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MIECZYSŁAW IS MIECISLAUS IN ENGLISH, NOT MITCHELL


Polonius3 994 | 12,367  
11 Nov 2008 /  #1
We must distinguish between linguistic and customary equivalents. The 1st generation of Polish immigrants to America who arrived before the First World War often patriotically gave their US-born offspring typically Polish first names. But the US-born kids were under considerable pressure from the school, peers and general WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) mainstream to become de-Polonised

(de-ethnicised, Americanised, assimilated, whatever), and they therefore often sought to anglicise their given names. Usually they chose something similar sounding hence:
Stanisław became Stanley or Stan
Czesław - Chester
Władysław - Walter, Walt, Wally
Wacław - Wesley
Mieczysław - Mitchell, Mitch
Bolesław - Bill, Boley
Jadwiga - Harriet
Bronisława - Bernice
Stanisława - Stella, Estelle
Władysława - Lottie
Those are customary equivalents, the linguistic ones would be: Stanislaus, Ceslaus, Ladislaus, Wenceslaus, Miecislaus, Hedwig, Bronislava and Ladislava respectively.
Marek 4 | 867  
11 Nov 2008 /  #3
What about the Czech Christian name 'Vaclav'? In Prague, the famous square is called 'Vaclav Nemesti', in German, 'Der Wenzelplatz', in English 'Wenceslaus Square'. However, there's probably an English equivalent like 'Wensley' or something like that, right? -:)

The first line of that popular English Yuletide carol goes 'Good King Wenceslaus was born, on the Feast of Stephen....'
Just curious!
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367  
11 Nov 2008 /  #4
I presume it would have to be Ceslava, although I can't recall ever seeing that form in print. Now I seem the recall there was a Bł. Czesława, so it must be Blessed Ceslava.

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