|
|
Abbreviations as
Surnames
There was a widespread custom, of long standing among the Jews, of using abbreviations or acronyms as names of honor, which often evolved into surnames of honor. These names are often indicated with their original form in the lists, i.e., K"Tz or SG"L which were respectively Kohen Tzedek (Kaganoff, P. 164) and Segan Levi, indicating that they were men of distinction in the Kohen or Levi clans. They have also been sometimes transliterated as Ka"tz or Sega"l. They are sometimes followed with an *1 to indicate their uncertainty. These could already have evolved into a surname or could be simply an indication by the person that he was truly a Kohen or Levi by paternal descent. In the presence of an obvious surname, the title was noted in the "Comment" field only but at times may be mistakenly entered as a surname in the absence of any other. Researchers should examine other evidence for these common names, including notations in the "Comment" field.
Similarly, the abbreviation for various religious functionaries were of sufficient distinction that they often became surnames and it is usually difficult to tell whether abbreviations like Sh"Tz, standing for Sheliach Tzibur, i.e., a cantor, was a surname or was an office held at the time. Generally, we have listed them as surnames unless there was a reason to believe that an occupation was indicated in the entry.
Rarely, there is a patronymic which may or may not be a surname. For example, the name Baraz or Berez is an acronym for "Son of Rabbi (or Reb) Zalman" but it could also represent immediate kinship to a then famous or local figure. In fact, names beginning with "Ch" like Charatz often represent a famous father-in-law and could be an indication of a current relationship rather than a surname or of a present (at that time) relationship.
In a small number of cases, a location was abbreviated and became a surname, as was the case with A"Sh which has sometimes been replaced with Eisenstadt.
One further guidance: if the name is clearly one that derives from a town but does not say "from," like Berliner, it is probably a surname and not an indication that the person was originally from Berlin. Of course, it is an indication that some ancestor was from Berlin.
Among the abbreviations found in the Prenumeranten lists are:
"Comment"
In the "Comment" field are included any titles or honors, indications of a town of origin, or mention of relationships (other than father) for the person who is the subject of the record. The Father's honors are included with the patronymic. The "Comment" field is also used to mention any organizations which subscribed or other comments of importance genealogically or historically. There is often some person associated with the organization noted. If not, the Last Name and First Name columns are left empty.
Honorific titles are often abbreviated. Where they could not be recognized, they are left, as a transliteration, in their original form, e.g., MH"H, where the title could be recognized, we have given a romanized version of the abbreviation in most cases. Here are a few:
A.B.D. = Av Beit Din = Chief Justice of the Jewish court.
Bel. = Byel. = Belarus
BH"Kh = Beit ha Knesset = Synagogue
B.haM., BHM = Beit ha Midrash = House of Religious Studies.
b-i-l = Brother in law
Ch. = Chevra = Association (often for burial, charity, study)
Cheder = Grammar school (religious)
HaG. or Hg. = haGaon = "the genius," highest level of rabbinic honor.
There may be some confusion on my part since the abbreviation for Ha Gvir meaning wealthy is similar and I may have switched the person's honor from wealth to rabbinic status.
Hm. = Hod Ma'aloto = His excellency
Hgr.= pronounced HaGrau = The Genius Rabbi, a very noted and exceptional rabbinic scholar, specifically refers to haGaon Rabbi Eliyahu (meVilna), and thus refers to only the Vilna Gaon
Mh. = Manhig haKehillah = leader of the Kehillah (Jewish community).
Mhr.= Morenu ha Rav = a rabbinic title beyond that of ha Rav, literally, "our teacher, the Rabbi"
Mhrr.= Morenu ha Rav v'Rabbenu Rabbi = "Our teacher, leader and Rabbi" (a rabbi of high rank.)
Mor. = Morenu = our teacher, a scholarly usually rabbinic title.
Mz.= Moreh tzedek = teacher, rabbi
P.Sh. = Pkid Shmua = assessing officer for a group supporting Jews in Israel.
PSh. = Forshtat (Yiddish) = suburb (when in reference to a town)
Shas. = Shisha Sidrei Mishna = The six major divisions of the Mishnah or Talmud.
s-i-l = son in law
S.T.M.= Seforim Tefilin Mezuzos = Religious library (holy books, etc.), or Books (of the Torah), Phylacteries, and Mezuzot
T-T = Talmud-Torah = School of religious studies
Z"L = Zichrono Livrocha, literally "of blessed memory," indicates the loved one is deceased. It has been rendered as "the late..." or "deceased."
For further information, contact Ed Cohler.
|
|
