Robert V J P Varman Ph D
BRIEF GUIDE TO DUTCH LANGUAGE
AND CHURCH LATIN USED IN BIRTH,
DEATH AND MARRIAGE REGISTERS
Church Latin Dates and Numbers
In official forms, dates are often written out in full rather than in numbers, hence the following guide:
NUMBERS FOR DAYS OF WEEK, MONTHS AND YEARS
0...................................................
1---EEN......................EERSTE-----1ST
2---TWEE...................TWEEDE----2ND
3---DRIE....................DERDE------3RD
4---VIER....................VIERDE-----4TH
5---VIJF.....................VIJFDE------5TH
6---ZES.....................ZESDE-------6TH
7---ZEVEN................ZEVENDE----7TH
8---ACHT..................ACHTSTE----8TH
9---NEGEN................NEGENDE----9TH
10--TIEN...................TIENDE-----10TH
11--ELF....................ELFDE------11TH
12--TWAALF........TWAALFDE-----12TH
13--DERTIEN.......DERTIENDE-----13TH
14--VEERTIEN......VEERTIENDE---14TH
15--VIJFTIEN........VIJFTIENDE----15TH
16--ZESTIEN..........ZESTIENDE----16TH
17--ZEVENTIEN....ZEVENTIENDE--17TH
18--ACHTIEN........ACHTIENDE----18TH
19--NEGENTIEN....NEGENTIENDE-19TH
20--TWINTIG........TWINTIGSTE----20TH
21--EEN EN TWINTIG.......(EEN EN TWINTIGSTE = 21ST)
22--TWEE EN TWINTIG....(-STE=22ND)
23--DRIE EN TWINTIG.....(-STE=23RD)
24--VIER EN TWINTIG.....(-STE=24TH)
25--VIJF EN TWINTIG.....(-STE=25TH)
26--ZES EN TWINTIG......(-STE=26TH)
27--ZEVEN EN TWINTIG..(-STE=27TH)
28--ACHT EN TWINTIG...(-STE=28TH)
29--NEGEN EN TWINTIG.(-STE=29TH)
30--DERTIG.........(DERTIGSTE=30TH)
31--EEN EN DERTIG...(EEN EN DERTIGSTE=31ST) etc.
40--VEERTIG
50--VIJFTIG
60--ZESTIG
70--ZEVENTIG
80--TACHTIG
90--NEGENTIG
100--HONDERD...................200--TWEE HONDERD..........1000--DUIZEND
101--HONDERD EEN............300--DRIE HONDERD............2000--TWEE DUIZEND
102--HONDERD TWEE..........400--VIER HONDERD............3000--DRIE DUIZEND
103--HONDERD DRIE............500--VIJF HONDERD............4000--VIER DUIZEND etc.
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EXAMPLES:
Twenty ninth January1885 (eighteen hundred eighty five)
Negen en twintigste Januari 1885 (achtien honderd vijf en tachtig)
Formal date as found in official forms of the 1800s:
In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty three (1863).
In het jaar (een) duizend acht honderd, drie en zestig (1863).
CALENDAR
January = Januari
February = Februari
March = Maart
April = April
May = Mei
June = Juni
July = Juli
August = August
September = September
October = October
November = November
December = December
Monday = Maandag
Tuesday = Dinsdag
Wednesday = Woensdag
Thursday = Donderdag
Friday = Frijdag
Saturday = Zaterdag
Sunday = Zondag
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There are three languages used in Dutch registers; Church Latin, Dutch and French. The oldest registers, as in England and elsewhere in Europe, were written in Church Latin.
After the Reformation, there was a gradual replacement of Latin in favour of Dutch in Protestant churches but the Catholic churches continued to use Latin until very recent times. Even my baptismal certificate is written in Latin.
During the Napoleanic invasion, French was the language of the bureaucracy. The French took over the rôle of the churches in registering births, deaths and marriages. While French record keeping was detailed, the language and new system of dates and times are draw-backs to those not familiar with the French language. Depending on the area, the French occupied the Netherlands from 1795 to 1813.
Dutch was the language of the bureaucracy from 1813 and all registers of birth, death and marriage were in Dutch from then on (and registration was made compulsory).
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REGISTERS IN THE DUTCH LANGUAGE
Two forms of registers should be distinguished: traditional church registers where entries are written out by hand in books; and forms to be filled out. The latter is a feature of Dutch bureaucracy since about 1813, though churches continued their own registers for baptisms at least. There are often interesting variations in name spelling and the order in which names are written when comparing the official form for a birth and the church entry for a baptism during the 1800s. By the 1800s multiple christian names had become common. It is worth remembering that it was not the first name that was the 'called' name, but the name directly next to the surname, this was common in Britain and its colonies also. For example, Johannes Maximilian Fermin would be more likely called Max than Jan (this can be confirmed by checking for signatures); so it would be misleading to write Johannes M Fermin when trying to save space on a family tree chart.
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TRADITIONAL REGISTERS
These follow approximately the formulas of the old latin registers.
Example I
1669
1669
Den 27 January
The 27(th) January
Andreas Formijn J: M: soldaat onder de Compagnie
Andreas Formijn, young man, soldier under the company/regiment
van Cap Colpeper met Sibilla Planchon. J: D: van Maastrigt.
of Captain Colpeper with Sibilla Planchon young lady of Maastricht.
NOTE: Though the couple were Catholic they were obliged to have their marriage recorded by the Protestants who had control over the city. Andreas Fermin (actual name) as a soldier had to obtain permission to marry from his Captain. The above is a type of banns. In the margin is a note:
getrout 13 febrij
married 13 February (1669).
N0TE. 'Jonge Man' and 'Jonge Dochter' Explained:
J. M. stands for Jonge Man = young man.
J. D. stands for Jonge Dochter (literally, young daughter) = young lady.
J.M. or J. D. is generally followed by 'van' (= of) and then the name of a town or area. This often indicates where they were born but strictly it just means that they came from there or lived there before whatever event being recorded.
Example II
1727
1727
den 3 January
the 3(rd) of January
peter philips wonende an den de hooft bank beek
Peter Philips living at the head bank (at) Beek
met
with
Maria gerrits gebortig van Limmel wonende alhier
Maria Gerrits born at Limmel residing here (Maastricht).
Note: In this case the distinction between residence and birth place is made. They were earlier registered at Beek on December 28, 1726. A note in the margin states that they were married on January 19, 1727:
Getrouwt den 19 Jany 1727
Married (on the) 19 January 1727
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EXAMPLE OF A STANDARD FORM
In this example the form is in capitals, the written part in italics and the translation in lower case. The translation is as literal as possible to help people recognise key words they may come across in similar documents, so apologies for the loss of fluidity:
I will be prepared to give further examples, if there is sufficient interest shown.
OP HEDEN DEN zes en twintigste January, ACHTTIEN HONDERT NEGEN
on today the twenty sixth january, eighteen hundred
-EN-TWINTIG, TEN tien URE des voormiddags , ZIJN VOOR ONS
twenty nine, at ten hours of the morning, are before us
SCHEPEN, AMBTENAAR VAN DEN BURGERLIJKEN STAND DER STADT
sheriffs, officer of the civil registrar of the city
MAASTRICHT, VERSCHENEN Jacobus Josephus Pirongs WOONACHTIG
maastricht, appearing jacobus josephus pirong resident
TE MAASTRICHT, tinnegieters gezel van BEROEP, OUD zes en dertig
at maastricht, tinsmithy by calling, aged thirty six
JAREN, DIE GEZEGD HEEFT neef bij aantrouw van den overledenen te.
years, who said (that he a) nephew by marriage of the deceased
zijn EN Hendrik Clemens Gadet ------------WOONACHTIG TE
was, and hendrik clemens gadet -------------------resident at
MAASTRICHT, Koopman van BEROEP, OUD zeven en veertig
maastricht, merchant by calling, aged forty seven
JAREN, DIE GEZEGD HEEFT nabuur van den overledenen te Zyn;
years, who said (that he a) neighbour of the deceased was;
DEWELKE ONS VERCLAARD HEBBEN, DAT OP eergisteren,
the same us informed had, that on the day before yesterday
TEN tien URE S 'avonds OVERLEDEN IS Joannes Nagant
at ten o'clock in the evening died joannes Nagant
gepensioeneerd / Kanunnik/---------------------------------------
pensioned canon----------------------------------------------------
OUD twee en Seventig jaren , GEBOREN TE Luik, province Luik
aged seventy two years. born at Liege, province Liege
WOONACHTIG in Kleine Straat No 591, Echtgenoot van
resident in (the) Kleine Street No 591, husband of
Maria Ida Leunis, Zoon van Hadelius Nagant
maria ida leunis, son of Hadelius Nagant
en Maria Barbara Petitjean, beide overleden. EN
and maria barbara petitjean, both deceased. and
NA GEDANE VOORLEZING AAN DE DEKLARANTEN hebben Zij met
after a re-reading to the informants have they with
Ons geteekend.
us signed. DE SCHEPEN VOORNOEMED
the sheriff aforementioned
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As regards the Dutch-language registers one needs only to know a few words and sentences to extract the basic dates and names. There will be the occasional intriguing comment or extra information in any entry to drive one mad , though if you have a bit of basic Church Latin (for those Catholics who used to follow the mass in Latin) one can usually work things out.
Here is a selection from our own family research:
DEATHS:
Example I
27 Maji 1774
Sepulta est in caemeterio.....female name.......ex platea Bruxellensi
Buried in the cemetery Catharina Nelissen from the Brussels Street
Example II
For a male buried inside the church, the entry would begin,
Sepultus est in Ecclesia...male name...etc.
or
Sepultus est in Templo...male name...
Example III
In the case of a child, the parent or parents are often mentioned:
Sepultus est in Caemeterio franciscus filius Conrardi Peerboom et Anna Partouns.
Buried in the cemetery...(male name)...son of...(father's name)...and...(mother's name).
Example IV
Variations may be found: mortua (female) or mortuus (male) or obijt, (obiit'), meaning, died.
1640
4 7bris mortua est..female name..filia.........male name..........sub Lichtenborch
4th September died Elisabetha daughter of Joannis Pasmans, under (indicating 'from') Lichtenborgh
Example V
1745
19na 10bris obijt gerardus lenssen 55 circiter annorum ex aelbeeck.
19th Octonber died Gerard Lenssen about 55 years, from Aelbeeck.
BIRTHS
These are generally straight-forward, the formula being:
*Date
*Christian name of child
*name of father
and (sometimes)
*mother
*name of godfather
*name of godmother
Example I (The original is in italics)
1727
13 Aug: baptizatus est Joannes filius legitimus Gerardi Lensen et
13 August: was baptised Joannes legitimate son (of) Gerard Lensen and
Catharyn Massingh quem susceperunt Joes Loijen et
Catharyn Massingh ( indicating godparents:) Joannes Loijen and
Elizabetha Roelants.
Elizabeth Roelants.
Example II (some entries are brief but the data is the same as above):
Februarius 1688
18 Ida Simonis Nijpels et Anna Goerts
18(th) Ida (daughter of) Simon Nijpels and Anna Goerts
susc Philippus Nijpels et Joanna Goerts.
(godparents) Philip Nijpels and Joanna Goert.
Example III
1755 Januarii 8
Bapta est Maria Catharina filia Gisberti Henrici Leunis et
was baptised Maria Catharina daughter (of) Gisbert Henry Leunis and
Maria Catharina Vermin Conj. Patr: Hermanus Rosegracht,
Maria Catharina Vermin, married. Godfather (pater) Herman Rosegracht,
Matr: Dlla Catharina Nicolia Monnaert.
Godmother (mater) : honourable Catharina Nicolia Monnaert.
NOTE: filius illegitimus = illegitimate son of
patrem nominavit = the father is said to be
MARRIAGE
These are more complex depending on the information included.
Example I
Matrimonio conjuncti sunt 1766 Augustus
Joined in matrimony were
31 Cornelius Matheus Loijens et Maria Catharina Gelucks
31(st) Cornelius Matheus Loijens and Maria Catharina Gelucks
trajectensis.............juncti sunt: presentibus testibus henrico fermijn
of Maastricht.......were joined: witnesses present Henry Fermijn
et Maria Ida gelucks.
and Maria Ida Gelucks.
SOME USEFUL WORDS
celebs (coelebs) = unmarried male
coniux = husband/wife?
gratis = free
juvenis = child
proles = offspring
puella = unmarried (young) woman
vetula = old woman
vidua = widow
viduus = widower
uxor wife
...vulgo... in the common language...
CHURCH LATIN DATES AND NUMBERS
The expression of dates can vary even on one page of a parish register, here are some examples:
1636
30 Aprilis..... = 30 April 1636
1640
2 Augusti... = 2 August 1640
1633
30 7bris... = 30 September 1633
1640
24 10bris.... = 24 October 1640
1633
Prima Octobris... = 1st October 1633
Numbers are usually used for the days of the month but sometimes the whole number is written. This is fine for, prima, secunda, tertia, quarta, quinta, sexa, septima, octava, nona and decima which are fairly easy to work out but the system becomes a little more complex for the higher numbers:
Decima tertia = 14th (10 plus 4); vigesima tertia = 24th (20 plus 4). For the 'teens' it is decima (10) plus the primary number and for the twenties, it is vigesima (20) plus the primary number.
Occasionally the equivalent of our 'st', 'nd', 'rd' and 'th' (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) after the day of the month are abbrieviated in Latin after the numeral but these can be fairly safely ignored. Examples, 1 ma, 2 da, 3 tia, 4 ta, 5 ta, 6 ta, 7 ma, 8 va, 9 na, 10 ma, 11 ma, 12 ma, 13 tia, 14 ta, 15 ta, 16 ta, 17ma, 18 va, 19 na, 20 ma, 21 ma, 22 da, 23 tia etc. The use of these in registers may on occasion be of help if the number is unclear.
The names of the months are so close to our names, that they require no guide. However, sometimes for the months September to December the number is written ending with a 'bris', so, for example, 12bris represents December.
The years are nearly always expressed in arabic numbers, sometimes prefixed with the word 'Anno', meaning, year.
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During the Napoleonic occupation a new calendar was introduced, all documents had to be written in French. The system is intricate and requires more attention than I am able to offer. In January 1806 the system was abandoned in favour of the Gregorian calendar. The year began on 22 September first in1792. As a rough guide:
Year I-----1792 began on the 264th day of the old calendar
Year II----1793 on the 264th day
Year III---1794 on the264th day
Year IV---1795 on the 265th day
Year V----1796 on the 264the dat
Year VI---1797 on the 264th day
Year VII--1798 on the 264th day
Year VIII-1799 on the 265th day
Year IX---1800 on the 265th day
Year X----1801 on the 265th day
Year XI---1802 on the 265th day
Year XII--1803 on the 266th day
Year XIII-1804 on the 265th day
Year XIV-1805 on the 265th day
By Ivo De Broeck (IvoGEENSPAM@village.uunet.be) submitted the following to Genbnl on Dec 4, 1998,
"Subject: Geminal version 1.11"
"During the French Revolution the intent to create a new calendar system that was based on scientific principals, not religious traditions. It was adopted in France and Belgium in the period October 1793 till January 1806. I wrote a very small program that converts a 'French Republican' date to a normal 'Gregorian' date. It is Freeware and runs only with win95/98 & NT. You can download the two programs (basic version 1.0 and upgrade 1.11) at http://members.xoom.com/ivodb/ Ivo De Broeck (Belgium)"
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FRENCH PERIOD FORMS (IN FRENCH)
The following was submitted by Michele Thomas (mthomas@mail.win.org) to BELGIAN ROOTS but accidently posted on Genbnl (Dec 3, 1998). The form has been reduced by limiting the size of the blanks. Michele wrote: "French Birth Form and translation > A St. Nicholas gift to the group. I hope it is helpful.> Michele"
> Acte de Naissance, No. ____
> L an mil huit cent ________ du mois d_______ Ö> ________ heure d_ (matin / soir)_ par-devant nous_______ Officier de L Etat civil de la ______ Arrondissement de _________, Province de ______ , est comparu ______ ÉgÇ de ________ ans,> profession d_ ________ nÇ Ö _____> domiciliÇ ___________ le quel ________ nous a exhibÇ un enfant du sexe ____________ qu ____ a dÇclarÇ àtre ne __________ Ö________ heure ______> Lesdites prÇsentation et dÇclaration faites en prÇsence d__________ ÉgÇ ________ de ___________ ans, > profession d___________> domiciliÇ _______ et de _____> ÉgÇ de ________ profession d_ _______ domiciliÇ> _______> Et apres qu il leur a ÇtÇ donnÇ lecture du prÇsent acte> _____> (signatures of witnesses)
> Act of Birth, No.___
> The year thousand eight hundred ________, the _______ of > month ___________ [d_] to ________ hour _(am / pm)_ [d_] in the presence of > us ___________ Officer of the civil > State of the __________> Precinct of _______, Province of _________, is appeared > ________> aged of _________ years, profession _______> [d_] been born to _________ resident ___________ the what _________ has us showing a child of ______sex that ________ declared be ____________> to _________ hour ________ The so-called presentation and declaration make_______________ aged of ____________ in> presence of ___________ years, profession____________ resident of> _________> And after he was to them given reading of present __________ act. > (Signature of witnesses)
> Acte de Mariage, No. 22
> L an mil huit cent soizanate-seize , le vingt deuxieme jour du mois de> Septembre Ö cinq heures de relevie devant nous Auguste Carlier Bourgmestre> Officier de l Etat civil de la commune de> Tubize. Arrondissement de Nivelle , Province de Brabant , sont comparus, en sÇance publique Charles Louis Vanachter, nÇ a Bievene le vingt six aout mil huit> cent quatre huit___________ Lesquels nous ont requis de procÇder Ö la cÇlÇbration du mariage projetÇ> entre eux, et dont les publications ont ÇtÇ faites devant la principale> porte de notre maison commune ____________________ Aucune opposition audit mariage ne nous ayant ÇtÇ signifiÇe, faisant droit Ö> leur rÇquisition, apräs avoir donnÇ lecture de toutes les piäces ci-dessus> mentionnÇes, ainsi que du chapitre six du titre du Code civil intitulÇ du> Mariage, nous avons demandÇ au futur Çpoux et Ö la future Çpouse s ile> veulent se prendre pour mari et pour femme; chacun d eux ayant rÇpondu> sÇparÇment et affirmativement, nous dÇclarons, au nom de la loi, qu__________> (Signatures of Witnesses)
Act of Marriage, No.
The year thousand eight hundred _______, the _________ of month ___________ [d_] to ______ _ hour_ ___________ [d_] before us __________ Officer of the civil State of the ________> ___________ [d_]
Precinct of _________, Province of _______, is appeared, in > sitting public _________ born> ________
__________________> Whom required us of proceeding to the celebration of marriage projected> between them, and of which the publications were make common > before the main door of our house___________________> No opposition audit marriage we having been meant, making right to their > requisition, after have given reading of all the pieces above mentioned, as > well as of chapter six of title of civil entitled Code of Marriage, we asked > to the future husband and to the future wife if he wants to take for a wife > and she for a husband; each one of them having answered separately and > affirmatively, we declare, to the name of the law, that __________> (Signature of Witnesses)> ____
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Dr Robert V J P Varman............................last updated 3 January 1999.