Re: Bachmann surname; Swiss in origin
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In reply to:
Re: Bachmann surname; Swiss in origin
6/19/01
Actually, it is my understanding that in German surnames, the Jewish surname is spelled Bachman.The German surname is spelled Bachmann.
Now, whether for defensive purposes or understandable safety reasons sometime in the 19th century or possibly earlier the Jewish spelling of your Swiss relation was altered to the Germanic spelling of Bachmann, I do not know.
Me'thinks that that might be the source of contention here, no?
At any rate, I do know that linguistically Bachmann is much much earlier than the 1500s.As I pointed out, place names in the Saxony region such as Arnstadt were mentioned as early as 704, and the linguistic use of "-ach" and "bach" predates even that.And I believe the bulk of linguitic usage in place names and surnames here of the term Bach and Mann lies in Greater Saxony, not in Switzerland which is ethnicallly almost a separate culture.
Mobility in those days (16th century and earlier) clearly was not quite as readily convenient as today, and many ethnic groups developed distinct dialects and usages of tonal sounds.Therefore, I would suggest that Bachmann is indigenous to the Saxonian Saale River and its tributaries.
Even here in modern times one can easily tell the dialectual difference between a "Yankee" and a Southerner, or a Minnesotan and a New Yawker.Anyhow, my tow cetns worth.