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My mother's family name was GIEJCHROCH. The only information available is that it is Polish and rare.
I would like to learn more about her surname, its origin and meaning. Her father was born in Pinsk, Belarus in early 1900s. I have seen it anglicized to GAYCROFT.
Thanks to anyone who is able to shine a light.
Sam
I would like to learn more about her surname, its origin and meaning. Her father was born in Pinsk, Belarus in early 1900s. I have seen it anglicized to GAYCROFT.
Thanks to anyone who is able to shine a light.
Sam
This message was edited 6/8/2025, 8:18 PM
1
Replies
This surname doesn't seem to exist in modern Poland but there are some Belarusians and Russians with it out there. Although they seem to prefer to transliterate it as Geihroh.
My first thought was also that it could be German or Yiddish - a German surname beginning in Geh- for instance could be spelled with Giej- in Polish (how if I was just writing down gehrock (coat) from just sound I could go with giejrok). But pronunciation wise I'm not convinced that anything originally in German could become -jchr- in Polish. I suppose it could have been spelled with "ch" and the spelling rather than pronunciation was preserved.
Looking at similar Polish surnames I found this article:
https://repozytorium.amu.edu.pl/server/api/core/bitstreams/eabeb2b7-9a8e-4545-81c5-8fc755956201/content
The article is in Polish but Google translate handles Polish reasonably well.
It doesn't have Giejchroch but it has some other surnames with the same first part: Giejdziun, Giejgało, Giejsztor, Giejsztowt.
An issue with the Lithuanian origins is that -chroch doesn't seem to be Lithuanian. And Pinsk where practically everyone with this surname seems to come from is not that close to Lithuania.
But honestly considering the current distribution and some historical examples, if I had to bet, I'd guess that the name comes from Russian or Belarusian. I don't think it's Yiddish for several reasons that each wouldn't weigh much separately but together they make me think it's more likely not Jewish: 1. the given names of the people I could find with this surname - none of them had Jewish given names (Vyacheslav, Illarion, Sergey, etc.), 2. your mother (I'm assuming it's her from your other posts) is listed with specifically Polish refugees (Jewish refugees would probably be listed as such), 3. this guy specifically: https://eparhiya.by/2024/02/28/gejhroh-nikolaj-protoierej/ - it says there he came from a long line of clergymen so that would point to the family not being Jewish. This doesn't necessarily mean the name itself didn't start off as Yiddish but I think it's more likely it's just Russian/Belarusian.
My first thought was also that it could be German or Yiddish - a German surname beginning in Geh- for instance could be spelled with Giej- in Polish (how if I was just writing down gehrock (coat) from just sound I could go with giejrok). But pronunciation wise I'm not convinced that anything originally in German could become -jchr- in Polish. I suppose it could have been spelled with "ch" and the spelling rather than pronunciation was preserved.
Looking at similar Polish surnames I found this article:
https://repozytorium.amu.edu.pl/server/api/core/bitstreams/eabeb2b7-9a8e-4545-81c5-8fc755956201/content
The article is in Polish but Google translate handles Polish reasonably well.
It doesn't have Giejchroch but it has some other surnames with the same first part: Giejdziun, Giejgało, Giejsztor, Giejsztowt.
An issue with the Lithuanian origins is that -chroch doesn't seem to be Lithuanian. And Pinsk where practically everyone with this surname seems to come from is not that close to Lithuania.
But honestly considering the current distribution and some historical examples, if I had to bet, I'd guess that the name comes from Russian or Belarusian. I don't think it's Yiddish for several reasons that each wouldn't weigh much separately but together they make me think it's more likely not Jewish: 1. the given names of the people I could find with this surname - none of them had Jewish given names (Vyacheslav, Illarion, Sergey, etc.), 2. your mother (I'm assuming it's her from your other posts) is listed with specifically Polish refugees (Jewish refugees would probably be listed as such), 3. this guy specifically: https://eparhiya.by/2024/02/28/gejhroh-nikolaj-protoierej/ - it says there he came from a long line of clergymen so that would point to the family not being Jewish. This doesn't necessarily mean the name itself didn't start off as Yiddish but I think it's more likely it's just Russian/Belarusian.
This message was edited 6/10/2025, 12:48 PM
2
Cherrypiee - Chwala, thank-you very much. You and each respondent have given me so much to work from. The genealogy links for Giejchroch great grandparents also provide further scope for me to explore.
Sam
Sam
1
Very helpful response, Anya. Thank-you. Yes, 6% Ashkenazi Jew - DNA result but became Roman Catholic over time.
Double thumbs-up!
Sam
Double thumbs-up!
Sam
2
It does have Yiddish sound so I would say it's very possible it's Yiddish surname.
I don't have statistics for everywhere there but I do know in early 1900s Belarusian capital was about 50% Jewish, and there was notable amount in other places in East Slav area / Poland. Poland had a lot of Jews before WW2. Western Ukraine also had many Jews at that time. They are not there anymore because of Nazis and Soviets.
I don't have statistics for everywhere there but I do know in early 1900s Belarusian capital was about 50% Jewish, and there was notable amount in other places in East Slav area / Poland. Poland had a lot of Jews before WW2. Western Ukraine also had many Jews at that time. They are not there anymore because of Nazis and Soviets.
2
Thankyou, Anya. It is indeed a sad history and its impact is intergenerational. My genealogical search hit a brick wall but understanding the origin of their surname permits me another perspective about their lives.
Sam
Sam
2