Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

halban Plats (Plattdeutsch)

English translation:

half-size farm

Added to glossary by Beth Jones
Mar 15, 2008 12:39
16 yrs ago
German term

halban Plats // halban Heerd (Plattdeutsch)

German to English Other Genealogy Plattdeutsch
Hi Proz Experts! I just received this request for assistance from a friend of mine:

"Hi Beth, I've been looking up my relatives in the Strackholt OSB. Instead of the normal occupation descriptions, it listed the following phrases. Since these are my only clues to their job or station I would appreciate some help.

"aus einem halban Plats"

"aus einem geringen halban Heerd"

Unfortunately, that is the extent of the phrases. Their location means that it probably is his occupation, but it could refer to his class or even cause of death. If you can shed any light on them I would appreciate it.
I guessed that the first meant he owned a small plot of ground even though they do have other terms for a land owner. The second I guessed that he probably was a herdsman."

Do any of you know what these two phrases mean?
I think he might be on the right track, but have no knowledge of / experience with Plattdt.
Anybody???
Thanks we appreciate it!
Beth
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 half-size farm

Discussion

BrigitteHilgner Mar 15, 2008:
Are you sure this is really German? "halban" might mean "half" and I would guess that "Heerd" means "oven" or "stove". "Plats" looks similar to "Platz" (place) but all this is guessing. Which century are you talking about?

Proposed translations

+2
28 mins
Selected

half-size farm

I think you're right that Plats = Plats. And Haberkern/Wallach's Hilfswörterbuch für Historiker says that in Ostfriesland Heerd was the word for Hof. "Half farm" is an oversimplification, because we think of farms as varying in size. But in feudal Europe land was designated "hides" of a specific size (German Hufe / Hub), and a farmer could hold a whole, half, quarter, or eighth hide, depending on how prosperous he was. In England, according to the Domesday Book, a hide was 120 acres. But it may have varied from place to place on the continent.

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Note added at 32 mins (2008-03-15 13:12:08 GMT)
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http://books.google.com/books?id=dYEMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA96&lpg=PA...

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Note added at 5 hrs (2008-03-15 17:49:09 GMT)
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Oops! I meant to say Plats = Platz.
Peer comment(s):

agree Barbara Wiebking : Sounds brilliant! Also Plats could be a large farm - check out http://www1.ndr.de/kultur/plattdeutsch/woerterbuch/index.htm... where it is spelled Plaatse. And happy birthday to Ann! :-)
12 mins
Thanks.
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : very good; if I remember correctly, you are very mucha specialist for genealogoy, old documents and such things. I always enjoy learning something new:)
2 hrs
Thanks. Yes, that's my specialty — love it!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you Ann, for loaning us your clearly extensive expertise! We really appreciate it! If I may, I might contact you again someday regarding my own family's genealogical research! Thanks again and all the best! Beth in Salzburg"
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