Meaning ofweil, weiland

mecklenburg-l
1

Dear listers,
I have my VIERK, VIERECK, VIERCKE, family traced back to my 3rd great grandfather Joachim Jacob VIERCKE. The earliest record I have been able to find on him has been his marriage to Sophia KOHL in the Lutheran Church in Dargun. This record states that he was from Kamper in Swedish Pommern. I have unsuccessfully been trying to locate his birth records and records of his family.

I have also been trying to determine his death date. In so doing I have checked the birth and confirmation records of his children, all from Mecklenburg. Several of the records state the following:

Joachim Jacob VIERKE, weiland Arbeitsmann [ deceased workman ?]

Joa. Jac. VIERK weil Hüter [deceased keeper, guardian, custodian ?]

Does weiland and weil mean the same as deceased? In checking my German dictionary it translates as formerly, of old, erstwhile, quondam (of a p. ) late, deceased. I don't want to assume anything, as I might be in error. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you very much.

Greetings from Arizona

Irma Franke

irmaWF@comcast.net

2

Hello, Irma,
you are asking about "weiland" or abbreviated "weil.", somtimes "wailand":
that means "deceased" at the time of the event of birth or confirmation, just as
you supposed.
Greetings from Lotte Bolloni in Oberursel near Frankfurt/Main

3

Irma,
    this"weiland" means "at this time" or "presently". The expression is
not used anymore today. I have fairytales from editions over more than 100
years ago and the Brothers Grimm used the word.
        Oda.

4

Oda,

sorry, but "weiland" (weyland, abbr. weil. / weyl.) *never* means "at
this time" or "presently", on the contrary! It means "formerly" either
or "deceased".

Greetings.

Jürgen

5

Ok, I stand corrected.
Oda.