I have read in several references that the decree forcing Jews to take family names, promulgated by Emperor Joseph II in 1787, included a list of about 1500 specific names (some also say: "of which 10% were indicated as most suitable"). Is this true? If so, is there a transcription of the list somewhere?
In 1787, Emperor Joseph II laid down by law that Jews, who at that time only bore first names and nicknames, had to take German surnames with immediate effect. In addition, there was a list of 156 legally permitted first names in Austria.
