Does "Kaputa" have meaning as a word? & KAPUTA family of Bohemia
James and Chris
I am researching the Kaputa family, who immigrated from Bohemia to the
U.S. during the mid-to-later 1800's (very little info. as yet). Can
anyone tell me if "Kaputa" has meaning as a word, and if they've come
across the name in their research?
Thanks!
Christine :)
Perun
Could it be a borrowing from German 'kaput'?
James and Chris
Hmm... that's a good question! Sorry to be a pain, but do you happen to know
the meaning of thr German "kaput"? I'd appreciate it very much!
Christine :)
James A Honeychuck
"Kaput" means "broken." This doesn't fit as any sort of surname, but
Perun probably suggested it because Bohemia had so many ethnic Germans,
and because Kaputa does not suggest any Slavic word other than "kapusta"
(cabbage), which doesn't sound like a surname either.
Jim
Perun
James A Honeychuck wrote:
> "Kaput" means "broken." This doesn't fit as any sort of surname, but
> Perun probably suggested it because Bohemia had so many ethnic Germans,
That's true, that is what I had in mind.
> and because Kaputa does not suggest any Slavic word other than "kapusta"
> (cabbage), which doesn't sound like a surname either.
I don't agree. 'Kapusta' could easily be a last name in any Slavic tongue, but
losing 's' sound is very improbable.
Perun
JLapinElle
What about Latin as a source for the name Kaputa? Caput means head in Latin.
Since early church records were predominately Latin, why not a name with
origins in that language. I have seen some examples of this, most recently the
surname Hortulany indicating a gardener.
Joan Lapinski
Perun
So, is German 'kaput' borrowing from Latin also, meaning 'to behead'?
Petar Kolakovic
In article <6c6u28$g...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>, James A Honeychuck
<jimh...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> "Kaput" means "broken." This doesn't fit as any sort of surname, but
> Perun probably suggested it because Bohemia had so many ethnic Germans,
> and because Kaputa does not suggest any Slavic word other than "kapusta"
> (cabbage), which doesn't sound like a surname either.
"Kaput" in Croatian means "coat".
--
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_\ _\ _\ _\ Petar Kolakovic
_\ _\ _\ _\ _\ petar.k...@utoronto.ca
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Vulgarity is the crutch of linguistic cripples...
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arm...@vms.cis.pitt.edu
A Czech dictionary gives an archaic word "kaput" meaning an overcoat
(the dictionary says from Latin, but it seems to me via French).
It gives a second meaning as colloquial for "get out of here!"
It also gives another archaic word kapota, meaning a hood or a
hooded cloak. I think later on kapota came to refer to the hood
of a car (?).
Joe Armata
arm...@vms.cis.pitt.edu
Paul J Kriha
In article <6c6u28$g...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>, James A Honeychuck <jimh...@worldnet.att.net>
wrote:
>"Kaput" means "broken." This doesn't fit as any sort of surname, but
>Perun probably suggested it because Bohemia had so many ethnic Germans,
>and because Kaputa does not suggest any Slavic word other than "kapusta"
>(cabbage), which doesn't sound like a surname either.
Nevertheless, Kapusta *is* a common Czech surname.
Prague phone directory shows no Kaputa, but several Kapustas and
Kapustovas (ie feminine version).
Paul JK
--
Know what's weird? Day by day nothing seems to
change, but pretty soon everything is different.
Perun
arm...@vms.cis.pitt.edu wrote:
>
I believe so, in Russian 'kapot' means either hood of a car or 'hood' of
hats that women wore in 18-19th centuries.
Hoodoo
[This followup was posted to soc.genealogy.slavic and a copy was sent to
the cited author.]
I am interested in your reply. Why doesn't Kapusta sound like a surname?
My surname is CMELAK which supposedly means "bumblebee" or "big bee".
There is a Czechoslovakian made crop dusting plane named the CMELAK. I
posted a few months ago seeking help on learning more about my surname.
All I found were a few references on the 'net regarding the plane. I
would still like to hear more about the origin of my name.
Can anyone help me with this?
Bill Cmelak
In article <6c6u28$g...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>,
jimh...@worldnet.att.net says...
> "Kaput" means "broken." This doesn't fit as any sort of surname, but
> Perun probably suggested it because Bohemia had so many ethnic Germans,
> and because Kaputa does not suggest any Slavic word other than "kapusta"
> (cabbage), which doesn't sound like a surname either.
>
> Jim
>
Perun
find out that the guy was wrong. I personally wrote that a word describing an
object can easily be a last name in any Slavic tongue (Kapusta-Czech,
Bubka-Ukr, Ljul'ka-Rus, there are much more but it escapes me right now).
I am sorry, but cannot help you with your last name, but as you see any object
can be used as a last name in Slavic. Although I know for sure that Russian
normally adds an ending (cf. Kapustin, Bubkin, Ljul'kin).
mario nikita erlic
In Croatain kaput means overcoat. Could indicate a possibility that
they were coatmakers.
James Kaczmarek
Paul J Kriha wrote:
>
> In article <6c6u28$g...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>, James A Honeychuck <jimh...@worldnet.att.net>
> wrote:
> >(cabbage), which doesn't sound like a surname either.
>
>
> Prague phone directory shows no Kaputa, but several Kapustas and
> Kapustovas (ie feminine version).
>
> Paul JK
>
the Kapus- root -> Kapusta, Kapustka, Kapuscinski, all derived from
cabbage. (Besides I love Cabbage Rolls!) All you Slavic name seekers
should get this book. It's not expensive, and ca 300 pages of good info
re: Polish, and by extension, Slavic surnames. Well worth the price.
Jim
James Kaczmarek
> > I am interested in your reply. Why doesn't Kapusta sound like a surname?
I may have mentioned before, but it probably bears repeating. Virtually
no word is exempt from use in Polish surnames. A local favorite high
school football coach of my father's generation (born 1906) was named
Mierzwa, with the nickname of "Red." He also owned a small drive in
which he had open in summers. "Red Mierzwa's Drive-in" Mierzwa means
barnyard manure. No s..., well you know no what. When the Polish
peasants began adopting surnames, often their noble lord gave them
names. Fun loving guys that they were, they often gave their peasants
ridiculous names. Before this time only nobles had surnames, and
peasants adopting surnames were thought of as trying to emulate their
betters.
A vaguely similar thing happened in Europe, especially German areas,
regarding Coats of Arms. The rising middle class merchants, etc, began
to adopt coat armor. The nobles made restrictions about how arms could
look to keep themselves separate from the bourgeous folks. Of course,
devices, helmets, etc restricted for use only by nobles would be adopted
by non-nobles, which led to other restrictions, which led to usurpation,
etc, etc. Simularly, the rising middle classes had portraits painted,
which earlier was only done by nobles.
The Polish "SKI" supposedly indicated nobility, however many Polish
peasants, in a turnabout I suppose, adopted "SKI" names, perhaps to try
to fool people, or maybe only for the supposed prestigue.
I also know that a Polish professor many years ago, upon meeting me for
the first time, said my name a few times, and then remarked. "Ah, a
typical Polish peasant name." My mother's folks were German nobles, so
I remain hopelessly schizoid!!!
JIM
King Karol
I have heard a story of a family whose name was, until about 10 years
ago, Kurwa, which literally translates to whore or bitch but effectively
has the same vulgar power as fuck (which means that you don't use this
word in front of a priest or a potential mother-in-law, unless you're
looking to get out of the potential marriage or you happen to be talking
about Joe Kurwa).
King Karol
In my previous post, i used some words which may be construed as
offensive by some. I was trying to convey a concept, and using these
words in and of themselves to convey this concept. I now realize i
presented myself rather unprofessionally. I don't necessarily condone
profanity; in fact, it makes the conversation sound less deserving of
consideration and respect. I offer my apologies to those who take
offense to my choice of words and my assurance that i will present
myself more appropriately in the future. And, of course, if anyone
disagrees with me about any aspect of my present or future posts, all
you need to do is to email me; i am more than willing to hear others'
opinions and work with you rather than against. Additionally, i wish to
preserve the integrity of this news group, be it by watching my verbiage
or presenting accurate information. It is an invaluable source of
information for people trying to trace their origins. My efforts in
placing information henceforth shall be realized in the best method
possible,
fahima.fan...@gmail.com
It's a very nice surname, it talks about leadership and how strong someone can be if the war declared between nations or within districts.
I hope every one who was doubting about the meaning has grasped the concept clear about the meaning of the name Kaputa and it's interpretation.