Patromyns and Matronyms

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Why the different second names ?

Instead of surnames, people were identified by their Patronym or Matronym.

This was the second name based upon the name of one’s father, grandfather or possibly earlier male ancestor (Patronym) or one’s mother, grandmother or female ancestor (Matronym).

The suffix   "--wicz" normally means "son of " but appears often to be extended to grandson etc.
The suffix   "--ow"s    and "--owa"s for women are references to the woman's husband.
The suffix   "---owna" is a reference to a woman's father.

Very often the second name could change from record to record e.g. Kiwa (1796 - 1876)

For a brief History of Civil Records in Poland click on the image below

Year of event	Event	Kiwa's recorded Age	Birth year + or - 1	Name	Other relevant information on record
1817	Marriage	22	1795	Kiwa Lewkowicz	Town: Chmielnik. Wife: Sandla Dawidowiczowna son of Manela Lewkowicz and Mindla Chaja Herszkowiczow
1819	Birth of daughter Nicha	20	1799	Kiwa Manelowicz	Town Chmieknik. Wife Szandla Dawidowiczowna
1819	Witness to marriage 1	24	1795	Kiwa Manelowicz	Town Rakow (30 kms from Chmielnik), tradesman
1823	Witness to marriage 2	27	1796	Kiwa Manelowicz	Town Chmieknik.
1823	Witness to marriage 3	28	1795	Kiwa Manelowicz Zmidek	Town Chmieknik.
1876	Death	80	1796	Kiwa Zmidek	Town Chmieknik, son of Manel and Mindla Chaja nèe Manełowicz, he left his widowed wife Nisla (no record of Szandla’s death

With the majority of events happening in Chmielnik, most ‘ year of birth ‘ close to eachother, other family names included at various events it’s fairly certain this is the one and the same Kiwa. The connections are overlapping links between the different records rather than consistent correlation between all of them.

Besides surnames, the spelling of first names can also change, sometimes a second name included, at other times not.

Here are some examples from the Zmidek records:

Ejnoch	Ejnoch Eliia	Ejnoch Ela	Chanoch Eliahu
Jaker Zachariasz	Jankiel	Jaker	Jakier
Ester Rejla	Ester Rajzla	Estera Ela Rajzla	Ester Rykla
Lejbuś Gercel	Lejbus Chercyk	Lejbuś Hercek	Lejbus Gercel

Time line
Date:	Person / Event	Family Connection	Additional information
1840	Sora-Sprinca Szterensis born	Mother to Dawid Zidek	Date calculated from her death certificate (JRI-Poland Akta 39 Chmielnik)
1845	Dawid Bulwa	Father of Cyrla, Grandfather of Sura Gitel	There were 35 houses in the main square of Chmielnik, 24 made of stone and 11 wood. Dawid Bulwa was either an owner or co-owner of one of these houses. From "The Story of Jewish Chmielnik"
1858	Sura Gitel Waldberg born.	Mother to Polly, Annie, Gabriel, Mary and Coleman	Date calculated from her marriage certificate
1859	Dawid Zmidek born	Father to Polly, Annie, Gabriel, Mary and Coleman	Date calculted from his marriage certificate
1859	Ejzyk Waldberg Manel and Kiwa Zmydek Lejbus Herszel Ogniowicz	Sura Gitel's father Dawid Zmidek's grandfather and uncle. Brandla Zmidek’s husband. Brandla was Dawid's aunt.	List of Jewish inhabitants of Chmielnik who paid contributions to cover legal fees and legal costs of a court case against the squire regarding removal of the market charge included Ejzyk Waldbergand two Zmydeks - Kiwa (63) his son Manel (26), Lejbus Herszel Ogniowicz (24), and an Icyk Bulwa (no connection found yet) . From "The Story of Jewish Chmielnik"
1876	Death: Kiwa	Dawid Zmidek's grandfather


Translation This happened in the city of Chmielnik on the thirteenth* of January / eleventh of February in the year one thousand eight hundred seventy six at eleven o’clock in the morning. Herszel Mendel Pachoł appeared, fifty six years old, and Motel Kassowski, fifty seven years old, both synagogue attendants residing in Chmielnik; and they declared that yesterday at three o’clock in the afternoon in Chmielnik died Kiwa Żmidek, eighty years old, son of Manel and Mindla Chaja nèe Manełowicz, and he left his widowed wife Nisla. After the eyewitness testimony on the death of Kiwa Żmidek, this record was read to the declarants and it was signed by us. [signatures] Notes: * The original says “thirteenth” but it should have been “thirtieth” since the difference between the calendars was 12 days. ** Mindla Chaja's surname / matronym changes from the original
1880:	Szprynca Zmidek died	Mother to Dawid Zmidek's mother	On 4th/17th of May in Chmielnik Szprynca Zmidek who was 40 years old died. Daughter of Gabriel and Chaja Ruchla Szterensis. She had husband, Moszek and three children underage. (JRI-Poland Akta 39 Chmielnik)

1882 Chaja Tabla marries Berek Bakalarz / Lament (JRI-Poland Akta 53)

Akta 53. This happened in the city of Chmielnik on the tenth / twenty second of December in the year one thousand eight hundred eighty two.

With this we announce that in the presence of the Rabbi of the Chmielnik Synagogue, Lejbus Epsztajn, in the presence of witnesses Herszel Mendel Pachol, sixty years old, and Motel Kossowski, sixty three years old, both synagogue attendants residing in the city of Chmielnik, yesterday a religious marriage was contracted between Berek Bakalarz, a bachelor, twenty years old, a son of Josek Jakub and Chana née Szmulewicz, he resides with his parents in the city of Chmielnik; and between Chaja Tabla Zmidek, a maiden, nineteen years old, a daughter of the living Mosek and the late Sora Szprinca née Szterenzis, she resides with her father in the city of Chmielnik.

This marriage was preceded by three readings of the banns issued in the Chmielnik synagogue on the Sabbath days, to wit: on the thirteenth/twenty fifth of November, the twentieth of November / second of December, and the twenty seventh of November / ninth of December in the current year. Consent of the father of the groom and the father of the bride, present at the ceremony, was given orally.

The newlyweds announced that they have made no prenuptial agreement. This record was signed by us and those present.
Berek Bakalarz and Chaja Tabla Zmidek are illiterate in Russian. Josek Jakub Bakalarz and Mosek Zmidek are illiterate in Russian.

signed: Hersz Mendel Pachol, Moszek Kossowski, Rabbi Leibus Epsztajn Civil Registrar, Mayor [signature illegible]

Date:

Event

Family Connection

Additional information

1888:

Josek Lament

Father-in-law of Chaja Tabla (Dawid Zmidek's sister)

Josek Lament ran his own legal cheder

Also Jakow Zmidek (most probably Jankiel ?)

From "The Story of Jewish Chmielnik"

1890:

Rajzla marries Dawid Suknik

Dawid Zmidek's

Akta 56. This happened in the city of Chmielnik on the sixteenth / twenty eighth of December in the year one thousand eight hundred ninety at ten o'clock in the evening.

We announce that, in the presence of witnesses Berek Pachol thirty five years old, and Motel Kossakowski, sixty five years old, both synagogue attendants residing in the city of Chmielnik; on this day a religious marriage was contracted between Dawid Suknik, a bachelor, twenty three years old, son of the late Izrael and Ita Laja née Dziura, he resides in the city of Chmielnik; and between Rajzla Zmidek, a maiden, twenty two years old, daughter of Moszek and the late Sura married couple the Zmideks, she resides in the city of Chmielnik.

This marriage was preceded by three readings of the banns in the local Synagogue, to wit on the third (fifteenth), the tenth (twenty second) and the seventeenth (twenty ninth) of November in the current year. Consent for the marriage by the mother of the groom and the father of the bride was given orally.

The newlyweds declared that they have made no prenuptial agreement. The religious marriage ceremony was performed by the performing the duties of the Rabbi Abram Icyk Sylman. This record, after it was read, was signed by us and the parties present.

1893:

Jakow Zmydek (most probably Jankiel)

Dawid Zmidek's Uncle

Had his own Cheder with 10 pupils, which was about the average size in those days.

From "The Story of Jewish Chmielnik"

1899

Miriam Zmidek marries Josek Suknik

Dawid Zmidek's sister

Akta 63. This happened in the city of Chmielnik on the 3rd / 15th of December in the year 1899 at four o’clock in the afternoon.

We announce that, in the presence of witnesses Berek Pacho?, thirty four years old, and Motel Kossowski, 64 years old, both synagogue attendants residing in the city of Chmielnik, on this day a religious marriage was contracted between Josek Suknik, a bachelor, 25 years old, son of the late Izrael and the living Itla ?aja née Dziura, he resides with his mother in the city of Chmielnik; and between Maria ?midek, a maiden, 23 years old, daughter of the living Moszek and the late Szprinca née Gabrysz, she resides with her father in the city of Chmielnik.

This marriage was preceded by three readings of the banns in the local Synagogue on Sabbath days, to wit: on the 4th (16th), the 11th (23rd) and the18th (13th) of November in the current year. Consent to enter in marriage by mother of the groom and father of the bride was given orally.

The newlyweds declared that they have made no prenuptial agreement. The religious marriage ceremony was performed by Rabbi Abram Icyk Sylman.

This record, after it was read, was signed by us and the parties present. Parents and the newlyweds are illiterate. Civil Registrar, Mayor [signature illegible]

1894:

Ejzyk Waldberg died

Father to Sura Gitel

On 24th of July/5th of August in Chmielnik. He was 74 years old. He was son of Josek and Dobra (nee Ajzenberg) Waldberg.
(Akta 165)

1927:

Izrael Goldlist

Husband of Mindla Zmidek (Dawid's cousin)

Member of the management board of Chmielnik.

From "The Story of Jewish Chmielnik"

1929:

Brandl Ogniwicz

Dawid Zmidek's sister

Mentioned in a dispute involving the management of the Jewish community in Chmielnik. She was a member of the ‘funeral association’ called Chewra Kadisz

From "The Story of Jewish Chmielnik"

1930:

Izrael Goldlist - Carpenter

Husband of Mindla Zmidek (Dawid Zmidek's cousin)

List of Craftsmen in Chmielnik:

From "The Story of Jewish Chmielnik"

"The Story of Jewish Chmielnik" by Marek Maiagowski & Piotr Krawczyk

Time line