Hungary Naming Customs: Difference between revisions

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(New page: Naming Customs  surname (or a family name) is used first, followed by the first or given name NAGY János John Nagy KOVÁCS Mária Mary Smith This rule is also followed in Hungarian...)
 
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Naming Customs
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'''Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records.  Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.'''
|}
==Online Tools==
*[[Given Name Equivalents in the Austro-Hungarian Empire|'''Given Name Equivalents''']] This table, based on the resource [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8L-TQ27-6 Słownik imion], alphabetizes names in Latin, with equivalents in other languages, including Hungarian.
*[https://surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/hungarian '''Behind the Name: Hungarian Surnames''']
*[https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/hungarian '''Behind the Name: Hungarian Given Names''']
*[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Hungarian_given_names#A '''Hungarian Given Names (Wiktionary)''']
*[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSD3-QQYY?i=3&cat=199727 '''Hungarian Personal Names''' (CIA)]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname '''FamilySearch's surname experience'''] - enter your last name to find its meaning and origin
==Surnames==
===Name Order===
Hungarian names usually consist of a single given name and a single surname (family name). The surname is used before the given name. For example: 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Hungarian Name<br>SURNAME - Given Name !! English Name<br>Given Name - Surname
|-
| NAGY János || John Nagy
|-
| KOVÁCS Mária || Mary Smith
|}


 surname (or a family name) is used first, followed by the first or given name
On FamilySearch Family Tree if Hungarian is selected in a person name field, the name will be displayed in Hungarian order:  surname before given name.  Selecting German or English changes the display order.  Enter the surname and given name in the relevant field and select the most appropriate language.  The most appropriate language generally reflects the language community in which the person lived most of their life.


NAGY János John Nagy
===Surname Origins===
KOVÁCS Mária Mary Smith
Surnames were usually derived from common sources such as trades, characteristics, ethnic origins, place names, etc.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Source !! Hungarian !! English
|-
| Occupation || SZABÓ Ferenc || Frank Taylor
|-
| Occupation || MOLNÁR Lajos || Louis Miller
|-
| Characteristic || KIS Mihály || Michael Little
|-
| Characteristic || FEHÉR Erzsébet || Elizabeth White
|-
| Origin || TÖRÖK Katalin || Catherine Turk
|}


This rule is also followed in Hungarian parish registers.
=== Nobility ===
A title of nobility is placed before the surname:


 there is usually just one given name
{| class="wikitable"
 surnames are generally a single names
|-
 patronymics were usually not used
! Hungarian !! English
|-
| gróf NAGY János || Count John Nagy
|}


 surnames were usually derived from common sources such as trades, qualities, ethnic origins, place names etc.
=== Married Women ===


SZABÓ Ferenc Frank Taylor
In Hungary '''women keep their birth name throughout their life, married or not'''.  There is no married name and maiden name in the sense familiar to Americans.
MOLNÁR Lajos Louis Miller
KIS Mihály Michael Little
FEHÉR Erzsébet Elizabeth White
TÖRÖK Katalin Catherine Turk


==Given Names==


 titles of nobility are put before the surnames
=== Słownik imion (Dictionary of names) ===


gróf NAGY János Count John Nagy
In many Hungarian records, given names are translated into Latin or German. One of the best resources to identify the Hungarian (or other language) version of a Latin name is the  [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8L-TQ27-6 '''Słownik imion'''], or dictionary of names. This information has been indexed into a searchable [[Given Name Equivalents in the Austro-Hungarian Empire|'''online table''']]. A digital copy of the book is available [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8L-TQ27-6 online]. An [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8L-TQKT-S index] to all variant names is located at the [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8L-TQKT-S back of the book].


the equivalent of Mrs. is the particle né (wife) which is added to a husband=s name.
=== Suffixes ===
In Hungarian language certain family relationships are expressed by attaching a suffix to a given name.  These suffixes are part of the grammar of the language, not naming conventions.


NAGY Jánosné Mrs. John Nagy
==== Suffix ''-fi, -fia, -fy,'' or ''fÿ'' ====
To refer to a man as his father's son, the suffix '''''-fi'' or variant is attached to his father's given name.''' For example:
:* Fodor Jákobfi, meaning Theodore, son of Jacob
:* Domokos Bertoldfia, meaning Domokos, son of Bertold
:* Miklós Oszkárfy, meaning Nicholas, son of Oscar
:* Simon Vilmosfÿ, meaning Simon, son of Vilmos


Names of Hungarian married women take on special forms.
The father's name with suffix attached may be used as a byname.
Pócsiné Munkcási Gabriella means that Gabriella Pócsi married a man named Munkcási.
 
The né means wife of. Treat the name as a regular double surname.
==== Suffix ''-né'' ====
To refer to a married woman as her husband's wife, the suffix '''''-né'' is attached to her husband's given name.'''  For example:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Hungarian !! English
|-
| Klausenberger Ignácz'''né''' Bival Rosália || Rosália Bival, wife of Ignácz Klausenberger
|}
 
Although '''''Nagy Jánosné''''' resembles the American formal '''''Mrs. John Nagy''''', use of ''-né'' is not a traditional Hungarian naming convention.  Historical records naming Hungarian women in this American style are rare.  Most prevalent are 19th century and early 20th century United States immigration records and, in recent decades, grave markers in Hungary.  Example of this on a grave marker:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Hungarian !! English
|-
| Nagy Lajos<br>1914 – 1984 || Lajos Nagy<br>1914 – 1984
|-
| Nagy Lajosné<br>1923 – 2001 || Mrs. Lajos Nagy<br>1923 – 2001
|}
 
See [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-né#Etymology_1 '''more about "-né"'''] on Wiktionary.
 
==== Suffix ''-nak'' or ''-nek'' ====
 
Suffix attached to a noun to form the dative case.  This is seen on church records of baptisms and burials, modifying the names of the mother and father.
 
For example, the names of the couple Terez Vida and Tamas Csicsai are written on some of their children's records as Vida Tereznek and Csicsai Tamasnak.
 
See [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-nek#Etymology_1 '''more about "-nek"'''] on Wiktionary.
 
===Second given names and religious names===
*Hungarians do not commonly use second given names, nor their corresponding initials. While it is increasingly frequent that they are given one, they tend to choose one they prefer to use.
*When baptized, a child can get an additional name (baptismal name), especially if there is no saint who bears their name, so they take a name associated with a patron saint. In confirmation, children receive another given name, but it is not used. Both baptismal and confirmation names have religious significance only, and they are not on any official records.<ref>"Hungarian names", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_names, accessed 28 February 2021.</ref>
 
===Name Days===
Hungarians, like Swedes, also celebrate name days. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_days_in_Hungary Each day in the calendar has one or more designated personal names.]<ref>"Hungarian names", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_names, accessed 28 February 2021.</ref>
 
== Bynames and Patronymics ==
As a rule, in Hungary bynames--including patronymic bynames-- did not enter use as surnames.
 
*Hungarians use a "byname" to help '''distinguish people with the same given names'''.  
*The byname might be created from the '''father's given name (as a patronymic name) by attaching a suffix.'''
*Other bynames might be created from '''an occupation or even a physical description.'''
*The byname might be used within the village or town, but were '''not fixed surnames'''.
*Further, a person might be known by '''one byname in a town, and be called by a different byname when traveling''' (referring to where they are from.)
*Bynames were '''not hereditary'''.
 
== For Further Reading ==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_names '''Hungarian names''']
*[http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/magyarnames1012.html '''Hungarian Names 101''']
*[http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/hungarian/index.html '''Hungarian Personal Names of the 16th Century''']
=== FamilySearch Catalog ===
 
*Additional sources are listed in the '''FamilySearch Catalog:'''
**{{FSC|439717|subject_id|disp= Hungary - Names, Personal}}
 
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Hungary]]
[[Category:Naming Customs]]
[[Category:Naming Customs]]
[[Category:Patronyms]]

Latest revision as of 12:14, 20 March 2024


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Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.

Online Tools[edit | edit source]

Surnames[edit | edit source]

Name Order[edit | edit source]

Hungarian names usually consist of a single given name and a single surname (family name). The surname is used before the given name. For example:

Hungarian Name
SURNAME - Given Name		 English Name
Given Name - Surname
NAGY János John Nagy
KOVÁCS Mária Mary Smith

On FamilySearch Family Tree if Hungarian is selected in a person name field, the name will be displayed in Hungarian order: surname before given name. Selecting German or English changes the display order. Enter the surname and given name in the relevant field and select the most appropriate language. The most appropriate language generally reflects the language community in which the person lived most of their life.

Surname Origins[edit | edit source]

Surnames were usually derived from common sources such as trades, characteristics, ethnic origins, place names, etc.

Source Hungarian English
Occupation SZABÓ Ferenc Frank Taylor
Occupation MOLNÁR Lajos Louis Miller
Characteristic KIS Mihály Michael Little
Characteristic FEHÉR Erzsébet Elizabeth White
Origin TÖRÖK Katalin Catherine Turk

Nobility[edit | edit source]

A title of nobility is placed before the surname:

Hungarian English
gróf NAGY János Count John Nagy

Married Women[edit | edit source]

In Hungary women keep their birth name throughout their life, married or not. There is no married name and maiden name in the sense familiar to Americans.

Given Names[edit | edit source]

Słownik imion (Dictionary of names)[edit | edit source]

In many Hungarian records, given names are translated into Latin or German. One of the best resources to identify the Hungarian (or other language) version of a Latin name is the Słownik imion, or dictionary of names. This information has been indexed into a searchable online table. A digital copy of the book is available online. An index to all variant names is located at the back of the book.

Suffixes[edit | edit source]

In Hungarian language certain family relationships are expressed by attaching a suffix to a given name. These suffixes are part of the grammar of the language, not naming conventions.

Suffix -fi, -fia, -fy, or fÿ[edit | edit source]

To refer to a man as his father's son, the suffix -fi or variant is attached to his father's given name. For example:

  • Fodor Jákobfi, meaning Theodore, son of Jacob
  • Domokos Bertoldfia, meaning Domokos, son of Bertold
  • Miklós Oszkárfy, meaning Nicholas, son of Oscar
  • Simon Vilmosfÿ, meaning Simon, son of Vilmos

The father's name with suffix attached may be used as a byname.

Suffix -né[edit | edit source]

To refer to a married woman as her husband's wife, the suffix -né is attached to her husband's given name. For example:

Hungarian English
Klausenberger Ignáczné Bival Rosália Rosália Bival, wife of Ignácz Klausenberger

Although Nagy Jánosné resembles the American formal Mrs. John Nagy, use of -né is not a traditional Hungarian naming convention. Historical records naming Hungarian women in this American style are rare. Most prevalent are 19th century and early 20th century United States immigration records and, in recent decades, grave markers in Hungary. Example of this on a grave marker:

Hungarian English
Nagy Lajos
1914 – 1984		 Lajos Nagy
1914 – 1984
Nagy Lajosné
1923 – 2001		 Mrs. Lajos Nagy
1923 – 2001

See more about "-né" on Wiktionary.

Suffix -nak or -nek[edit | edit source]

Suffix attached to a noun to form the dative case. This is seen on church records of baptisms and burials, modifying the names of the mother and father.

For example, the names of the couple Terez Vida and Tamas Csicsai are written on some of their children's records as Vida Tereznek and Csicsai Tamasnak.

See more about "-nek" on Wiktionary.

Second given names and religious names[edit | edit source]

  • Hungarians do not commonly use second given names, nor their corresponding initials. While it is increasingly frequent that they are given one, they tend to choose one they prefer to use.
  • When baptized, a child can get an additional name (baptismal name), especially if there is no saint who bears their name, so they take a name associated with a patron saint. In confirmation, children receive another given name, but it is not used. Both baptismal and confirmation names have religious significance only, and they are not on any official records.[1]

Name Days[edit | edit source]

Hungarians, like Swedes, also celebrate name days. Each day in the calendar has one or more designated personal names.[2]

Bynames and Patronymics[edit | edit source]

As a rule, in Hungary bynames--including patronymic bynames-- did not enter use as surnames.

  • Hungarians use a "byname" to help distinguish people with the same given names.
  • The byname might be created from the father's given name (as a patronymic name) by attaching a suffix.
  • Other bynames might be created from an occupation or even a physical description.
  • The byname might be used within the village or town, but were not fixed surnames.
  • Further, a person might be known by one byname in a town, and be called by a different byname when traveling (referring to where they are from.)
  • Bynames were not hereditary.

For Further Reading[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Hungarian names", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_names, accessed 28 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Hungarian names", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_names, accessed 28 February 2021.
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