Unknown Buller 2a

As a follow-up to the Unknown Buller 2 post, which explored the meaning of the Przechovka church register statement “this is the first time that this family name appears,” it occurs to me that there is one further possible explanation.

The clue is found in a passing statement about Unknown’s forefather Heinrich (Penner 1978, 245; more about the content of this statement later):

In 1602 ist Heinrich Buehler, ein Taeufer aus Bruetisell in der Graftschaft Kyburg in der Schweiz (Kanton Zuerich), mit Frau und Kindern nach Maehren verzogen.

Is it possible that all that the church register is saying is that this is the first time that the family name appears spelled Buller, that previously the name had been spelled Buehler/Bühler but that beginning with Unknown it was spelled Buller?

Certainty will continue to elude us, but this explanation seems at least possible, especially given the evidence that the spelling Buller was standard by the time of the Przechovka church records.

Source

Penner, Horst. 1978. Die ost- und westpreußischen Mennoniten in ihrem religiösen und sozialen Leben, in ihren kulturellen und wirtschaftlichen Leistungen. Teil 1: 1526 bis 1772. Weierhof: Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein.