Wenzel Dittrich (bef. 1630)

Descendants

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Biography

Married the widow of Lucas Pecher, who had purchased the farm, Valentischer Hof in 1623 from Lorenz Valenta for 2400 Florins, whence the name of the homestead. In 1649 Wenzel then divided the farm into two parts, later inherited by his oldest sons, Norbert and Matthias. Norbert's half became Werdeshof, later House #9 and Matthias' half became Altwirt, House #2. Each homestead was one "Lahn." A Bohemian Lahn was not a description of size, but rather a description of value. However, one Lahn was probably around 24 Hektare or 60 acres in size.

Research Note

This family name was spelled in multiple ways in the church records. The original spelling was most often Tittrich, but that gradually evolved into Didrich and, most commonly, Dittrich. Because Dittrich was most common and virtually exclusively the spelling after the 18th century, that spelling was chosen for all members of this family. There was also a family with the spelling Dietrich. It is not yet clear (2023) whether they are a separate or part of the same family.

Sources

• Lappat, Joseph (1992). Auherzen und sein Kirchsprengel: Die Geschichte eines Dorfes im Sudetenland. Kronberg: Mabo-Druck.