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== Slovak Surnames: What They Can Tell a Family Historian == | == Slovak Surnames: What They Can Tell a Family Historian == | ||
=== Introduction | === Introduction === | ||
After settling in America, immigrants from Slovakia, regardless of their ethnic, social, and cultural background, usually modified or changed their names. That's why contemporary surnames of Slovak-Americans differ from those of their Slovak relatives, which both differ from what it was historically. | After settling in America, immigrants from Slovakia, regardless of their ethnic, social, and cultural background, usually modified or changed their names. That's why contemporary surnames of Slovak-Americans differ from those of their Slovak relatives, which both differ from what it was historically. | ||
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In the absence of a consistent system, names in Slovakia (similar to other European countries) were not stable for many centuries. Medieval people or even those of the 18th century, were not forced to use one official, very individual, and hereditary surname. It was enough if one could be more or less precisely distinguished by the society. Everyone had a given name, usually a Christian name. This was used during the course of his life in various forms. | In the absence of a consistent system, names in Slovakia (similar to other European countries) were not stable for many centuries. Medieval people or even those of the 18th century, were not forced to use one official, very individual, and hereditary surname. It was enough if one could be more or less precisely distinguished by the society. Everyone had a given name, usually a Christian name. This was used during the course of his life in various forms. | ||
For example, George could be used in Latin forms ''Georgius'' or ''Georg'', in Hungarian ''György'', in Slovak forms ''Juraj, Ďord', Juro, Jurko, Ďuro, Dzuro, Ďurko''. | For example, '''George''' could be used in Latin forms ''Georgius'' or ''Georg'', in Hungarian ''György'', in Slovak forms ''Juraj, Ďord', Juro, Jurko, Ďuro, Dzuro, Ďurko''. | ||
The first name was further supplemented with different characteristics: | The first name was further supplemented with different characteristics: | ||
*'''father's, mother's, or family name: '''''Blaško'' derived from '' | *'''father's, mother's, or family name: '''''Blaško'' derived from ''Blažej;-'' Blasius; ''Matuška ''derived from ''Matus'' - Matthew; ''Tomašikovič ''from ''Tomáš'' - Thomas. | ||
*'''occupation:''' ''Kolár'' - Wheeler, ''Schmidt'' - Smith. | *'''occupation:''' ''Kolár'' - Wheeler, ''Schmidt'' - Smith. | ||
*'''place of origin:''' ''Ocovská'' - a native of | *'''place of origin:''' ''Ocovská'' - a native of Očová, ''Turčan'' - a citizen of the Turiec region, ''Horváth'' - Croat. | ||
*'''nicknames''', etc. | *'''nicknames''', etc. | ||