In the 1780s, thousands of Jews in Habsburg Galicia adopted new family names, many of which are still in use today. The history of these surnames is often overshadowed by literary anecdotes of discriminatory naming practices. This lecture presents a historical reassessment of the topic based on recently discovered archival materials and a detailed analysis of thousands of surnames. In addition to examining the political background, we will explore the actual process of name creation, investigating the roles played by both Austrian officials and the Jewish population in establishing these new identities.

Participants will gain insight into the diverse origins of these names—ranging from fantasy creations and professional designations to personal characteristics and even literary influences. Crucially, these names often tell us more about the Jewish community than one might expect. Finally, the presentation will offer a practical overview of names in Galician genealogical sources, including metrical books, census lists, and gravestones. By understanding the administrative logic behind name adoption, researchers can better navigate the challenges of tracing biographies and family histories in Galician sources, even back into the era before hereditary surnames.

About the Speaker
Johannes Czakai, PhD, historian, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Martin Buber Society of Fellows at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He studied History and Jewish Studies in Berlin, Potsdam, and Krakow and received his PhD from the Free University of Berlin. His research focuses on early modern Jewish history, names, genealogy, conversions, and espionage. In 2021, he published his multiple award-winning book Nochems neue Namen. Die Juden Galiziens und der Bukowina und die Einführung deutscher Vor- und Familiennamen 1772–1820 [Nochem’s New Names: The Jews of Galicia and Bukovina and the Adoption of German First and Family Names, 1772–1820] (Göttingen: Wallstein 2021). His current research project deals with Jewish conversions to Christianity in early modern and modern Silesia.

Presented by the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute at the Center for Jewish History.