Ask the Expert: Jewish Naming Patterns -
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 @ 12pm (EST)

Are you trying to understand why your grandfather Mordechai Yehuda was
also known as both Mortka Leib and Max? Our ancestors each had many
different given names and nicknames, in various languages and alphabets -
this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult and confusing.

In this Ask the Expert session, Warren Blatt, our Managing Director, will
answer questions about the history and patterns of Jewish first names, and
how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical sources.
Remember, no question is a bad question!

How this works:
1. Submit your question using the link below.
2. On Tuesday, February 16th, 2016 at 12:00 pm (EST), we will post your
question, along with an answer, on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/JewishGen.org .
3. Warren will be online during the session, so if you have a follow-up
question or comment, Warren will be available to respond.
4. When the session is complete, everything will be placed into an InfoFile.

Here is the link to submit a question:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mt4x80s7GCRewdYerqCoWedzMF5VZkGNJWRudmiyUIs/viewform
[or http://tinyurl.com/zxfznqh]

Important note:
You do not need to be a member of Facebook to submit a question and
then view the answer. However, you do need to be a member of Facebook
if you wish to post a follow-up question/comment.

Avraham Groll
Senior Director of Business Operations
JewishGen.org
AGroll@...

Ask the Expert: Jewish Naming Patterns -
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 @ 12pm (EST)

Are you trying to understand why your grandfather Mordechai Yehuda was
also known as both Mortka Leib and Max? Our ancestors each had many
different given names and nicknames, in various languages and alphabets -
this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult and confusing.

In this Ask the Expert session, Warren Blatt, our Managing Director, will
answer questions about the history and patterns of Jewish first names, and
how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical sources.
Remember, no question is a bad question!

How this works:
1. Submit your question using the link below.
2. On Tuesday, February 16th, 2016 at 12:00 pm (EST), we will post your
question, along with an answer, on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/JewishGen.org .
3. Warren will be online during the session, so if you have a follow-up
question or comment, Warren will be available to respond.
4. When the session is complete, everything will be placed into an InfoFile.

Here is the link to submit a question:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mt4x80s7GCRewdYerqCoWedzMF5VZkGNJWRudmiyUIs/viewform
[or http://tinyurl.com/zxfznqh]

Important note:
You do not need to be a member of Facebook to submit a question and
then view the answer. However, you do need to be a member of Facebook
if you wish to post a follow-up question/comment.

Avraham Groll
Senior Director of Business Operations
JewishGen.org
AGroll@...

Ask the Expert: Jewish Naming Patterns - Tuesday, February 16,
2016 @ 12pm (EST)

Are you trying to understand why your grandfather Mordechai Yehuda
was also known as both Mortka Leib and Max? Our ancestors each had
many different given names and nicknames, in various languages and
alphabets - this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult
and confusing.

In this Ask the Expert session, Warren Blatt, our Managing Director,
will answer questions about the history and patterns of Jewish first
names, and how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical
sources. Remember, no question is a bad question!

How this works:
1. Submit your question using the link below.
2. On Tuesday, February 16th, 2016 at 12:00 pm (EST), we will post
your question, along with an answer, on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/JewishGen.org .
3. Warren will be online during the session, so if you have a
follow-up question or comment, Warren will be available to respond.
4. When the session is complete, everything will be placed into an
InfoFile.

Here is the link to submit a question:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mt4x80s7GCRewdYerqCoWedzMF5VZkGNJWRudmiyUIs/viewform
[or http://tinyurl.com/zxfznqh]

Important note:
You do not need to be a member of Facebook to submit a question and
then view the answer. However, you do need to be a member of Facebook
if you wish to post a follow-up question/comment.

Avraham Groll
Senior Director of Business Operations
JewishGen.org
AGroll@...

Ask the Expert: Jewish Naming Patterns - Tuesday, February 16,
2016 @ 12pm (EST)

Are you trying to understand why your grandfather Mordechai Yehuda
was also known as both Mortka Leib and Max? Our ancestors each had
many different given names and nicknames, in various languages and
alphabets - this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult
and confusing.

In this Ask the Expert session, Warren Blatt, our Managing Director,
will answer questions about the history and patterns of Jewish first
names, and how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical
sources. Remember, no question is a bad question!

How this works:
1. Submit your question using the link below.
2. On Tuesday, February 16th, 2016 at 12:00 pm (EST), we will post
your question, along with an answer, on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/JewishGen.org .
3. Warren will be online during the session, so if you have a
follow-up question or comment, Warren will be available to respond.
4. When the session is complete, everything will be placed into an
InfoFile.

Here is the link to submit a question:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mt4x80s7GCRewdYerqCoWedzMF5VZkGNJWRudmiyUIs/viewform
[or http://tinyurl.com/zxfznqh]

Important note:
You do not need to be a member of Facebook to submit a question and
then view the answer. However, you do need to be a member of Facebook
if you wish to post a follow-up question/comment.

Avraham Groll
Senior Director of Business Operations
JewishGen.org
AGroll@...

I am attaching the link to a viewmate document which appears on the
reverse side of a photograph of my great grandparents, Hirsh Meyer
and Malka Nissenthal. It may have been taken in the 1920's or 1930s
after three of their children left Poland for Argentina. Someone has
suggested that it is not written in Yiddish or Polish but in
Deutschmerish. I would be most grateful for any help

http:www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM45505

I am hoping that this is in the correct format as I can see no way
to change the format in my Yahoo Basic Mail.

Thanks for any help. Barbara Held Toronto, Canada

Researching: HIRSCHHEIMER, Thungen/Lehrensteinsfeld KAHN, Baisingen,
HAMMERSCHLAG, Harmuthsachsen, HELD, Leipzig/Kulsheim
NISSENTHAL, Anapol (Poland)

I am attaching the link to a viewmate document which appears on the
reverse side of a photograph of my great grandparents, Hirsh Meyer
and Malka Nissenthal. It may have been taken in the 1920's or 1930s
after three of their children left Poland for Argentina. Someone has
suggested that it is not written in Yiddish or Polish but in
Deutschmerish. I would be most grateful for any help

http:www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM45505

I am hoping that this is in the correct format as I can see no way
to change the format in my Yahoo Basic Mail.

Thanks for any help. Barbara Held Toronto, Canada

Researching: HIRSCHHEIMER, Thungen/Lehrensteinsfeld KAHN, Baisingen,
HAMMERSCHLAG, Harmuthsachsen, HELD, Leipzig/Kulsheim
NISSENTHAL, Anapol (Poland)

Ask the Expert: Jewish Naming Patterns - Tuesday, February 16,
2016 @ 12pm (EST)

Are you trying to understand why your grandfather Mordechai Yehuda
was also known as both Mortka Leib and Max? Our ancestors each had
many different given names and nicknames, in various languages and
alphabets - this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult
and confusing.

In this Ask the Expert session, Warren Blatt, our Managing Director,
will answer questions about the history and patterns of Jewish first
names, and how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical
sources. Remember, no question is a bad question!

How this works:
1. Submit your question using the link below.
2. On Tuesday, February 16th, 2016 at 12:00 pm (EST), we will post
your question, along with an answer, on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/JewishGen.org .
3. Warren will be online during the session, so if you have a
follow-up question or comment, Warren will be available to respond.
4. When the session is complete, everything will be placed into an
InfoFile.

Here is the link to submit a question:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mt4x80s7GCRewdYerqCoWedzMF5VZkGNJWRudmiyUIs/viewform
[or http://tinyurl.com/zxfznqh]

Important note:
You do not need to be a member of Facebook to submit a question and
then view the answer. However, you do need to be a member of Facebook
if you wish to post a follow-up question/comment.

Avraham Groll, Senior Director of Business Operations, JewishGen.org
AGroll@...

Ask the Expert: Jewish Naming Patterns - Tuesday, February 16,
2016 @ 12pm (EST)

Are you trying to understand why your grandfather Mordechai Yehuda
was also known as both Mortka Leib and Max? Our ancestors each had
many different given names and nicknames, in various languages and
alphabets - this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult
and confusing.

In this Ask the Expert session, Warren Blatt, our Managing Director,
will answer questions about the history and patterns of Jewish first
names, and how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical
sources. Remember, no question is a bad question!

How this works:
1. Submit your question using the link below.
2. On Tuesday, February 16th, 2016 at 12:00 pm (EST), we will post
your question, along with an answer, on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/JewishGen.org .
3. Warren will be online during the session, so if you have a
follow-up question or comment, Warren will be available to respond.
4. When the session is complete, everything will be placed into an
InfoFile.

Here is the link to submit a question:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mt4x80s7GCRewdYerqCoWedzMF5VZkGNJWRudmiyUIs/viewform
[or http://tinyurl.com/zxfznqh]

Important note:
You do not need to be a member of Facebook to submit a question and
then view the answer. However, you do need to be a member of Facebook
if you wish to post a follow-up question/comment.

Avraham Groll, Senior Director of Business Operations, JewishGen.org
AGroll@...

I have hit the wall on my research of my wife's family and I think I
need some extra help on this.

My wife's mother was Sarah BIRNKRANT GLICKMAN (1921-2000). She was
one of five children of Zisha (Sam) and Anna (Nentzia) LOWENTHAL
BIRNKRANT. Zisha was born in 1870 in Sanok, Poland. He married Anna
about 1902. The first four children were Isadore (1904-1967), Saul
(1906-1992), Harry (1909-1989), and Morris (1913-1965). They
immigrated to Pittsburgh in 1921, shortly before my mother-in-law's
birth. Zisha died in Pittsburgh in 1938. Anna lived until 1947.

According to the death certificate, Zisha's parents were Isadore and
Sarah FASNER BIRNKRANT. (I've seen the name FASNER recorded a number
of ways, including FORSTAR.)

Zisha had two sisters and a brother. Ethel BIRNKRANT (1866-1938)
married Abraham MALLINGER (1864-1923), Aaron BIRNKRANT (1878-1922)
married an unknown woman, and Esther BIRNKRANT (1880-1952) married Max
MALLINGER (1876-1927).

Since I began this research, I have found a number of families with
the same or similar spellings. One was the family of Maurice
BIRNKRANT (1868-1918), originally >from Tarnogrod in the Russian Empire,
son of Yidle and Sadie WERNSTEIN BIRNKRANT, who settled in the Detroit
area and later lived near Los Angeles. Another was the family of Elias
(Eli) (1854-1910) and Edward (Adi) BIRNKRANT (1858-1941), born in Sanok,
the sons of Sam and Lena JACOBS BIRNKRANT, who settled in McKeesport,
PA, near Pittsburgh. Interestingly, in the 1900 U.S. Census Adi's
family is listed as ROSENKRANZ; in the 1910 census it reverts to
BIRNKRANT. This seems to support a rumor that the family name was not
originally BIRNKRANT.

I've also found a Samuel (born 1867) and Dora (1866-1933) BIRNKRANT, of
Pittsburgh; another Samuel (1878-1945), born in Sanok, married twice and
who lived in Brooklyn; a third Samuel (1889-1972) and Esther GROSS
BIRNKRANT (1892-1975), of Sharon, PA, Atlantic City, and Atlanta; Maxim
(1885-1969), of Sanok, and Beatrice HERSKOVITZ BIRNKRANT (1890-1979),
who lived in New York; and Aaron Pincus (1875-1979), of Sanok, and Anna
HOCHHAUSER BIRNKRANT (1884-1953), who lived in New York.

The main name variants are the families of Aaron Pincus (1880-1947) and
Anna PESKOWITZ BERNKRANT (born 1878), who lived in Philadelphia and New
York; Shmuel Tzvi and Rose STAMPH BIRENKRANT (1860-1938), originally of
Sanok and later New York; Max (1885-1972) and Morris (1888-1968)
BIRNKRANTZ, originally of Olszanica, Poland, and later New York and
Chester, PA; and a number of BURNKRANT families who lived in McKeesport.

Since many of these families originated in or near Sanok, they may have
had a common ancestor in that area. My wife had done some research years
ago and it may indicate that the Detroit Birnkrants were related to her.
Since some of the others lived in McKeesport, they may also have
originated in the same area. I would appreciate anyone who might
recognize the names in the message to contact me via e-mail so that we
can combine our research and clarify the issues.

Sheldon Dan
Memphis, TN
sheldan1955@...

Searching family of my great grandfather Avraham Yehuda ROTENBERG born
around 1842 in Katerburg, now Ukraine. I've been unable to find
records to connect him with his children Pesya, born @1887 and my
grandmother, Basheva, other than on gravestones. Hoping that searching
Avraham's siblings and family will lead to information on Basheva
Rotenberg and husband Friedel MAHNZON and birth of daughter Estera, my
mother, @1909. Help is much appreciated.

Selene Scherr
Westminster, MD

Searching family of my great grandfather Avraham Yehuda ROTENBERG born
around 1842 in Katerburg, now Ukraine. I've been unable to find
records to connect him with his children Pesya, born @1887 and my
grandmother, Basheva, other than on gravestones. Hoping that searching
Avraham's siblings and family will lead to information on Basheva
Rotenberg and husband Friedel MAHNZON and birth of daughter Estera, my
mother, @1909. Help is much appreciated.

Selene Scherr
Westminster, MD

I have hit the wall on my research of my wife's family and I think I
need some extra help on this.

My wife's mother was Sarah BIRNKRANT GLICKMAN (1921-2000). She was
one of five children of Zisha (Sam) and Anna (Nentzia) LOWENTHAL
BIRNKRANT. Zisha was born in 1870 in Sanok, Poland. He married Anna
about 1902. The first four children were Isadore (1904-1967), Saul
(1906-1992), Harry (1909-1989), and Morris (1913-1965). They
immigrated to Pittsburgh in 1921, shortly before my mother-in-law's
birth. Zisha died in Pittsburgh in 1938. Anna lived until 1947.

According to the death certificate, Zisha's parents were Isadore and
Sarah FASNER BIRNKRANT. (I've seen the name FASNER recorded a number
of ways, including FORSTAR.)

Zisha had two sisters and a brother. Ethel BIRNKRANT (1866-1938)
married Abraham MALLINGER (1864-1923), Aaron BIRNKRANT (1878-1922)
married an unknown woman, and Esther BIRNKRANT (1880-1952) married Max
MALLINGER (1876-1927).

Since I began this research, I have found a number of families with
the same or similar spellings. One was the family of Maurice
BIRNKRANT (1868-1918), originally >from Tarnogrod in the Russian Empire,
son of Yidle and Sadie WERNSTEIN BIRNKRANT, who settled in the Detroit
area and later lived near Los Angeles. Another was the family of Elias
(Eli) (1854-1910) and Edward (Adi) BIRNKRANT (1858-1941), born in Sanok,
the sons of Sam and Lena JACOBS BIRNKRANT, who settled in McKeesport,
PA, near Pittsburgh. Interestingly, in the 1900 U.S. Census Adi's
family is listed as ROSENKRANZ; in the 1910 census it reverts to
BIRNKRANT. This seems to support a rumor that the family name was not
originally BIRNKRANT.

I've also found a Samuel (born 1867) and Dora (1866-1933) BIRNKRANT, of
Pittsburgh; another Samuel (1878-1945), born in Sanok, married twice and
who lived in Brooklyn; a third Samuel (1889-1972) and Esther GROSS
BIRNKRANT (1892-1975), of Sharon, PA, Atlantic City, and Atlanta; Maxim
(1885-1969), of Sanok, and Beatrice HERSKOVITZ BIRNKRANT (1890-1979),
who lived in New York; and Aaron Pincus (1875-1979), of Sanok, and Anna
HOCHHAUSER BIRNKRANT (1884-1953), who lived in New York.

The main name variants are the families of Aaron Pincus (1880-1947) and
Anna PESKOWITZ BERNKRANT (born 1878), who lived in Philadelphia and New
York; Shmuel Tzvi and Rose STAMPH BIRENKRANT (1860-1938), originally of
Sanok and later New York; Max (1885-1972) and Morris (1888-1968)
BIRNKRANTZ, originally of Olszanica, Poland, and later New York and
Chester, PA; and a number of BURNKRANT families who lived in McKeesport.

Since many of these families originated in or near Sanok, they may have
had a common ancestor in that area. My wife had done some research years
ago and it may indicate that the Detroit Birnkrants were related to her.
Since some of the others lived in McKeesport, they may also have
originated in the same area. I would appreciate anyone who might
recognize the names in the message to contact me via e-mail so that we
can combine our research and clarify the issues.

Sheldon Dan
Memphis, TN
sheldan1955@...

Hi,

I may have a connection with Milwaukee ABRAMSON brothers Jakob
(married Lena BOCKSENBAUM), Max (married Dora BOCKSENBAUM), and
Tobias/Theodore (married Bertha ELIASON). Their father was Abraham
Eliezer. I have mined the usual online resources for information
about these brothers, and I am aware that Jakob and Tobias have
numerous descendants still in the Milwaukee area. I'm trying to
determine where they were >from before coming to the U.S., which
would help confirm if they're related. On various documents all
three brothers indicate being born in or near Riga, Latvia. Max's
WWII registration cards clearly says "Sambro near Riga" - any idea
where this is? I also cannot find their immigration records to the
U.S., which would further help confirm where they came from.

Thanks for any help,

Joe Lonstein
East Lansing, Michigan

Hi,

I may have a connection with Milwaukee ABRAMSON brothers Jakob
(married Lena BOCKSENBAUM), Max (married Dora BOCKSENBAUM), and
Tobias/Theodore (married Bertha ELIASON). Their father was Abraham
Eliezer. I have mined the usual online resources for information
about these brothers, and I am aware that Jakob and Tobias have
numerous descendants still in the Milwaukee area. I'm trying to
determine where they were >from before coming to the U.S., which
would help confirm if they're related. On various documents all
three brothers indicate being born in or near Riga, Latvia. Max's
WWII registration cards clearly says "Sambro near Riga" - any idea
where this is? I also cannot find their immigration records to the
U.S., which would further help confirm where they came from.

Thanks for any help,

Joe Lonstein
East Lansing, Michigan

Hello,

I am researching my husband's family in Vienna, Austria and found
his great grandfather's death/burial record. Under "Place of Death"
is says "1180, Sp. D. Ikg"

Can you tell me what this means? I believe that IKG means
Israelitische Kuktusgemeinde or Jewish Community.

Thank you,
Barbara Kornbluth

Hello,

I am researching my husband's family in Vienna, Austria and found
his great grandfather's death/burial record. Under "Place of Death"
is says "1180, Sp. D. Ikg"

Can you tell me what this means? I believe that IKG means
Israelitische Kuktusgemeinde or Jewish Community.

Thank you,
Barbara Kornbluth

If you were not able to attend RootsTech or take advantage of the live
streaming during the conference, RootsTech has now archived 27 select
videoed sessions. They may be accessed at:
https://www.rootstech.org/video2/4739804696001
The sessions are available at no charge.

Jan Meisels Allen
Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee

If you were not able to attend RootsTech or take advantage of the live
streaming during the conference, RootsTech has now archived 27 select
videoed sessions. They may be accessed at:
https://www.rootstech.org/video2/4739804696001
The sessions are available at no charge.

Jan Meisels Allen
Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee

Dear Fellow Researchers:

Happy New Year 2016!

In December 2015, JRI-Poland announced the linking of its website to
scans of the Lodz Registration Cards which contains over 135,000 records.
JRI-Poland Executive Director Stanley DIAMOND asked for someone to
volunteer to head the extraction of the data contained in these cards so
it can be searchable by everyone in the JRI-Poland database and linked to
the images on the Polish State Archives website. I raised my hand, full
of enthusiasm, to lead this project to provide direct links to these
registration cards and forever engrave the names of those who are listed
in these cards and who perished in the Holocaust.

A number of people reached out asking me what it took to be a volunteer.
Your willingness to move this project forward. The objective, of course,
is to help connect families and create a narrative for each person listed
in these cards.

As a result of the initial announcement, I am excited to tell you about
my team of six wonderful volunteers who reside worldwide. I couldn't
have been more fortunate as to have Fritz in Germany, Aleysa in Moscow,
Roslyn in Australia, Yael in Boca Raton/Israel and Sara in California and
Rochelle in Oregon. We are busy extracting vital information, but we
your need help. We are seeking to expand our core group of volunteers.
If you have a few hours per week to help us complete our task, please
reach out to me at Margalit.a.ir@...

You may not have time to volunteer but you can thank our Archive
Coordinators, Town Leaders and dedicated Data Entry Volunteers by helping
ensure that indexing/extraction of the records for your town(s) continues
until every last one has been made available through the JRI-Poland system.
To contribute go to http://www.jri-poland.org/support.htm .

Todah rabah to all,

Margalit Ashira Ir
Town Leader: Biala Podlaska
Team Leader: Lodz Registration Card Index Project.

SEARCHING: IR, EDELMAN, EKSZTEJN, TUGENDER in Biala Podlaska. LANDMAN,
JEKIEL, Buchach and Tlumach, Ukraine. MEYERSDORF in Warsaw

Dear Fellow Researchers:

Happy New Year 2016!

In December 2015, JRI-Poland announced the linking of its website to
scans of the Lodz Registration Cards which contains over 135,000 records.
JRI-Poland Executive Director Stanley DIAMOND asked for someone to
volunteer to head the extraction of the data contained in these cards so
it can be searchable by everyone in the JRI-Poland database and linked to
the images on the Polish State Archives website. I raised my hand, full
of enthusiasm, to lead this project to provide direct links to these
registration cards and forever engrave the names of those who are listed
in these cards and who perished in the Holocaust.

A number of people reached out asking me what it took to be a volunteer.
Your willingness to move this project forward. The objective, of course,
is to help connect families and create a narrative for each person listed
in these cards.

As a result of the initial announcement, I am excited to tell you about
my team of six wonderful volunteers who reside worldwide. I couldn't
have been more fortunate as to have Fritz in Germany, Aleysa in Moscow,
Roslyn in Australia, Yael in Boca Raton/Israel and Sara in California and
Rochelle in Oregon. We are busy extracting vital information, but we
your need help. We are seeking to expand our core group of volunteers.
If you have a few hours per week to help us complete our task, please
reach out to me at Margalit.a.ir@...

You may not have time to volunteer but you can thank our Archive
Coordinators, Town Leaders and dedicated Data Entry Volunteers by helping
ensure that indexing/extraction of the records for your town(s) continues
until every last one has been made available through the JRI-Poland system.
To contribute go to http://www.jri-poland.org/support.htm .

Todah rabah to all,

Margalit Ashira Ir
Town Leader: Biala Podlaska
Team Leader: Lodz Registration Card Index Project.

SEARCHING: IR, EDELMAN, EKSZTEJN, TUGENDER in Biala Podlaska. LANDMAN,
JEKIEL, Buchach and Tlumach, Ukraine. MEYERSDORF in Warsaw