Astoria
2 Jan 2015
Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]
The book says his name was "Wyborcjusz (Wybierek)." This means that his real name was Wybierek, but he also used a Latinized form of his Polish name (likely Viborcius) that was Polonized back to Wyborcjusz. It was a common practice at that time to Latinize Polish names and Polonize Latin (or any foreign) names. The Latinization/Polonization was especially popular among the clergy (Wybierek was a Jesuit). Because there were no official rules on how to write one's name many forms were used. Polish astronomer Kopernik became Copernicus outside Poland through Latinization, but he used to sign his name as he pleased - depending on his mood perhaps - as Koppernigk, Nicolaus Nicolai de Torunia, Copernik, Coppernicus or Copernici. In contemporary Polish, some historical names, usually foreign, are sometimes Latinized/Polonized. For example René Descartes becomes Kartezjusz; Charles Louis de Secondat baron de la Brède et de Montesquieu becomes Karol Ludwik Monteskiusz.
All these names - Wybierek, Wybierski, Wybor, Wybiera, Wybieracki, etc. - come from the verb wybierać meaning in Old Polish primarily "to pull out, to dig up (a vegetable from the ground) or to peel (a vegetable)" rather then "to choose." According to Stankiewicz, the meaning "choose" of the verb wybierać was the basis for name Wybraniec "one chosen for compulsory military duty."
Was Wyborcjusz an actual Polish name that may have been used in the Past.
The book says his name was "Wyborcjusz (Wybierek)." This means that his real name was Wybierek, but he also used a Latinized form of his Polish name (likely Viborcius) that was Polonized back to Wyborcjusz. It was a common practice at that time to Latinize Polish names and Polonize Latin (or any foreign) names. The Latinization/Polonization was especially popular among the clergy (Wybierek was a Jesuit). Because there were no official rules on how to write one's name many forms were used. Polish astronomer Kopernik became Copernicus outside Poland through Latinization, but he used to sign his name as he pleased - depending on his mood perhaps - as Koppernigk, Nicolaus Nicolai de Torunia, Copernik, Coppernicus or Copernici. In contemporary Polish, some historical names, usually foreign, are sometimes Latinized/Polonized. For example René Descartes becomes Kartezjusz; Charles Louis de Secondat baron de la Brède et de Montesquieu becomes Karol Ludwik Monteskiusz.
All these names - Wybierek, Wybierski, Wybor, Wybiera, Wybieracki, etc. - come from the verb wybierać meaning in Old Polish primarily "to pull out, to dig up (a vegetable from the ground) or to peel (a vegetable)" rather then "to choose." According to Stankiewicz, the meaning "choose" of the verb wybierać was the basis for name Wybraniec "one chosen for compulsory military duty."