halban Plats // halban Heerd (Plattdeutsch)

English translation: half-size farm

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:halban Plats (Plattdeutsch)
English translation:half-size farm
Entered by: Beth Jones

12:39 Mar 15, 2008
German to English translations [PRO]
Genealogy / Plattdeutsch
German term or phrase: halban Plats // halban Heerd (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
Beth Jones
Austria
Local time: 11:59
half-size farm
Explanation:
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.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2008-03-15 13:12:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://books.google.com/books?id=dYEMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA96&lpg=PA...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2008-03-15 17:49:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oops! I meant to say Plats = Platz.
Selected response from:

Ann C Sherwin
Local time: 06:59
Grading 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
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2half-size farm
Ann C Sherwin


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
half-size farm


Explanation:
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.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2008-03-15 13:12:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://books.google.com/books?id=dYEMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA96&lpg=PA...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2008-03-15 17:49:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oops! I meant to say Plats = Platz.

Ann C Sherwin
Local time: 06:59
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading 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

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search