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Understanding Jewish surnames and given names can help you find and identify your ancestors. This section discusses the origin and development of Jewish names and naming patterns. | Understanding Jewish surnames and given names can help you find and identify your ancestors. This section discusses the origin and development of Jewish names and naming patterns. | ||
==Online Resources== | |||
*[http://www.avotaynu.com/csi/csi-home.htm AVOTAYNU: Consolidated Jewish Surname Index] | *[http://www.avotaynu.com/csi/csi-home.htm AVOTAYNU: Consolidated Jewish Surname Index] | ||
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/GivenNames/ JewishGen: The Given Names Data Bases] | *[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/GivenNames/ JewishGen: The Given Names Data Bases] | ||
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/jgff/ The JewishGen Family Finder (JGFF)] | *[https://www.jewishgen.org/jgff/ The JewishGen Family Finder (JGFF)] | ||
*[https://bloodandfrogs.com/names B&F: Jewish Genealogy and More - Names] - dozens of articles on Jewish names | |||
==Surnames== | |||
Until mandated by laws enacted in the late 18th and 19th centuries (the date varies by country), most Jews did not use fixed surnames. Jews with a common given name were often distinguished by a patronym (a kind of "by-name"), meaning that a father’s name was used in addition to a given name. For example, Jacob the son of Abram was called Jacob Abram or Jacob ben [son of] Abram. If this was not enough to distinctly identify a person, a nickname was used. Such nicknames described a person in some way, such as a physical characteristic or personality trait, occupation, or place of origin. A Jew named Abram ben [son of] Maimon might also be called Abram the copper merchant or Abram red-beard. These nicknames were not permanent or inherited. They changed from one generation to the next. Fixed surnames often developed from these patronyms and nicknames. | Until mandated by laws enacted in the late 18th and 19th centuries (the date varies by country), most Jews did not use fixed surnames. Jews with a common given name were often distinguished by a patronym (a kind of "by-name"), meaning that a father’s name was used in addition to a given name. For example, Jacob the son of Abram was called Jacob Abram or Jacob ben [son of] Abram. If this was not enough to distinctly identify a person, a nickname was used. Such nicknames described a person in some way, such as a physical characteristic or personality trait, occupation, or place of origin. A Jew named Abram ben [son of] Maimon might also be called Abram the copper merchant or Abram red-beard. These nicknames were not permanent or inherited. They changed from one generation to the next. Fixed surnames often developed from these patronyms and nicknames. | ||
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The political status of European Jews changed dramatically at the end of the 18th century. Many countries freed Jews from restrictive laws and gave them limited or sometimes full civil rights. At the same time laws required Jews to adopt permanent family surnames for taxation and conscription purposes. Jewish surnames were to be registered by a government commission. If a Jew refused to select a surname, the commission could impose one. Austria was the first European state to require Jews to take fixed (usually German) family names. Records of the registration of Jewish surnames were kept in France, Netherlands, and other countries. Following is an example of these records: | The political status of European Jews changed dramatically at the end of the 18th century. Many countries freed Jews from restrictive laws and gave them limited or sometimes full civil rights. At the same time laws required Jews to adopt permanent family surnames for taxation and conscription purposes. Jewish surnames were to be registered by a government commission. If a Jew refused to select a surname, the commission could impose one. Austria was the first European state to require Jews to take fixed (usually German) family names. Records of the registration of Jewish surnames were kept in France, Netherlands, and other countries. Following is an example of these records: | ||
Registres des déclarations faites par les Israelites (Registers of Name Declarations Made by the Jews). Strasbourg: Archives départementales à Strasbourg, 1973. ( | Registres des déclarations faites par les Israelites (Registers of Name Declarations Made by the Jews). Strasbourg: Archives départementales à Strasbourg, 1973. (FS Library films 1070259– 1070263, 1070123.) | ||
Laws requiring Jews to take surnames were passed at different times by different countries. The following dates are when these changes took place in different parts of Central and Eastern Europe: | Laws requiring Jews to take surnames were passed at different times by different countries. The following dates are when these changes took place in different parts of Central and Eastern Europe: | ||
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The process of surname development continued with the emigration of Jews from Europe. In the United States many changes in surnames can be attributed to an ignorance of European languages on the part of American officials and registrars. The immigrants’ ignorance of English also contributed to the creation of numerous new surnames and variations. Some Jewish families have changed their surnames fairly recently. Changes may have been minor, such as a slight adjustment in spelling to make the name easier to pronounce, such as Wallace from Wallisch or Harris from Hirsch. Or the name may have been shortened to make it sound less Jewish or foreign, such as Rosenzweig changed to Rose or Ross. A surname may have been translated into English, such as Schneider to Taylor, or it may have been discarded and replaced with a new name altogether. Because of these changes, Jews may have a difficult time finding relatives since one European Jewish family name may have a multitude of variations in this country.<ref>The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "The Origin and Development of Jewish Family Names," Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984.</ref> | The process of surname development continued with the emigration of Jews from Europe. In the United States many changes in surnames can be attributed to an ignorance of European languages on the part of American officials and registrars. The immigrants’ ignorance of English also contributed to the creation of numerous new surnames and variations. Some Jewish families have changed their surnames fairly recently. Changes may have been minor, such as a slight adjustment in spelling to make the name easier to pronounce, such as Wallace from Wallisch or Harris from Hirsch. Or the name may have been shortened to make it sound less Jewish or foreign, such as Rosenzweig changed to Rose or Ross. A surname may have been translated into English, such as Schneider to Taylor, or it may have been discarded and replaced with a new name altogether. Because of these changes, Jews may have a difficult time finding relatives since one European Jewish family name may have a multitude of variations in this country.<ref>The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "The Origin and Development of Jewish Family Names," Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984.</ref> | ||
==Given Names== | |||
Jews often took their given names from the languages of the countries they lived in and kept Hebrew names for "sacred" purposes (Bar Mitzvah, marriage, and blessings associated with reading from the Torah). The spelling of their names varied considerably depending on the spelling rules of the language and culture they lived in. | Jews often took their given names from the languages of the countries they lived in and kept Hebrew names for "sacred" purposes (Bar Mitzvah, marriage, and blessings associated with reading from the Torah). The spelling of their names varied considerably depending on the spelling rules of the language and culture they lived in. | ||
Ashkenazic Jews often adapted Hebrew given names to fit the country they were living in. In America, for example, the name Avraham (Hebrew) or Avrum (Yiddish) could be anglicized to Allen, Allan, Albert, Alvin, or Arnold; Chaim could become Hyman, Herman, Herbert, or Charles; and Feigla could be Fanny, Faye, Fran, or Victoria. | Ashkenazic Jews often adapted Hebrew given names to fit the country they were living in. In America, for example, the name Avraham (Hebrew) or Avrum (Yiddish) could be anglicized to Allen, Allan, Albert, Alvin, or Arnold; Chaim could become Hyman, Herman, Herbert, or Charles; and Feigla could be Fanny, Faye, Fran, or Victoria. | ||
===Naming Patterns=== | ===Naming Patterns=== | ||
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Relatives were not the only source of names. A child born during passover might be named Pesach. One born on the Purim holiday could be named Mordechai or Ester. If it was feared that a child might die in infancy, they might receive the name Chaim or Chaia, which means "life." | Relatives were not the only source of names. A child born during passover might be named Pesach. One born on the Purim holiday could be named Mordechai or Ester. If it was feared that a child might die in infancy, they might receive the name Chaim or Chaia, which means "life." | ||
==For Further Reading== | |||
Several books can help you understand Jewish names and naming customs, including: | Several books can help you understand Jewish names and naming customs, including: | ||
*Beider, Alexander. ''A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire''. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1993. ( | *Beider, Alexander. ''A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire''. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1993. (FS Library book 947.2 D46b.) | ||
*Beider, Alexander. ''A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Kingdom of Poland''. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1998. ( | *Beider, Alexander. ''A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Kingdom of Poland''. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1998. (FS Library book 943.8 D46b.) | ||
*Feldblyum, Boris. ''Russian–Jewish Given Names: Their Origins and Variants''. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1998. ( | *Feldblyum, Boris. ''Russian–Jewish Given Names: Their Origins and Variants''. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1998. (FS Library book 947 D4f.) | ||
*Gorr, Shmuel. ''Jewish Personal Names: Their Origin, Derivation, and Diminutive Forms'', ed. Chaim Freedman. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1992. ( | *Gorr, Shmuel. ''Jewish Personal Names: Their Origin, Derivation, and Diminutive Forms'', ed. Chaim Freedman. Teaneck, N.J.: Avotaynu, Inc., 1992. (FS Library book 929.4924 G683j.) | ||
*Guggenheimer, Heinrich W., and Eva H. Guggenheimer. ''Jewish Family Names and Their Origins: An Etymological Dictionary''. Hoboken, N.J.: Ktav Pub. House, 1992. ( | *Guggenheimer, Heinrich W., and Eva H. Guggenheimer. ''Jewish Family Names and Their Origins: An Etymological Dictionary''. Hoboken, N.J.: Ktav Pub. House, 1992. (FS Library book 296 D46g.) | ||
*Kaganoff, Benzion C. ''A Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History''. New York: Schocken Books, 1977. ( | *Kaganoff, Benzion C. ''A Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History''. New York: Schocken Books, 1977. (FS Library call no. {{FSC|27038|item|disp=929.4 K119d}} | ||
*Lévy, Paul. ''Les Noms des Israélites en France, Histoire et Dictionnaire'' (The Names of Jews in France, History and Dictionary). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1960. ( | *Lévy, Paul. ''Les Noms des Israélites en France, Histoire et Dictionnaire'' (The Names of Jews in France, History and Dictionary). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1960. (FS Library book 944 D46l.) | ||
*''The Jewish Encyclopedia''. New York City: Funk and Wagnalls, 1901-1906. ( | *''The Jewish Encyclopedia''. New York City: Funk and Wagnalls, 1901-1906. (FS Library microfilm {{FSC|51608|item|disp=296.03 J556}}, available online) | ||
*''The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia''. New York City: Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co., 1939-43, vol. 8, in the entry for "Names of the Jews," p. 94-98. | *''The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia''. New York City: Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co., 1939-43, vol. 8, in the entry for "Names of the Jews," p. 94-98. | ||
*Unbegaun, B. O. "Surnames of Jewish Origin". ''Russian Surnames''. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972. | *Unbegaun, B. O. "Surnames of Jewish Origin". ''Russian Surnames''. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972. | ||
===References=== | ===References=== | ||
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[[Category:Jewish Records]] | [[Category:Jewish Records]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Naming Customs]] | ||
[[Category:Patronyms]] | |||
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