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ArchivesRe: Korcsak
in reply to a message by Dora
I think it must be an import. There is a Hungarian word, KORCS, meaning "half-breed", but that's probably coincidence. I didn't know there was a Czech version of this name, that can only add to the confusion regarding its origin.
As for the meaning I've seen several explanations, none of them satisfactory; from a word for a tree-stump, a wooden shovel or scoop, wine-glass.
Is it Hebrew? I don't think so. Is it a Jewish name? Apart from Janusz Korczak, who was born Henryk Goldszmit, I don't know of any Jewish Korczaks.
As for the meaning I've seen several explanations, none of them satisfactory; from a word for a tree-stump, a wooden shovel or scoop, wine-glass.
Is it Hebrew? I don't think so. Is it a Jewish name? Apart from Janusz Korczak, who was born Henryk Goldszmit, I don't know of any Jewish Korczaks.
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Replies
I believe the word korcs is unrelated - Hungarian surnames, unlike those of other countries, very rarely have negative meanings. Of course I'm not a linguist, but I could see Korcsák coming from the Czech Korczak; the Czech "cz" and the Hungarian "cs" indicate the same sound AFAIK.
Budgerigars, ceiling fans, the Times of India are all part of the luggage I brought into the world... Blue Jesus leaked into me; and Mary's desperation, and Joseph's revolutionary wildness, and the flightiness of Alice Pereira... all these made me, too.
(Midnight's Children)
Budgerigars, ceiling fans, the Times of India are all part of the luggage I brought into the world... Blue Jesus leaked into me; and Mary's desperation, and Joseph's revolutionary wildness, and the flightiness of Alice Pereira... all these made me, too.
(Midnight's Children)
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I read in an earlier post on this site (way, way earlier) that the name "Korshak" is listed in "A Dictionary of Jewish names and their History". Could they be related?
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I've wondered about that too. If memory serves Korshak is Ukrainian and means "eagle". There might be some sort of connection with the German Adler, which is also a Jewish surname. I've always thought of Korczak as a Polish name, but not one adopted by Jews. It seems this may not be the case.
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