Dialect Nicknames
By Isaac Clarence Kulp, Jr.
Throughout the Pennsylvania Dutch country the former tradition of using ancient family names, Bible names, traditional German names, etc. when naming children caused a general problem of many men of one name in a single community or settlement. The identification of these men was facilitated by the use of Dutch nicknames or more precisely distinguishing pre-fixes to their Christian or given names. Following is a list of such names from the Goschenhoppen region as compiled by Alan G. Keyser and Isaac Clarence Kulp, Jr., on September 18, 1960, from notes taken from local folk informants. In the original file specific dates of collection and informants are given for each separate nickname collected.
For the name JACOB MILLER:
DER ROSE JELLY JAKE MOYER – he sold “rose jelly”, a patent salve. (19th century)
DER HART HAERICH JAKE MOYER – “hard of hearing Jake”, he always carried an ear trumpet. (19th century – same man as above.)
DER WASSER DROG JAKE MOYER – “watering trough Jake”. He maintained a watering trough along the road in front of his house for the use of travelers, as was a common practice in that day. (19th century).
DER KIEHDRECK JAKE MOYER – “cow manure Jake”. ‘Nuff said! (19th century).
DER GENTELMANN JAKE MOYER – “gentleman Jake” – a nifty dresser, spotless, neat. (20th century).
DER BECKER JAKE MOYER – “baker Jake” – operated a small town bakery in Harleysville, Pa. (20th century).
DER HUCKSTER JAKE MOYER – “huckster Jake” – same man as “baker Jake after he changed occupations. (20th century).
DER BREDDICHER JAKE MOYER – “preacher Jake” – an Old Mennonite minister of the Salford congregation near Harleysville, PA. (19th century).
DER WAMMUS JAKE MOYER – named for his “wammus” or traditional home tailored coat which he wore. (19th century).
For the name ABRAHAM MOYER:
DER BLINSEL ABE MOYER – “blinking Abe” – because he blinked his eyes so rapidly when speaking. (19th century).
DER ROTH AW’RAM MOYER (or AWERHAM MOYER) – “red Abram or Abraham” – for his ruddy complexion. (19th century).
‘EM KIEHDRECK JOHN SEI HAMLI; ABE MOYER – “cowdirt John’s calf, Abe Moyer” – the longest prefix in the collection. Abe was the son of cowdirt John and so was calf Abe Moyer or “cowdirt John’s calf, Abe Moyer.” )19th century).
DER BLAECH (or WEISS) AW’RAM MOYER – “pale Abram or Abraham” – for his pale or white complexion, and in contrast to “red Abram”. (19th century).
For the name JOHN LANDIS:
DER BUSCH JOHN LANDIS – lived near a large woods or “busch”. Husband of the late Mrs. Sally Landis, “die busch John Landisin”, the foremost folklife informant in the Kulp-Keyser-Folklife tape collection. (19th and early 20th century).
DER DICK JOHN LANDIS – “fat John Landis” – named for his corpulent features. (19th and early 20th centuries).
DER KAES JOHN LANDIS – “cheese John Landis” – operated a creamery and Dutch cheese factory. (19th and early 20th centuries).
Assorted others:
DER WIEDICH HEN DARSCHTAE – “mad Hen Derstine” – because of a violent anger. (19th century).
DER SCHTEEBERGER SAM HERLI – “stone hill Sam Harley” – lived at the foot of the SCHTEEBERG – stone hill. (19th century).
DER SCHWARTZ AW’RAM CASSEL – “black Abram Cassel” – for his dark and swarthy complexion.
DER SCHOOF MILT MOYER – “sheep Milt Moyer” – a sheep raiser.
DER SAMMY BLECHEDECKEL – “Sammy tin-lid” – humorous name applied, especially by children, to an early 20th century Harleysville tinsmith, Samuel Wolford.
COCA-COLA JOHN KOCH – a fairly recent example of this type of usage, applied to John Koch of Harleysville, Pa. who was addicted to Coca Cola. The village of Harleysville during the twenties, thirties, and early forties of the 20th century was the Coca Cola capital of the Dutch country. It has been reported that more Coca Cola was sold and consumed in this small Dutch town in the Goschenhoppen region during that period than in any other comparably sized community in the United States. Through this cultural phenomena, Coca Cola has gained, in this area, the facetious appellation, “Harleysville Beer.”
Goschenhoppen
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