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KANITZ Origin of surname

KANITZ

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from lineage (priestly, Levite, convert). This family name may also be a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.

Kanitz may be linked to Kunitz/Kanitz/Kounice, a town in Moravia, where Jews lived since the 14th century, and Konitz, the German name of the Polish town Chojnice. As a Jewish name Kanitz is also a variant of Cohen/Kohen, the Hebrew for "priest". The oldest and probably the most common Jewish family name in existence, Cohen indicates descent from the biblical priestly family, Cohanim. According to tradition, the Cohanim are descendants of Aaron, the first high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. The Cohanim performed consecrated duties in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE and still have certain duties and prerogatives in religious life.

A great many variants of the name are documented all over the world. In many cases Cohen was transformed into vernacular-sounding names. This enabled Jews in the Diaspora both to maintain their Jewish tradition, as well as to become part of their host society. Among the forms frequent in the Mediterranean region are Kahin, Al-Kuhen, El-Kohen, Kouihen, Choen, Xohen and Cof(f)en.

Variants documented in Europe include: Cowen and Cowan (England); Cohn, Conn, Kahn, Kohn(e) and Kohner (Germany and Austria); Cahn, Cahen, Cahon, Caen and Cain (France); Coen (Italy); Cahan, Cahona, Kahana, Kahano, Kahane, Kon, Koihen, Kagan, Kogan, Kaplan, Kohnowsky, Koganovitch, Kahanow, Kahansky, Konstamm (Eastern Europe).

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Kanitz include the Hungarian botanist, author and publisher Agost (August) Kanitz (1843-1896).

Agost Kanitz (1843-1896), botanist, born in Lugoj, Romania (then Lugos, part of the Austrian Empire) and died in Cluj, Romania (then part of Austria-Hungary). He studied in Vienna, Paris, and in Leyden, Holland.

In 1872 he was made professor of botany at the University of Kolozsvar (then in Hungary, later Cluj, Romania), where he established a botanical institute and herbarium. Kanitz was the first scientist in southeastern Europe to work for the classification of flora throughout the region. Together with others he classified the flora of Slavonia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Albania. He also edited a list of the flora of Romania.

He classified and wrote about the flora collected by Hungarian expeditions to Asia Minor and China. He contributed to Flora Brasiliensis, edited by Carl F. Martius. He was a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Arts and of numerous international scientific institutions, among them the international botanical jury of Florence, Italy. He founded, sponsored and edited from 1877 to 1892 the first botanical journal of Hungary, Magyar Novenytani Lapok. He wrote a number of books on the subject.

Felix Philipp Kanitz (1829-1904), ethnographer and art historian, born in Pest (now Budapest), Hungary (then part of the Austrian Empire). He studied history, archeology and ethnography at various universities in Austria, Germany and France. He traveled throughout Serbia, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries in order to investigate relics of the Roman and Byzantine empires there. Later he became interested in the history and cultures of the peoples who had lived in the Balkans after the disintegration of these empires.

Kanitz published his findings in "Die Roemischen Funde in Serbien" (1861); "Serbiens Byzantinische Monumente" (1862); "Reise in Suedserbien und Nordbulgarien" (1878); "Serbien, historisch-ethnographische Reisestudien aus den Jahren 1859-1868" (1868); "Donau-Bulgarian und der Balkan" (1875-79); "Roemische Studien aus Serbien" (1892); "Katechismus der Ornamentik" (1902); "Das Koenigreich Serbien" (1904).

Kanitz, who converted to Christianity at some time in his life, died in Vienna in 1904.

Dezso Kanitz de Nagyecser (1856-1938), banker and industrialist, the a son of a wealthy landowner and merchant, born in Eger, Heves county, Hungary. His father made him partner in his business ventures.

In 1894 he founded the "Agrar Takarekpenztar" ("Farmers Savings Bank"), which under his guidance became one of the most important provincial banks in Hungary. By founding thirteen commercial and industrial enterprises, he contributed notably to the economic prosperity of his native town and county. He played a prominent part in the public and social life of the city of Eger and of Heves county.

Kanitz was president of the Jewish congregation and of the Hevrah Kaddishah of Eger. In 1910 Kanitz was knighted and authorized to use the title "de Nagyecser." after his name. The building of a beautiful new synagogue in Eger (1913) and the transformation of the old synagogue into a Jewish cultural centre were a result of his initiative.

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KANITZ Origin of surname
KANITZ

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from lineage (priestly, Levite, convert). This family name may also be a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.

Kanitz may be linked to Kunitz/Kanitz/Kounice, a town in Moravia, where Jews lived since the 14th century, and Konitz, the German name of the Polish town Chojnice. As a Jewish name Kanitz is also a variant of Cohen/Kohen, the Hebrew for "priest". The oldest and probably the most common Jewish family name in existence, Cohen indicates descent from the biblical priestly family, Cohanim. According to tradition, the Cohanim are descendants of Aaron, the first high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. The Cohanim performed consecrated duties in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE and still have certain duties and prerogatives in religious life.

A great many variants of the name are documented all over the world. In many cases Cohen was transformed into vernacular-sounding names. This enabled Jews in the Diaspora both to maintain their Jewish tradition, as well as to become part of their host society. Among the forms frequent in the Mediterranean region are Kahin, Al-Kuhen, El-Kohen, Kouihen, Choen, Xohen and Cof(f)en.

Variants documented in Europe include: Cowen and Cowan (England); Cohn, Conn, Kahn, Kohn(e) and Kohner (Germany and Austria); Cahn, Cahen, Cahon, Caen and Cain (France); Coen (Italy); Cahan, Cahona, Kahana, Kahano, Kahane, Kon, Koihen, Kagan, Kogan, Kaplan, Kohnowsky, Koganovitch, Kahanow, Kahansky, Konstamm (Eastern Europe).

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Kanitz include the Hungarian botanist, author and publisher Agost (August) Kanitz (1843-1896).
Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People
Agost Kanitz

Agost Kanitz (1843-1896), botanist, born in Lugoj, Romania (then Lugos, part of the Austrian Empire) and died in Cluj, Romania (then part of Austria-Hungary). He studied in Vienna, Paris, and in Leyden, Holland.

In 1872 he was made professor of botany at the University of Kolozsvar (then in Hungary, later Cluj, Romania), where he established a botanical institute and herbarium. Kanitz was the first scientist in southeastern Europe to work for the classification of flora throughout the region. Together with others he classified the flora of Slavonia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Albania. He also edited a list of the flora of Romania.

He classified and wrote about the flora collected by Hungarian expeditions to Asia Minor and China. He contributed to Flora Brasiliensis, edited by Carl F. Martius. He was a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Arts and of numerous international scientific institutions, among them the international botanical jury of Florence, Italy. He founded, sponsored and edited from 1877 to 1892 the first botanical journal of Hungary, Magyar Novenytani Lapok. He wrote a number of books on the subject.

Felix Philipp Kanitz

Felix Philipp Kanitz (1829-1904), ethnographer and art historian, born in Pest (now Budapest), Hungary (then part of the Austrian Empire). He studied history, archeology and ethnography at various universities in Austria, Germany and France. He traveled throughout Serbia, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries in order to investigate relics of the Roman and Byzantine empires there. Later he became interested in the history and cultures of the peoples who had lived in the Balkans after the disintegration of these empires.

Kanitz published his findings in "Die Roemischen Funde in Serbien" (1861); "Serbiens Byzantinische Monumente" (1862); "Reise in Suedserbien und Nordbulgarien" (1878); "Serbien, historisch-ethnographische Reisestudien aus den Jahren 1859-1868" (1868); "Donau-Bulgarian und der Balkan" (1875-79); "Roemische Studien aus Serbien" (1892); "Katechismus der Ornamentik" (1902); "Das Koenigreich Serbien" (1904).

Kanitz, who converted to Christianity at some time in his life, died in Vienna in 1904.

Dezso Kanitz de Nagyecser

Dezso Kanitz de Nagyecser (1856-1938), banker and industrialist, the a son of a wealthy landowner and merchant, born in Eger, Heves county, Hungary. His father made him partner in his business ventures.

In 1894 he founded the "Agrar Takarekpenztar" ("Farmers Savings Bank"), which under his guidance became one of the most important provincial banks in Hungary. By founding thirteen commercial and industrial enterprises, he contributed notably to the economic prosperity of his native town and county. He played a prominent part in the public and social life of the city of Eger and of Heves county.

Kanitz was president of the Jewish congregation and of the Hevrah Kaddishah of Eger. In 1910 Kanitz was knighted and authorized to use the title "de Nagyecser." after his name. The building of a beautiful new synagogue in Eger (1913) and the transformation of the old synagogue into a Jewish cultural centre were a result of his initiative.