Talk:Thomas Dent Mütter

Is it Mutter or Mütter?

The name appears as Mütter throughout the article, with the form Mutter used only a couple of times – one of which, notably, is in the title. Which is the correct form? 2A02:8070:8987:9620:2410:4E6F:7301:70E1 (talk) 22:12, 9 July 2022 (UTC)

There are several relevant policies: Wikipedia:Article titles instructs us to use the predominate English usage, though English usage appears split (see below). Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English) says to "Use what would be the least surprising to a user finding the article." Wikipedia:Naming conventions (people) doesn't offer any additional guidance.

"Mütter" with the umlaut is used by the following:

• His headstone [1]
• The museum founded on his donations, both to refer to the man as as the name of the Mütter Museum [2] (of note, Mutter Museum is a redirect)
• Recent news and reported pieces [3][4]
• In the title as depicted on the front cover of a recently published book about him [5]

"Mutter" without the umlaut:

• Thomas Jefferson University in their list of former Chairs of Surgery [6]
• In recent news reports and online listings about the aformentioned book

I think the first two bullets are particularly notable and warrant a move, given that's likely how most readers will encounter the page. Any other thoughts? I'll request a move via Wikipedia:Requested moves soon. ManOfTheArk (talk) 17:54, 10 December 2022 (UTC)

Requested move 20 December 2022

The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The result of the move request was: moved. Favonian (talk) 23:17, 28 December 2022 (UTC)

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Thomas Dent Mutter → Thomas Dent Mütter – English usage of his name varies. Recent sources about the person use the umlaut version of his name: WHYY and Smithsonian, though sources covering a recent book about his life do not: Inquirer. English-language users likely are familiar with him via the Mütter Museum founded on his contributions, which uses the umlaut in their own name and in the name of the person: Overivew. Additionally, though guidelines don't consider the usage by the person in question, it's worth noting that his headstone uses the umlaut as well. ManOfTheArk (talk) 20:26, 20 December 2022 (UTC)

I forgot to note that Thomas Dent Mütter has existed at multiple points, but has been deleted for various reasons. The existing article at Thomas Dent Mutter and all of its content was created after the most recent deletion and WP:SALTing of the version with an umlaut, and I don't think the current article meets any criteria for deletion. I would propose to have the exiting page name redirect to the name with an umlaut. ManOfTheArk (talk) 20:34, 20 December 2022 (UTC)

• Comment. I'd love to know why a man of apparent Scottish descent had an umlaut on his surname! -- Necrothesp (talk) 13:28, 21 December 2022 (UTC)
• Support seems odd, it's not from German nor Scots Gaelic, but the umlaut is there throughout old and modern sources. Move. In ictu oculi (talk) 17:04, 21 December 2022 (UTC)

Support: surprised it wasn't already there. While it is curious how the umlaut got there historically, sources are clear about its presence. I also support keeping the current title as a redirect as ManOfTheArk mentioned above. QuietHere (talk) 13:28, 28 December 2022 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.