Solovey/tshik

[Sarah Benor]

Dear onomasticians,

Do you know of any evidence for the use of the name Soloway/Solovey/Soloveytshik for Kohanim and Leviim specifically? One of my students has a legend in his family that they got this name because Leviim were associated with song.

Thanks,

Sarah

[Reuven Chaim Klein]

The way I heard it, the surname is related to the Yiddish סאָלאָוויי which means "nightingale" (obviously through a Slavic etymon because the English word nightingale is of Germanic origin) and just like the nightingale sings, the Levites sung in the Temple. But it sounds like a folk etymology. I'll see if I can find anything more.

Kol Tuv,

Reuven Chaim Klein

Beitar Illit, Israel

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[Sarah Benor]

Yes, I think this is a folk etymology. There may be many Levi and Kohen Solovay families, but I think the connection between Leviim and singing was a subsequent association.

Sarah