Musings on The Importance of a Name

I’m considering a name change—for my blog, that is. When I started this blog in February 2009 from a previous website, I wanted it to be a repository for my family research. That’s primarily what it’s been and the name reflects that. “/genealogy” is a reference to the way directories are referenced on computers and online. Yeah, I’m a bit of a geek.

But since then, the research I’ve posted has been about more than just my family. These days you’re as likely to find research on early settlers in Lancaster County—to whom I’m not related (as far as I know)—as you are to find information on my ancestors. I think more about connections between people and communities and how to document them, rather than just the who, what, where, and when of those to whom I’m related.

And I’m starting to think that the name of this site should reflect that.

Far more than anything else, my posts are about German-Americans. That’s my ancestry. And it’s also my primary interest. Occasionally, I manage to write about family members who left Pennsylvania, but my focus is on those who stayed.

So, I’m thinking a better name for this blog would be A Pennsylvanian German-American.

While I wasn’t born in, nor have I ever lived in Pennsylvania and I don’t speak German, when I think about how to define my heritage, it hits the nail square on the head. Defines me, defines those I write about. I like it.

What do you think?

• Category: Commentary
• Tag: Blog