The prefix "de" in a name can be confusing. It means "the" in Dutch but can also mean "de" in French. People who have done Huguenot research often assume a "de"-name indicates a French or Huguenot origin. But when you're dealing with a Dutch family, think horses not zebras: your Dutch ancestor with a "de" name was probably Dutch. The most popular Dutch "De"-names are: De Vries [the Frisian] De Jong/Jonge [the younger] De Boer [the farmer] De Groot [the great/tall] De Wit … [Read more...]
About this website
Creating a website like this is a fun activity. There are so many options, so many choices. What do visitors want? What do I want? In this blog I will describe some of the things I encounter in developing and maintaining this website.
Quick tip – Who was the previous owner?
9 December 2020 by Leave a Comment
When you hit a brick wall and the ancestor whose parents you're looking for owned property, try and find out who owned the property previously. The previous owner may have been related, if the ancestor inherited the property, or may have created a sale or conveyance record that mentions your ancestor. For an example of how useful tracing the previous owner can be, read my article "Griete Smith's Parentage: Proof in the Absence of Vital Records" (PDF) as it appeared in the December 2016 issue … [Read more...]
Dutch Genealogy News for November 2020
4 December 2020 by Leave a Comment
Here are new websites and sources that were announced last month. Sources The Historisch Centrum Overijssel has digitized several Overijssel notarial records 1836-1925. The scans are now available via the finding aid. The contemporary indexes ("repertoires") of the notarial records from The Hague (1843-1935) have been scanned and are available online via the finding aid. The notarial records themselves can be ordered via free scanning-on-demand after January 1st, 2021. The Amsterdam … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Was there a prenuptial agreeement?
2 December 2020 by Leave a Comment
In some cases, couples made a prenuptial agreement when they married. Often, this was the case when at least one of the spouses had assets to protect, or when one of the spouses was richer than the other. The typical arrangement was that if one of them died without children, that person would receive a sum of money while the survivor kept the rest. The sum reflected each spouse's financial situation at the start of the marriage. Another reason to make a prenuptial agreement is if one or both of … [Read more...]
Eight Dutch Naming Patterns to Watch Out For
27 November 2020 by 3 Comments
Understanding how Dutch people named their children or themselves will help you solve your family mysteries. Here are eight Dutch naming patterns to watch out for. Naming children after grandparents Many Dutch children were named after their grandparents, often in a specific order: the first son after the paternal grandfather, second son after the maternal grandfather, first daughter after maternal grandmother, second daughter after paternal grandmother. After the grandparents were named, … [Read more...]
Video – Black in Rembrandt’s Time
23 November 2020 by Leave a Comment
Museum Rembrandthuis created an exhibition "Black in Rembrandt's time." Rembrandt portrayed several black people in his paintings and drawings. The museum has brought these portraits together. This video gives a virtual tour of the exhibition. Closed captions are available in English. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTRI161zY_g … [Read more...]
Silk WWII Escape Map
20 November 2020 by 6 Comments
In World War II, pilots and their crew took cloth maps on missions over enemy territory to be able to find their way back in case they wound up behind enemy lines. Cloth maps don't tear when they get wet or make noise and can be hidden more easily than paper maps. Most of them were made from silk or rayon. … [Read more...]
Call for Papers – Dutch American Stories
16 November 2020 by Leave a Comment
AADAS, the Association for the Advancement of Dutch-American Studies, has issued a call for papers for their virtual conference on 18-19 June 2021. The theme of the conference is Telling, Sharing, and Preserving Dutch-American Stories. Read the Conference Call for details. … [Read more...]
Quick Tip – Launch of Database “Voyages of New Netherland”
11 November 2020 by Leave a Comment
On 17 November, a new online database "Voyages of New Netherland" will be launched. It documents 300 ship voyages to New Netherland between 1609 and 1664. The New Netherland Institute and New York Genealogical and Biographical Society organizes a virtual launch session on 17 November 2020 at 5 PM. See the NYG&BS website for more information and registration. … [Read more...]
New book: Dutch Children of African American Liberators
9 November 2020 by Leave a Comment
A new book was just announced, written by Mieke Kirkels and Chris Dickon: Dutch Children of African American Liberators: Race, Military Policy and Identity in World War II and Beyond. … [Read more...]
