Soap Box
July 2004

What's in a name?

In the German language a "b" terminating a word is pronounced "p". Thus Kaub, Kaup and Kaupp would all sound similar especially to a non-German. It is hard to imagine that any information given verbally would in any way confuse Kaupp with Kauff. Therefore it is most improbable that the name we are interested in is Kauff, at least prior to the arrival of our ancester in America. It is possible, given, for example, the "Snow Fox" Christian Kaupp's signature that it may be recorded as Kauff in America, but only from written records, and never in a record of information likely to have been given verbally.
We must also keep an open mind as to possible spellings for the name Kaub. The most common variants in American records are Kaub and Kaup although later generations tended to use Koup and Coup with Kaub not being used in later generations. At least, to date, I have not found any generations after the second born in America who kept to the original Kaub. I have, however, found interesting variants Koulp and Kaubt which clearly refer to my ancestors at least. Neither have I found any reference to Kauff which I can categorically identify as belonging to this family.

First let us consider Christian Kaupp who arrived on board the "Snow Fox" in 1738.
Our source of information here is "Pennsylvania German Pioneers. A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals In the Port of Philadelphia From 1727 to 1808"
By Ralph Beaver Strassburger. Edited by William John Hinke.
Genealogical Publishing Co, Baltimore 1980
In the List of Men Imported in Snow Fox Capt Charles Ware Christian Kaupp is listed as "Christian Caup".
In the table [List 60 B] Palatines imported in the Snow Fox, Charles Ware, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Plymouth in old England. Qualified Octr 12th 1738 Christian Kaupp is listed as "Christian Kaupp".
In the table [List 60 C] At the Courthouse of Philadelphia, October 12th 1738. he is again listed as "Christian Kaupp".
The bonus with this publication is that it contains evidence from the most reliable source possible - Christian Kaupp himself. Here we are able to see Christian Kaupp's signature.
In the cursive style of the period an uppercase "R" is and an uppercase "K" is
It is therefore clear that Christian has an overhanging flourish to the initial letter of his surname, a characteristic of "K" but clearly lacking in "R".
Now consider the lower case "f" and lowercase "p" . Christian's signature is not as clear cut in regards the last two letters of his surname, but clearly there is a repetition, either "ff" or "pp", with, I believe, a tendency toward "pp" rather than "ff". This interpretation is supported by the fact that Christian is recorded firstly as "Caup", presumably by someone who was given the information verbally and merely recorded what it sounded like to him, and secondly as "Kaupp" by someone who either could read the the name or had it spelt to him. This list may have even been generated by Strassburger from the list of signatures.
Thus, from the evidence of his own hand, I think it is safe to conclude that the person who arrived on board the "Snow Fox" is Christian Kaupp.

To date I have not located any records which could have been signed by Christian Kaub.

Nor we do not have a signature for Johann Valentine Kaub. Assuming that he could write his illness made it possible for him to sign his will "with his mark" only. Although his will is written in the name of Valentine Kaup one of the executors is Valentine's wife Susanna who signed with the name "Susanna Kaubin", Kaubin being the feminine form of Kaub.

Although the later generations are found in the records under "Kaup", "Koup" and "Coup" it is clear that Valentine's youngest son Frederick continued to sign his name as "Kaub" right up until his death in 1854.

Frederick's handwriting can be misread as "Raub" but this interpretation is ruled out by the name not being recorded as "Raub" in his will. Also Frederick's "K" more closely resembles the example "K" (left) that it does the "R". As an aside it should be noted that Frederick's will is registered in Ohio under the name "Koup". His sons all signed for their inheritance as "Coup".

Christian Kaub's 1805 will (see last month's Soap Box), or at least a translation of the will, steadfastly uses "Kaub" and not "Kaup". Thus with documents most intimately connected with Christian indicate that the surname is more correctly "Kaub".

My current research is in trying to track further records of Christian Kaub's other children. As mentioned in a previous Soap Box I do not have any information that indicates that Valentine is the son of Christian Kaub. The records of Jerusalem Reformed Church, Western Salisbury, Lehigh Co, Pennsylvania show that on 17 August 1769 Valentin Kaub and Susanna sponsered Georg Peter Weber. Georg Peter Weber is the grandchild of Christian and Barbara Kaub. The assumption here is that Valentine is related to Georg Peter Weber's mother Catherne Elisabeth Kaub, probably her brother. Equally, however, he could be her cousin. That Barbara, Catherine Elizabeth, Christian and Johann Peter are children of Christian and Barbara Kaub is supported by church records. There are two other Kaub children (Michael and Anna Maria) but I do not have any conclusive proof that they are children of Christian and Barbara, although in all probability they are. The name Michael appears in Christian's 1805 will as a son. Perhaps this elder Michael was an uncle?
Dalice Fadden supplied the following baptisms :- Jerusalem Lutheran and Reformed Church, Salisbury Twp, Lehigh Co, Pa
Johann Peter Kaub
Parents - Christian and Barbara Catherina Kaub
baptised - 3 September 1759, aged 3 weeks
Sponsers - Johann Peter Hertzog and wife Anna Maria
Anna Maria Kaup
Parents Christian Kaup and Anna Maria
born - 8 August 1762
baptised - 22 August 1762
Sponsers - Peter Hertzog, wife Anna Maria, and Anna Maria Miller

I do not know if these records have been extracted from the original records or from a transcription of the records. Was Anna Maria's mother recorded incorrectly or transcribed incorrectly? Or is it correct?? Interestingly Peter Hertzog and his wife Anna Maria sponsered both Anna Maria and Johann Peter.

The search continues ....