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== Slovak Surnames: What They Can Tell a Family Historian == | == Slovak Surnames: What They Can Tell a Family Historian == | ||
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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:''' ''Glaško'' derived from Blasius or Blazej; ''Matuška'' derived from Matus or Mathias; ''Tomašikoviech'' from Tomáš or Thomas. | *'''father's, mother's, or family name:''' ''Glaško'' derived from Blasius or Blazej; ''Matuška'' derived from Matus or Mathias; ''Tomašikoviech'' from Tomáš or Thomas. | ||
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Our forefathers can have a variety of different names, depending on the nationality, mother tongue, language used, education, and other personal abilities of a writer (clerk, priest). | Our forefathers can have a variety of different names, depending on the nationality, mother tongue, language used, education, and other personal abilities of a writer (clerk, priest). | ||
Such patterns lasted till the end of the 18th century, when under the reign of Joseph II, surnames became hereditary by law. In spite of that, various forms of one person's name appeared even at the beginning of our century. By the way, the unofficial, so-called "living" names are still used in Slovakia. Especially in the countryside, persons are distinguished by them in everyday conversation. | Such patterns lasted till the end of the 18th century, when under the reign of Joseph II, surnames became hereditary by law. In spite of that, various forms of one person's name appeared even at the beginning of our century. By the way, the unofficial, so-called "living" names are still used in Slovakia. Especially in the countryside, persons are distinguished by them in everyday conversation. | ||
=== Development of Slovak Historical Surnames === | === Development of Slovak Historical Surnames === | ||
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The names of all these people were changing according to social, ethnic, historical, and political conditions. The name of each family developed in its own way. Many descendants of German families have preserved their original German names. In rare cases, we are able to define locality, period, and special circumstances of their creation from the names themselves. In the majority of cases, however, we can do this only approximately. Let's mention just several characteristics that will enable us to do the basic classification of Slovakian surnames. | The names of all these people were changing according to social, ethnic, historical, and political conditions. The name of each family developed in its own way. Many descendants of German families have preserved their original German names. In rare cases, we are able to define locality, period, and special circumstances of their creation from the names themselves. In the majority of cases, however, we can do this only approximately. Let's mention just several characteristics that will enable us to do the basic classification of Slovakian surnames. | ||
'''Ethnic Background'''<br>There is just one group of surnames that often strictly reflects the ethnic background of the family ancestor: surnames derived from ethnic names ''Slovák, Tóth, Nemec, Polák, Rusnák, Chorvát, Horváth'', etc. They tell us very clearly that the bearer of such a name settled individually in a community of different ethnicity. According to the language of this name, we can also guess the nationality of his neighbors (for example, Tóth could be a Slovak settled among Hungarians, because Tóth is a Hungarian word a Slovak).<br> | '''Ethnic Background'''<br>There is just one group of surnames that often strictly reflects the ethnic background of the family ancestor: surnames derived from ethnic names ''Slovák, Tóth, Nemec, Polák, Rusnák, Chorvát, Horváth'', etc. They tell us very clearly that the bearer of such a name settled individually in a community of different ethnicity. According to the language of this name, we can also guess the nationality of his neighbors (for example, Tóth could be a Slovak settled among Hungarians, because Tóth is a Hungarian word a Slovak).<br> In some cases, we are even able to guess the period of such a surname creation and thus also the period of the ancestor's settling in Upper Hungary. For example, the surnames designating Croats (Horváth, Chorváth), very often appeared in the 16th and 17th centuries, during the mass immigration of Croats into the northern parts of Hungary. | ||
In some cases, we are even able to guess the period of such a surname creation and thus also the period of the ancestor's settling in Upper Hungary. For example, the surnames designating Croats (Horváth, Chorváth), very often appeared in the 16th and 17th centuries, during the mass immigration of Croats into the northern parts of Hungary. | |||
'''First Names'''<br>A large group of surnames has been derived from first names (of men, less often of women). As an example, we can mention the common names | '''First Names'''<br>A large group of surnames has been derived from first names (of men, less often of women). As an example, we can mention the common names | ||
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'''Others'''<br>There are also other groups of surnames reflecting an ancestor's nature, mental or physical qualities, etc. And finally, there is a large group of surnames for which the origin or contents remains and will remain without clear explanation. | '''Others'''<br>There are also other groups of surnames reflecting an ancestor's nature, mental or physical qualities, etc. And finally, there is a large group of surnames for which the origin or contents remains and will remain without clear explanation. | ||
This is the extract of a lecture ''Slovak Surnames: What They Can Tell a Family Historian'' by Milan Šišmiš, presented at the FEEFHS Convention, Minneapolis in 1996. To read the article in its entirety see FEEFHS Journal 4:4 (March 1997). | This is the extract of a lecture ''Slovak Surnames: What They Can Tell a Family Historian'' by Milan Šišmiš, presented at the FEEFHS Convention, Minneapolis in 1996. To read the article in its entirety see FEEFHS Journal 4:4 (March 1997). | ||
== Male Given Names == | == Male Given Names == | ||
{| | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Andrej (or Ondrej)<br>Anton<br>František<br>Jakub<br>Ján<br>Jozef<br>Juraj<br>Karol<br>Lukáš<br>Martin<br>Matej<br>Matúš<br>Michal<br>Pavol<br>Peter<br>Štefan<br>Tomáš<br> | Andrej (or Ondrej)<br>Anton<br>František<br>Jakub<br>Ján<br>Jozef<br>Juraj<br>Karol<br>Lukáš<br>Martin<br>Matej<br>Matúš<br>Michal<br>Pavol<br>Peter<br>Štefan<br>Tomáš<br> | ||
| | | | ||
Andrew<br>Anthony<br>Frank<br>Jacob<br>John<br>Joseph<br>George<br>Charles<br>Luke<br>Martin<br>Matthew<br>Matthias<br>Michael<br>Paul<br>Peter<br>Stephen<br>Thomas<br> | Andrew<br>Anthony<br>Frank<br>Jacob<br>John<br>Joseph<br>George<br>Charles<br>Luke<br>Martin<br>Matthew<br>Matthias<br>Michael<br>Paul<br>Peter<br>Stephen<br>Thomas<br> | ||
|} | |} | ||
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Alžbeta<br>Anna<br>Antonia<br>Apolónia<br>Barbora<br>Cecília<br>Dorota<br>Eva<br>Františka<br>Johana<br>Juliana<br>Jozefa<br>Katarína<br>Mária<br>Margita<br>Rozália<br>Štefánia<br>Terézia<br>Žofia<br>Zuzana<br> | Alžbeta<br>Anna<br>Antonia<br>Apolónia<br>Barbora<br>Cecília<br>Dorota<br>Eva<br>Františka<br>Johana<br>Juliana<br>Jozefa<br>Katarína<br>Mária<br>Margita<br>Rozália<br>Štefánia<br>Terézia<br>Žofia<br>Zuzana<br> | ||
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Elizabeth<br>Ann<br>Antonia<br>Apollonia<br>Barbara<br>Cecilia<br>Dorothy<br>Eve<br>Frances<br>Johanna<br>Julianna<br>Josephine<br>Catherine<br>Mary<br>Margaret<br>Rosalie<br>Stephanie<br>Theresa<br>Sophia<br>Susan<br> | Elizabeth<br>Ann<br>Antonia<br>Apollonia<br>Barbara<br>Cecilia<br>Dorothy<br>Eve<br>Frances<br>Johanna<br>Julianna<br>Josephine<br>Catherine<br>Mary<br>Margaret<br>Rosalie<br>Stephanie<br>Theresa<br>Sophia<br>Susan<br> | ||
|} | |} | ||
[[Category:Slovakia]] | [[Category:Slovakia]] | ||