Dietrich Springorum

The Oldest Record of the Springorum Name

This 1441 document (Urkunde 13, 14. Februar 1441) is the oldest known record I was able to find of anyone bearing the Springorum surname, preserved in the Bochum City Archives. It confirms that Diederich Springorum was a property-owning citizen of medieval Bochum, anchoring his family’s presence in the city over 580 years ago.

Source: https://www.google.nl/books/edition/Geschichte_der_Stadt_Bochum/ (page 48)

The original document can be found in: Stadtarchiv Bochum Wittener Straße 47, 44789 Bochum, Germany 📧 stadtarchiv@bochum.de 🌐 www.bochum.de/stadtarchiv

What Does the Document Mean?

In simple terms, it’s a contract where Diederich agrees to pay a woman named Karden von Beckum a yearly sum of money (like rent) from his house and farmland. His wife and children also agreed to the deal, showing it was a family decision. The mayor and other important witnesses signed off, making it official. Think of it as an early version of a mortgage or lease agreement—proof that even in the Middle Ages, people made business deals about property and money!

Original Transcript (Middle Low German)

"Ick, Diderick Spryngorum, bekenne und betüge oppenbaer in dissen breyve, dat ick myt vulbart ynd myt guden willen Carden, myner echten husvrowen, und vortmer myt guden willen Baten und Johans, myner kinder, hebbe verkofft — stedes, vestes ersfkopes ersflik — Carden van Bekem eyne halve marck geldes jarliker gulde gudes geldes, as to Boichem genge und gheve is, ute myme huse und hove, gelegen achter des Bungeners huse, dar ick nu ter tyd ynne wonachtich sy, und vart ute mynen sementliken ersfliken gude. Hijr synt over und ane gewesen dedingeslude und wincopeslude, myt namen Wennemar Paskendal, schulte to Boichem, Diderick dar Boven, Hinrik op me Dijcwalle und Gherwinus dey scholemester und mer guder lude genoich. Und des to meren tüge — heb ick gebeden Wennemar Paskendal, schulten vurscr., dat hey syn segel vor uns an desen breyff hevet gehangen. Datum ao. Dom. M°CCCC°XLI primo in die S. Valentini martyris. (Siegel ab.)"

Full Translation

"I, Diederich Springorum, publicly declare and attest in this letter that I, with full knowledge and with the good will of Karden, my lawful wife, and further with the good will of Baten and Johann, my children, have sold - firmly, securely, and irrevocably - to Karden von Beckum one half-mark of money as an annual rent in good currency, as is customary and given in Bochum, from my house and farmstead situated behind the Bungener's house, where I currently reside, and from all my inherited property.

Present and participating as negotiating parties and witnesses were: Wennemar Paskendal, magistrate of Bochum; Diederich dar Boven; Hinrik op me Dijcwalle; and Gherwinus the schoolmaster, along with many other good people in sufficient number. And for further testimony, I have asked Wennemar Paskendal, the aforementioned magistrate, to affix his seal to this document on our behalf.

Dated in the year of our Lord 1441, on the first day [14 February] of St. Valentine the martyr. (Seal missing.)"