CHANNEL-ISLANDS-L Archives

Archiver > CHANNEL-ISLANDS > 2005-10 > 1128351651


From:
Subject: Re: Jan/Jean
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2005 11:00:51 EDT


I have been researching in Brittany and Jan is definately Jean.. older
records before 1700 always use the name Jan.. then in 1700's they seem to favor
Jan.. in later records,the name becomes Jean.. same deal with Janne/Jeanne
I have countless instances of birth of Jan.. marraige of Jan or Jean.. and
death of Jean..

Most records before 1800 were written and signed by the village cure
(priest) as the participants were usually illiterate.. so however HE spelled the
name is how it is recorded.. this also applies to many last names.. so it
is easy to see how different versions proliferated..

Aloha, Colette

This thread: