Family history

Family history

Family History

Only two generations of this family line have been identified. The direct descendents are my 7^th great-grandfather Sebastian Albrecht Ruppert born around 1641, and his daughter Maria Margarethe Ruppert, my 6^th great-grandmother. This family apparently lived in the village of Lehrensteinsfeld, located in Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

Maria Margarethe was born in 1673. In 1695 she married Andreas Gossner a native of Sulzfeld also located in Baden-Wurttemburg. At least six children are known to have been produced of this union three of whom died in infancy. Maria Margarethe died in 1742 at Sulzfeld.

I am descended through their daughter Maria Barbara Gossner born in 1704. Maria Barbara married Johann "Jacob" Dellinger with who she made the ocean crossing to America in 1733.

Origins of the surname

· An Introduction to the Name

· Meaning of the Name

· History of the Name

· Early Immigrants to North America With This Surname

· More About Surname Meanings & Origins

An Introduction to the Name

With the passing of generations and the movement of families moved from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today. Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives. Thus people rarely changed their surname. Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription. Research into the record of this Ruppert family line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where German linguistic traditions are commonly found.

Meaning of the Name

Most modern family names throughout Europe originated from with of the following circumstances: occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); locational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong); status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

Ruppert is a German variant spelling of Rupert. Rupert is derived from the male given name "Hrodbeorht", a compound consisting of the elements "hrod", meaning renown, and "beorht", bright or famous.

History of the Name

The Ruppert surname is of pre 7th century Germanic origins and was first found in the Duchy of Bavaria. This surname was originally a baptismal name 'the son of ROBERT'. In Germany the 'o' of Robert became a 'u' and the 'b' was changed to 'p' and the name became RUPERT. This type of baptismal name, was very popular throughout Europe for many centuries, and has remained so today. Like the name Ro(d)ger with which it shares a similar ancestry, it was 'adopted' by the Norsemen as they swept through Northern Europe on their march of conquest which took them to Normandy (the home of the North men), in the 10th century. The final joining of the circle was to introduce the name into Britain after The Conquest of 1066. Throughout history it has been recorded in over seventy spellings forms including Robert, Robart, Robb, and Rupert, which is from the same root, to Luparti of Italy, Rubke and Ruppertz of Germany, Rops and Rubbens of Flanders, Roberts and Robertson of England and Scotland.

Ruppert was adopted as a surname in Europe in the latter half of the 13th Century, and early recordings in medieval Germany include Counrad Ruprecht of Eblingen, Germany, in 1282, Neyneke Robeken of Hannover, Germany, in 1359, and Eberlin Rubbart, of Stuttgart, Bavaria, in 1445. The popularity of the name in England became stronger when Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1618-92), a courageous soldier who showed much bravery while fighting on the side of his uncle King Charles I during the English civil war and later, as a naval commander in the Dutch wars.

Early Immigrants to North America

During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to North America. For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution. For most it was an opportunity for to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents. Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of Ruppert, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries. Some of these immigrants were: Johann Daniel Ruppertt, who came to Philadelphia in 1753; Charles Ruppert, who came to Pennsylvania in 1765; Anna Catharina Rupprecht, who arrived in American in 1765.

Many German surnames were re-spelled in America because of the close relationship between the English and German languages. In some cases Germans are able to transform their names to the English form just by dropping a single letter. After the start of the first World War, Germans in great numbers Anglicized their names in an effort to remove all doubt as to their patriotism.

More About Surname Meanings & Origins

German Surnames

Many German names have their roots in the Germanic middle ages. The process of forming family names began around the year 1100 and extended through 1600. All social classes and demographic strata aided in the development of names. First Names (Rufnamen) identified specific persons. Over time the first name began to be applied to the bearer's whole family. At first through verbal usage, family names (Familiennamen) were later fixed through writing. Until the 17th century, first names played a more important role. The earliest family names derived from the first name of the first bearer (Patronym). Later names derived from the place of dwelling and location of the homestead. If a person of family migrated from one place to another they were identified by the place they came from. Of more recent origin are names derived from the vocation of profession of the first bearer. These names comprise the largest group and the most easily recognizable, for they tell what the first bearer did for a living. Another group are names derived from a physical or other characteristic of the first bearer. Finally, there are names that tell you the state or region a first bearer and his family came from; the age old division in tribes and regions (low German, middle German and upper German) is often reflected in names.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants. As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized. Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families. Spelling variations of this family name include: Ruppert, Rupprecht, Ruppert, Ruperecht, Ruprecht and many others.

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled. This is especially true when searching census documents. The Soundex system was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname. Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research. The Soundex Code for Ruppert is R163. Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code: RAFFERTY | RAIFORD | REPPERT | RIVARD | ROBARDS | ROBERDS | ROBERT | ROBERTS | ROBERTSON | RUBERT | RUPERT | RUPPERT

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Family coat of arms

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

There are at least 2* known coat-of-arms designs for the Ruppert/Rupprecht surname. Figure 1 is the coat-of-arms granted in 1601 to a Rupprecht family in the Duchy of Bavaria. The arms shown in figure 2 are associated with a Ruprecht family of unknown origin or location.

Reitstap cites a coat-of-arms granted in 1871 to a Ruppert family from Austria. This same family has the following motto: “Hoch Im Bogen Über Ströme Meereswogen”, which roughly translated means “The high arc currents over ocean waves”.

Other Ruppert/Rupprecht family mottoes are not known as it is unusual for a German Achievement to include a motto.

* Reitstap, J.B., Armorial General, Volume II, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland, 1965, page 635.

A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution. Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname. A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname. Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee. The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry. Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms. The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry. Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms. At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object. The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Direct Ancestors

Descendant Register

Generation 1

Sebastian Albrecht Ruppert-1 was born on Abt. 1641 in Lehrensteinfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

2. i. Maria Margarethe Ruppert, B: 1673 in Lehrensteinsfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, D: 05 Mar 1743 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, M: 26 Jan 1696 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

Generation 2

Maria Margarethe Ruppert-2(Sebastian Albrecht Ruppert-1) was born on 1673 in Lehrensteinsfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. She died on 05 Mar 1743 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. She married Johann Andreas Gossner on 26 Jan 1696 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, son of Peter Gossner and Anna Maria Heidecker. He was born on 31 Mar 1671 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. He died on 1743 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

Children of Maria Margarethe Ruppert and Johann Andreas Gossner are:

i. Maria Elizabeth Gossner, B: 24 May 1696 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, D: 1767 in Sulzfeld, Badden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

ii. Maria Katharina Gossner, B: 06 Sep 1700 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, D: 06 Nov 1700 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

iii. Hans Georg Gossner, B: 07 Jan 1703 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, D: 28 Jan 1786, M: 25 Jan 1727.

iv. Maria Barbara Gossner, B: 28 Nov 1704 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, D: 1776 in York County, Pennsylvania, M: 15 Jun 1723 in Oberacker, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

v. Berta Maria Gossner, B: 04 May 1712 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, D: 16 Oct 1714 in Sulzfeld, Badden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

vi. Friedrich Wilhelm Gossner, B: 07 Sep 1714 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany, D: 09 Jan 1715 in Sulzfeld, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany.

Additional information about our DIRECT ANCESTORS as well as a complete listing of individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on the following LINK.

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Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where my ancestors lived has provided me with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in my family trees. It has also led me to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group. The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the persons in the “Direct Ancestors” list (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

GERMANY

Baden-Wurttemberg

Lehrensteinsfeld; Sulzfeld

Use this LINK to find out more about the locations listed above.

ANCESTRAL LOCATIONS

Where in the World

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Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the left will take you to Maps, Gazetteers, and other helpful resources that

will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations. These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about the areas in which their ancestors lived.

Source documents

The documents and headstones contained within the “Source Documents Archives” have been located during my research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.

Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence. Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record. Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error. Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents. Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value. This is especially true of secondary evidence. Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE: Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

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SOURCE DOCUMENTS

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General Surname Resources

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Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA

Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA