Familiennamen der Białystoker Juden von scheltendem Charakter

Abstract

Examination of anthroponymic material of Jews from Bialystok shows that surnames of typically nickname charakter include surnames describing man's behaviour, his character, faults and virtues as well as surnames alluding to his physical appearance or physical infirmity. They also include insulting surnames devised by clerks to humiliate. Other surnames made on the basis of an appellative lexis usually relate to biblical events, animal, plant and material symbols and metaphors or serve to hide identity. To establish their nickname nature, unequivocal information about motivation, choice and conferment of such names is necessary.