[gnarledmaw]

Interesting and may be true for some areas or some particular subgroups but this certainly wasnt the case everywhere. In fact, anyone claiming that there was a single "German" way of doing something before very recent times probably is misinformed in most cases. The simple fact that one region or group did something would have been evidence to the other group that that was was wrong way and would have their own way.

Myself for example. Im the 11th (some claimed 14th) with the same first name though the rules posted above werent followed strictly but a lot of family "re-use". Very few ancestors had a name that could be called biblical. Everyone up to and including my father but not me had at least 4 names.

[saywhatagain]

I agree that to think all families followed a culture tradition is not practical. Specially considering Merkel's father side?? comes from Polish descent. If in fact those are her parents. The father was a Luthern Pastor, yet she was raised as or became a marxist, kinda a disconnect. But then pastor kids were always the most rebellious. Lol.

The question comes up only because of a Q post and question. He asks what is her family history, follow the bloodline. Am thinking most of us went down a hole starting with the tradition of names with blinders on. Many saw the correlation of the name "Angela" with Hitlers sister and niece and we took the bait.

Thank you for sharing. 11th with same first name. wow.