The Surnames of Converts from Judaism to Christianity in Warsaw from 1826 - 1850

In the presentation, two main aspects of conversion from Judaism to Christianity in Warsaw from 1826 to 1850 shall be analyzed.

First of all, the research material – excerpted from baptismal registers – shall be juxtaposed with already existing articles on this subject. Particular attention shall be paid to the book ‘Polish neophytes. Historical materials’ by T. Jeske-Choiński, who is believed to be one of the leading advocates of antisemitizm at the that time. The censuses presented by Jeske-Choiński are not full, nor complete. It was therefore necessary to thoroughly re-analyze all of the sources.

Secondly and most importantly, an attempt at challenging certain stereotypes with regard to surnames of converts shall be made. Articles written on this subject are mainly of anti-semitic nature and proclaim that a surname alone could become the basis for recognition of converted Jews trying to blend in the Polish environment. In reality, though, a comparison of anthroponomasticon of converted Jews with the Poles born as Christians from that time proves that the surnames of converts from Judaism to Christianity were mostly non-distinctive.

The choice of this particular research field was dictated by the geopolitical situation of Jews in old Poland. 19^th century was the time when Polish Jews` identity began to form. In 1826, the parishes’ registers started to be recognized as official state documents, thanks to which they survived up to this day. In 1850 Jews in Poland were denied the right to change their surnames due to problems with resident registration.