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THE FISHBURNS
, by John E. FISHBURNThe family name is spelled in various ways which should be examined as this has lad to some confusion over the years. The correct German spelling is Fischborn which is used today and apparently has not changed from the beginning. It was altered not long after the arrival of German immigrants to America. The transitional forms were Fishborn, in various records for both German and English descendants, and Fischborn, found in occasional cemetery records in the Hummelstown area. The traditional English spellings are Fishburn, of most common usage today here and in England, and Fishbourn or Fishbourne. A variant, used in the South with both English and German descendants, is Fishburne. This spelling is also found in early records in England. Other variants, rarely seen except in a few old Pennsylvania records are: Fischborne, Fischburne, and Fishborne. There may be others, but they would probably represent misspelling or phonetic renditions.
The earliest English spellings are Fisseburne, Ffissburne, and Fyssheburn (see Appendix 7). The village of Fishbourne in County Sussex is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086 ) as Fishborne and again in 1090 as Fisseburna. Henry Cordon Fishborne in his book recording early records in the County Durham area, lists the following: Fisburn, Fishbaurn, Fishborn, Fishborne, Fishbourn, Fishbourne, Fishborn, Fishborne, Fishebowrne, Fishburne, Fysborn, Fysborne, and Fishborne.
What is the origin of the name? In England, an authority states that it is Anglo-Saxon fisca-burna, "stream of the fish". Fishborn in County Durham was named after the stream of the same name which lies half a mile to the south of the village. Another authority gives the meaning of Fishbourne (Sussex?) and Fishborn (Durham) as, "Fish stream, strewn with plenty of fish". Webster`s New International Dictionary, Second Edition, gives a burn, bourn, or bourne, as a brook, especially used in Scotland. This has led in the past to the assumption that the family was originally from that area.
The German derivation is somewhat more obscure. To begin with, HansChristian Brandenburg writes that the family name in Germany was taken from the village of Fischborn in the Vogelsberg. As to the etymology, one German genealogist states that Fischborn could be translated as. "fishspring". Another correspondent from that country writes, "From a friend I heard that in former (vary early) times there was a noble man named Fisco and there was a spring. So the name of this place was Fisco-Born, and in the following centuries the name changes to Fischborn". Another writer, quoting from an old schoolmaster's paper, "The Family Story of the Fischborns", author and date unknown, confirms the Fisco-Born story and further states that this Fisco was titled and apparently obtained a lien on the spring property in 1344. In the work of Junius Blair Fishburn appears the following: "The German surname Fischborn was probably of local derivation, signifying originally residence at or near a fishpond, the words 'fisch' and 'born' combined having that meaning". This name in Germany, regardless of etymology, goes back at least to the 13th Century.
For those of German origin, it is important to differentiate between the baptismal and Christian manes. The first is always the baptismal name, not often used after the first generation in this country. The second, or Christian name, is the one used to identify the owner. With a name, such as Johann Philipp Fischborn, the baptismal name is Johann, and in time in this country the owner was known only as Philip Fishburn. The same is true of female children with frequent baptismal manes being Anna, Maria, Catharina, etc., depending on the godmother's name. The following are score of the correct German spellings, where they waxy from the English, as found in the Archives at Bad Kreuznach: Anton, Dietrich, Johann, Matthias, Philipp, Anna, Catharina, Elisabetha, Margaretha. Maria, and Magdalena. Two other names used for John were Johannes (medieval Latin) and Hans. As time passed in America, these names gradually took on the English spelling.
One or two other points should be mentioned. Occasionally, happily encountered only once in this research (see Klein/Little, page 36), the name was completely changed to its English equivalent. Such an example is Zimmermann, meaning carpenter, obviously a genealogist's nightmare. Secondly, the spelling of many immigrants' names in official and other records, depended upon the recorder's ability and education. The result was often a phonetic rendition which in many cases prevailed down through the years. It must be remembered that few of our German forebears spoke any English or necessarily could write, and their names were recorded as they sounded. As an extreme example, see the footnote on the various spellings of Deterick on page 17.
It was indicated on page 35, that the recurrences of the name, Philip, created confusion among researchers over the years. It might be helpful here to list the various Philips and each of their family that data cited in the text and notes. This list excludes Philip the Pioneer's ancestors (see pages 4-7).
Note: In addition to the above, it should be noted that Maria Margaret had a son, Philip (page 10).
Valentine and Valentine. Jr.,
each had sons named Philip (page 26), as did Adam Greiner
(page 27). Valentine's son, Philip.
married Barbara Fishburn and had a son, Philip (page
33).
With all of these Philips, it is
not difficult to understand the dilemma of researchers.
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