
     Wolffgang4
     Wolffganng4
     Wolfganng2
Marx15
     Marx15
Caspar14
     Caspar13
     Casper1
Thoman13
     Thoman7
     Toman6
Wilhelm13
     Wilhelm13
Albrecht12
     Albrecht12
Antoni12
     Antoni12
Cristoff12
     Cristoff10
     Cristoffel1
     Cristoffell1
Bernhart11
     Bernhart11
Eberhart11
     Eberhart9
     Eberle2
Ludwig11
     Ludwig10
     Lu[e]dwig1
Sewastian10
     Sewastian10
Jeronimus9
     Jeronimus9
N. [1]9
     N.9
Ott9
     Ott9
Seitz7
     Seitz6
     Seyfrid1
Sigmund7
     Sigmund7
Six7
     Six4
     Sixt3
Burckhart6
     Burckhart6
Frantz5
     Frantz5
Gilg5
     Gilg5
Symon5
     Symon3
     Simon2
Wolff5
     Wolff5
Berchtold4
     Berchtold4
Gabriell4
     Gabriell3
     Gabriel1
Oßwald4
     Oßwald3
     Oßwalt1
Adam3
     Adam3
Baltasar3
     Baltasar2
     Baltsar1
Bangratz3
     Bangratz2
     Pangrat1
Crafft3
     Crafft2
     Craft1
Engelhart3
     Engelhart3
Ewkarius3
     Ewkarius3
Kilian3
     Kilian3
Lucas3
     Lucas3
Vallentin3
     Vallentin3
Veit3
     Veit3
Wentzel3
     Wentzel3
Allexander2
     Allexander2
Augustin2
     Augustin2
Benedick2
     Benedick2
Dieterich2
     Dieterich1
     Dietz1
Felix2
     Felix2
Moritz2
     Moritz2
Rudolff2
     Rudolff2
Ruprecht2
     Rueprecht1
     Ruprecht1
Urban2
     Urban2
Conrle [sic]1
     Conrle1
Cristin1
     Cristin1
Gall1
     Gall1
Gerhart1
     Gerhart1
Gothart1
     Gothart1
Gotleib1
     Gotleib1
Gu[o]nwolt1
     Gu[o]nwolt1
Hector1
     Hector1
Hartmann1
     Hartmann1
Harttung1
     Harttung1
Herwart1
     Herwart1
Heymerant1
     Heymerant1
Jeremias1
     Jeremias1
Karll1
     Karll1
Lamprecht1
     Lamprecht1
Laux1
     Laux1
Leßle1
     Leßle1
Marschillius1
     Marschillius1
Melchor1
     Melchor1
Otig1
     Otig1
Philip1
     Philip1
Raphael1
     Raphael1
Sewfrid1
     Sewfrid1
Tiepolt1
     Tiepolt1
Tiling1
     Tiling1
Volckamar1
     Volckamar1
Volckel1
     Volckel1
Volckhart1
     Volckhart1
Walther1
     Walther1
Wendel1
     Wendel1
Wernhart1
     Wernhart1
Wilwolt1
     Wilwolt1
Wolffhart1
     Wolffhart1
Zacharias1
     Zacharias1
NameNumber
Hans1699
     Hans1016
     Hanns390
     Hanß168
     Hannß58
     Hanncz28
     Hancz18
     Henslein8
     Henßlein3
     Ha(n)s1
     Hanss1
     Hansz1
     Hennsel1
     Hennslein1
     Hensell1
     Heslein1
     Johannes1
Kuncz747
     Kuncz571
     Cuncz157
     Kuntz19
     Cuntz9
     Kunczlein2
     Concz1
     Kunrhadt [sic]1
Heincz484
     Heincz452
     Heintz14
     Haincz9
     Haeincz2
     Haintz2
     Heinrich2
     Hainncz1
     Hein1
     Hein(z)1
Fricz400
     Fricz369
     Fritz12
     Frycz11
     Ffricz2
     Frytz2
     Frics1
     Fridel2
     Fridlein1
     Frix1
Ulrich236
     Ulrich95
     Ullein63
     Ulle35
     Ull29
     Ullrich4
     Utz4
     Ullen2
     Ule1
     Ulein1
     Ullrych1
     Ulrych1
Jorg192
     Jorg192
Herman145
     Herman51
     Herma(n)51
     Hermon41
     Herman(n)2
     Hermo1
Petter131
     Petter107
     Pett(er)12
     Peter6
     Pette(r)6
Michel101
     Michel97
     Michell4
Linhart95
     Linhart44
     Linhardt28
     Lynhart19
     Linhartt1
     Lynhardt1
     Lynha(r)t1
     Lynhartt1
Klas76
     Klas28
     Clas11
     Nickel8
     Claß7
     Klaß7
     Nicklas6
     Clauß3
     Klaus2
     Nicklaß2
     Class1
     Klos1
     Nickles1
Eberlein67
     Eberlein56
     Ebberlein3
     Eberhardt2
     Berlein1
     Eberardt1
     Eberhart1
     Eberhartt1
     Eberla1
     Erberlein1
Jacob63
     Jacob34
     Jackob24
     Jacopp3
Erhardt62
     Erhardt30
     Erhart29
     Erardt2
     Erharddt1
Lorencz61
     Lorencz58
     Lornencz [sic]2
     Lorncz [sic]1
Steffan55
     Steffan52
     Steffen2
     Steffann1
Endres52
     Endres25
     Enders17
     Enderes3
     Enderß2
     Endreß2
     Endereß1
     Ennders1
     Enndres1
Mertein32
     Mertein8
     Merten8
     Merthein7
     Mertten7
     Mertei(n)1
     Mertell1
Ott30
     Ott27
     Ot2
     Ottel1
Paulus30
     Paulus23
     Paul(us)5
     Pa(u)lus1
     Pauluß1
Sebolt29
     Sebolt17
     Sebalt8
     Sebald2
     Sebatt1
     Sebbolt1
Thoman28
     Thoma(n)11
     Thoman7
     Thomen2
     Thomo(n)2
     Toman2
     Tomen2
     Thoma1
     Th(o)mas1
     Thomas1
Albrecht26
     Albrecht26
Mathes25
     Mathes17
     Mades2
     Madtes1
     Madthes1
     Matheys1
     Mattehes1
     Matthes1
Simon16
     Simon4
     Symon4
     Simo(n)3
     Siman2
     Syman2
     Syma(n)1
Wilhelm16
     Wilhelm12
     Wylhelm3
     Wilhem1
Merckel13
     Merckel12
     Mercklin1
Sixt12
     Sixt8
     Syxt4
Crista8
     Crista6
     Crist1
     Cristan1
Jobst8
     Jobst8
Engelhardt7
     Engelhardt3
     Engalhardt2
     Eng(e)lhart1
     Engelhart1
Seytz7
     Seytz6
     Seycz1
Cristoff6
     Cristoff3
     Kristoff2
     Stoffel1
Killian6
     Killian4
     Kylian1
     Kylion1
Marx6
     Marx6
Parttelmes6
     Parttelmes3
     Bartellmeß1
     Bartlmes1
     Partelmeß1
Pertolt6
     Pertolt4
     Perttoldt1
     Perttolt1
Kasper5
     Kasper5
Ludwich5
     Ludwich3
     Ludwig2
Pernhardt5
     Pernhardt2
     Bernhardt1
     Bernhart1
     Bernhartt1
Wolff5
     Wolff2
     Wolf1
     Wolffel1
     Wollff1
Wollffgang4
     Wollffgang2
     Wolffgang1
     Wollffgangk1
Gilg3
     Gilg2
     Gillg1
Max3
     Max3
Pesolt3
     Pesolt2
     Pessolt1
Veytt3
     Veytt2
     Veitt1
Casp(er)2
     Casp(er)2
Dicz2
     Dicz1
     Ditrich1
Gabriell2
     Gabriell2
Kari(us)2
     Kari(us)2
Purckhart2
     Purckhart2
Rudell2
     Rudell1
     Rudolt1
Sebastion2
     Sebastion2
Uc[c]z2
     Uc[c]z1
     Ucz1
Viczens2
     Viczens2
Volckel2
     Volckel1
     Wolckel1
Walcz2
     Walcz2
Wernlein2
     Wernlein2
Wilbalt2
     Wilbalt1
     Wilbolt1
Wunbalt2
     Wunbalt1
     Wunwalt1
Allexius1
     Allexius1
Ambrosius1
     Ambrosius1
Benedic1
     Benedic1
Clement1
     Clement1
Crafft1
     Crafft1
Dieppolt1
     Dieppolt1
Eckhart1
     Eckhart1
Frihttri1
     Frihttri1
Gocz1
     Gocz1
Gotthart1
     Gotthart1
Gronius1
     Gronimus1
Hartma(n)1
     Hartma(n)1
Herlein1
     Herlein1
Hermert1
     Hermert1
Leippoldt1
     Leippoldt1
Lucz1
     Lucz1
Marckert1
     Marckert1
Mendel1
     Mendel1
Merthey1
     Merthey1
Pernnolt1
     Pernnolt1
Reichert1
     Reichert1
Seubbart1
     Seubbart1
Seuffridt1
     Seuffridt1
Sygmu(n)d1
     Sygmu(n)d1
Volckhart1
     Volckhart1
Walthasser1
     Walthasser1
Wernhart1
     Wernhart1
Wolfflein1
     Wolfflein1

Feminine given names, by frequency

NürnbergSurrounding cities
NameNumber
Anna43
     Anna43
Margreth37
     Margreth37
     Margret1
Els27
     Els22
     Elsbeth4
     Elßbeth1
Katerina25
     Katerina14
     Katherina9
Barbara22
     Barbara20
     Barb2
Kungund19
     Kungund19
Angnes11
     Angnes9
     Agnes2
Cristina9
     Cristina9
Ursel8
     Ursel4
     Ursell2
     Ursula2
Ella5
     Ella3
     Ell2
Helena5
     Helena5
Madalena4
     Madalena2
     Madlen2
Clara3
     Clara3
Dorothea3
     Dorothea3
Apell2
     Apell1
     Apolonia1
Brigita2
     Brigita2
Engell2
     Engell2
Peternella2
     Peternella2
Adelhayt1
     Adelhayt1
Affra1
     Affra1
Fela1
     Fela1
Ottilg1
     Ottilg1
Sibilla1
     Sibilla1
Wlpurg1
     Wlpurg1
NameNumber
Els65
     Els51
     Elß13
     Ells1
Margret60
     Margret18
     Margredt16
     Margreth10
     Gredt5
     Margretth4
     Margareth3
     Margeredt1
     Marget1
     Margett1
     Margrett1
Anna54
     Anna41
     Ann8
     An(n)3
     An2
Kun38
     Kun31
     Kuen2
     Kunlein2
     Ku[e]n1
     Kungund1
     Kungunt1
Kathrina34
     Kathrina13
     Katterina9
     Kattera2
     Katterein2
     Katterin2
     Katerina1
     Katherina1
     Kathrin1
     Katrina1
     Katteran1
     Kettherlein1
Crista28
     Crista13
     Cristina5
     Krista4
     Kristina2
     Ckristina1
     Criste1
     Kristan1
Agnes22
     Agnes18
     Anges [sic]2
     Agneß1
     Angnes1
Barbera12
     Barbera6
     Barbara3
     Barb1
     Ba(r)bara1
     Barbar(a)1
Ell10
     Ell10
Geras7
     Geras6
     Jeras1
Alladt6
     Alladt3
     Alheit2
     Allet1
Gerhauß [2]5
     Gerhauß5
Duretta4
     Duretta2
     Dorell1
     Durettea1
Walpurg3
     Walpurg2
     Walburg1
Appel2
     Appel1
     Appolonia1
Guttel1
     Guttel1
Madlen1
     Madlen1
Martha1
     Martha1
Ottilg1
     Ottilg1
Petternel1
     Petternel1


Notes:

[1] This is probably an abbreviation for Niclas.

[2] While gerhauß is generally a word meaning 'tannery, vestry', it appears to have been a rare feminine name in Bavaria in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Source:

Fleischmann, Peter, Reichssteuerregister von 1497 der Reichsstadt Nürnberg (und der Reichspflege Weissenburg), (Nürnberg: Gesellschaft für Familienforschung in Franken, 1993.)