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What are some of the key genealogical terms appearing on Polish-language records?

Occupations

  • The most common occupations appearing on 19th century Polish-language records for Jews from Poland include: 
    • arendarz (or arędarz) (leaseholder or innkeeper) 
    • bakalarz (teacher)
    • czapnik (capmaker)
    • czeladnik (journeyman)
    • dozorca boznicny (synagogue caretaker)
    • garbarz (tanner)
    • handlarz (peddler)
    • karczmarz (innkeeper)
    • komornik (cottager)
    • krawiec (tailor)
    • kupiec (merchant)
    • kuśnierz (furrier)
    • mydlarz (soapmaker)
    • nauczyciel (teacher)
    • pachciarz (tenant gardener)
    • piekarz (baker)
    • rabin (rabbi)
    • rolnik (farmer)
    • rzezak (mohel)
    • rzeznik (butcher)
    • stolarz (carpenter)
    • szewc (shoemaker)
    • szkolnik (synagogue sexton)
    • szpekulant (moneylender)
    • szynkarz (innkeeper)
    • tkacz (weaver)
    • wyrobnik (day-laborer)

Status

  • Polish-language marriage and death records may identify the marriage status of spouses, parents, or the deceased: 
    • kawaler (bachelor)
    • panna (maiden)
    • wdowa (widow)
    • wdowiec (widower)
Updated on August 31, 2020

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