Dictionary of German Names [Hardcover]

Hans Bahlow (Author), Edda Gentry (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0924119365 | ISBN-13: 978-0924119361 | Publication Date: June 15, 2002 | Edition: 2nd

A boon for genealogical research and an interesting browse for the merely curious, this detailed dictionary is an English-language reference for more than 15,000 German family names, including variant spellings as well as the meaning and origin of each name. Some entries will provoke a chuckle, others a bit of embarrassment, still others a sense of wonder and pride. This Second Edition of an already popular resource has been expanded throughout and includes many corrections and enhancements.

Distributed for the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A classic for anyone interested in their German ancestry and an invaluable tool for North Americans trying to determine what part of Germany they came from."—Helmut Schmahl, Johannes Gutenberg University–Mainz

From the Back Cover

"A classic for anyone interested in their German ancestry and an invaluable tool for North Americans trying to determine what part of Germany they came from."-Helmut Schmahl, Johannes Gutenberg University-Mainz

Product Details

• Hardcover: 656 pages
• Publisher: Max Kade Institute; 2nd edition (June 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0924119365
• ISBN-13: 978-0924119361
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,017,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An in-depth, scholarly reference book about German names., December 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dictionary of German Names (Studies of the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies Translation) (Hardcover)

For anyone who is researching German names and family genealogy this book is the definitive, in-depth, and scholarly work in the field of German names. A "must own" book for the serious researcher of German families and names

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly, yet fun, July 14, 2002

By 

Bill Cope - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of German Names (Paperback)

A great book for the amateur genealogist. It is light enough that, unlike many books on the subject, it is readable, yet it contains a wealth of information. The book description says "some entries will provoke a chuckle, others a bit of embarrassment, still others a sense of wonder and pride." This is certainly true. As a person of German heritage who (sadly) does not speak German, I was indeed filled with a sense of wonder when I looked up my great-grandfather's name, Hundesauger.

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, January 30, 2010

By 

V. O. Ritter (Columbia, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dictionary of German Names (Hardcover)

I gave this book 5 Stars because it IS a very GOOD book, unfortunately it is also a book that did not meet my needs. My hobby is local history in a predominantly German county in Illinois. I was hoping to find a lot of the local surnames, as a reference for spelling and to provide insight to their origins. No such luck. Many local surnames ARE in the book --- but enough are missing to disappoint me. I have the feeling this book was written for a more scholarly application than mine.