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Reply To: | A LISTSERV list for discussions pertaining to New York State history." < [log in to unmask]> |
Date: | Mon, 9 May 2005 23:40:21 +0700 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
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It is my understanding that many European Jews had no fixed
patronymics. They were using the traditional system of using
the given name of his/her father: Samuel ben Jacob or Sarah
bar Jabob would be the children of Jacob. Samuel's son would
be "ben Samuel." Napoleon as part of his decrees across the
empire in the early nineteenth-century imposed a system of
fixed patronymics. Poland instituted official fixed state
names in 1821 and Russia in 1844. People chose a range of
arbitrary names--their village, natural objects (rose, stone,
mountain) for registration with the state, while thinking of
the traditional naming system as their real name. Therefore,
several generations later, they arrived at Ellis Island, once
more they had to formally register with the state, and chose
some other symbolic name--for instance, "Eagle" or willingly
Anglicized their former state name. Their "real" name
remained the same.
Cheers,
Trish
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