Any info on meaning/origin of KALMUS?
David Joseph Colman
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While researching my Kalmanowicz family from Raciaz/Sierpc/Drobin/Rypin,
I discovered that Blima Kalmanowicz, born 1861 in Drobin, was referred
to on her marriage record as Kalmus/Kalmanowicz.
A bit of quick searching in the JewishGen site shows Kalmus as name used
in Austria, Galicia, and other parts of Poland.
Does anybody know of the origin and meaning of this name. Also, other
than the obvious fact of the same initial 4 letters, does anybody have
any insight into why there might have been this "addition" to her
surname after birth?
It may help to know that her father, Kalman, died either just before or
just after her birth.
David Colman
Toronto, Canada
mailto:dy...@home.com
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In a message dated 3/14/2001 10:01:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, dy...@home.com
writes:
<< While researching my Kalmanowicz family from Raciaz/Sierpc/Drobin/Rypin,
I discovered that Blima Kalmanowicz, born 1861 in Drobin, was referred
to on her marriage record as Kalmus/Kalmanowicz.
A bit of quick searching in the JewishGen site shows Kalmus as name used
in Austria, Galicia, and other parts of Poland.
Does anybody know of the origin and meaning of this name. Also, other
than the obvious fact of the same initial 4 letters, does anybody have
any insight into why there might have been this "addition" to her
surname after birth?
It may help to know that her father, Kalman, died either just before or
just after her birth.
>>
Kulmus, Rabbinic-aramaic for "quill" (pen) is from the Greek "kalamus"
meaning "reed" (an alternative to the quill as a writing instrument). But
that is not directly the origin of your name.
The Greek translation for the Hebrew personal name "Shem Tov" [good name,
or reputation] is "Kalonymos," a name borne by many rabbis from the 2nd
century on.
Most famous is the Kalonymos family that flourished in Italy in the
centuried after the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E., one of whom--from
whom the rabbinic dynasties of Germany (and Ashkenaz) are descended--was
invited by the Holy Roman Emperor in the 9th century to head the Jewish
community at Mayence (Mainz). It was they who brought the old Yerushalmi
(Jerusalem) rituals that eventually formed the basis of Ashkenazi teaching
(as distinguished from other communities that fell under the influence of
Babylonian teaching).
The Kalonyms family is renowned also for the many paytanim (composers of
liturgical poetry) it produced--about half of the piyutim (poems) of the
Ashkenazi Yom Kippur service was written by members of this family.
The Hebrew name Kalonymos has been passed down through the generations, and
was "Europeanized" as "Kalman." Kalmanovitz is Slavic for "son of Kalman."
The Hebrew (synagogue) name Kalonymos was almost always coupled with the
Kalman name. Kalmus MAY be a Hungarian for of Kalman (correct me, please,
Hungarian mayvins), and was probably a slurred "Yiddish" pronunciation of
Kalonymos.
Whether all Kalman/Kalonymos/Kalmanovitzes are descendants of the Kalonymos
family of Lucca, Italy is not certain--but feel free to revel in the glory
of this distinguished family of rabbis and poets.
Michael Bernet
mailto:mBe...@AOL.COM