When Were Surnames First Required in Poland?

Jews were required to have surnames in the Kingdom of Poland by a decree of Tsar Aleksander I on 27 Mar 1821:

Congress Kingdom of Poland Laws Register No. 28 of 1821
“[E]very Jew residing in the Congress Kingdom of Poland, should, within six months of the declaration date of this act, declare and confirm, with the census of the public offices, the first name and surname which he has used to that time and that which he will use, invariably, in the future… Whereas, if any one of them does not have a first name and permanent surname or cannot prove this, he should declare that which he will accept and will continue to use.”

Source: Elżbieta Surma-Jończyk and Ewa Dubaj, “Sources in the State Archive in Częstochowa for Researching the History of the Częstochowa Jewish Community to 1939.” Seminar, “The History of the Jewish Population in the Częstochowa Region,” March 2017, Częstochowa.

From the same source:

Record registers from the beginning of the 19th century form an important archival resource. Civil registries and registers were introduced, together with the Napoleonic Code, into the Congress Kingdom of Poland. In 1808, Fryderyk August, Saxon king and prince of Warsaw, decreed the introduction of civil registry records. In principle, secular registrars were to maintain registers. However, due to a lack of appropriately educated individuals, it was left to clergymen to perform the task. This state of affairs continued until 1825, when civil registry records were merged with church registers. By a decision of the viceroy, dated 3 November 1825, local mayors were appointed to create records for non-Christians, including Jews. Additionally, by a decision of the Administrative Council on 7 October 1830, rabbis were obliged to draw up a record after they conducted a religious rite.

What about before 1821? Indeed, many Jews did use surnames before 1821. Others used patronymic names, such as Abramowicz, Berkowicz, or Jakubowicz.

We see a wide variety of surnames among Jews. One type is called a “toponymic” surname, meaning a surname based on a place. Here are examples: Radomski, Kłobucki, Pławner, and Warszawski.

Here is an excellent source of information on Jewish surnames in Poland: Introductory chapters to Alexander Beider, A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Kingdom of Poland (Teaneck, NJ: Avotaynu, 1996). Free download, but an account is needed. (Web address provided by the author.)

• Volunteer to help type records!
• Learn about other topics in Polish Jewish genealogy.