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BENEDIKT Origin of surname

BENEDIKT, BENEDICKT

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname based on a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin. Benedikt is the German spelling of the Latin Benedict, which, as a Jewish family name, is the equivalent of the biblical male personal name Baruch. Baruch, "blessed" in Hebrew, was the son of Neriah, the scribe and trusted companion of the prophet Jeremiah. In the early biblical period, first names were given names in the full sense of the term, being the exclusive property of the person on whom they were conferred. This tradition was observed for many centuries, until the early Middle Ages when Jews again gave their sons biblical names, among them Baruch. One of the Hebrew votive names personal to a child in order to bring him good fortune in life, Baruch is widespread as a personal name throughout the Diaspora. In medieval Spanish documents, the name is found as Baruch, Abenbaruch, Avinbruch, Avenbruch and Baru. Jewish families in North Africa are called Barouche, Barouck, Barouh, Barouk, Barroch, Barruk, Baruk, Bourack, with variants including the suffix "El-" (such as Beruchiel), meaning "God" in Hebrew. In Alsace, France, Baruch became Borach and Borich. In Central and Eastern Europe, Baruch was identified with Berg, "mountain" in German, or Bruck, like the German word for "bridge". Other variants were derived from the Latin equivalent Benedict, for example Bendit, Benas, Bondy and Bondo. Translations into German include Seligman(n), into Latin Felix and into Italian Benedetto. Germanized forms range from Bernhard(t), Boerne and Borchard to Borg; French variants from Benoit to Bernet. Russian Jews transformed Baruch into Barbakoff - an acronym for Ben Baruch Kohen plus the Russian suffix "-off/-ov" standing for "son of", while their English cousins became Barnet, Barry or Bennet.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Benedikt include the 18th century chief rabbi of Moravia, Markus Benedikt, also known as Mordechai Benet, and Moritz Benedikt (1835-1920), the Austrian neuropathologist who, together with Lombroso, founded the science of criminal anthropology. In the 20th century, Benedickt, another German spelling of Benedict, is recorded as a Jewish surname during World War II with Erna Benedickt of Mannheim, Germany, who perished in the German death camp at Auschwitz in September 1942.

Moritz Benedikt (1835-1920), neurologist, born in Eisenstadt, Austria (then part of the Austrian Empire). He was a surgeon in the Austrian army during the wars with Italy and Prussia in 1859 and 1866, respectively. He taught at the University of Vienna, where he became Professor of Neurology. He was responsible for discoveries in the fields of electrotherapeutics and neuropathology and also wrote innovative studies on magnetism and electric current. His medical contributions included works on the physiology and pathology of the circulatory system. A pioneer of criminal anthropology he wrote Anatomical Studies upon the Brains of Criminals. Benedikt was also active in liberal causes including the extension of women's suffrage.

Moritz Benedikt (aka Moriz Benedikt) (1849-1920), journalist, born in Holesov, Czech Republic (then part of the Austrian Empire). He studied law and economics. In 1872 he was appointed to the financial staff of the most influential paper in Austria the Neue Freie Press. He was promoted to chief financial editor and later part owner. From 1908 onwards, after the death of his partner, Eduard Bacher, Moritz Benedekt was editor-in-chief and the person who decided on the paper’s editorial policy, and from that position influenced the Austrian affairs. His editorial attacked the electoral reforms advanced by the prime minister in three different paper issues and helped them to being dropped, resulting in PM’s resignation. Benedikt was a supporter of the German Liberal Party and opposed Zionism. He did not let Theodor Herzl, who was the literary editor of the paper, to publish anything in favor of Zionism. Benedikt supported the Austro-Hungary compromise and was elected to the upper house of the Austrian parliament in 1917.

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BENEDIKT Origin of surname
BENEDIKT, BENEDICKT

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname based on a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin. Benedikt is the German spelling of the Latin Benedict, which, as a Jewish family name, is the equivalent of the biblical male personal name Baruch. Baruch, "blessed" in Hebrew, was the son of Neriah, the scribe and trusted companion of the prophet Jeremiah. In the early biblical period, first names were given names in the full sense of the term, being the exclusive property of the person on whom they were conferred. This tradition was observed for many centuries, until the early Middle Ages when Jews again gave their sons biblical names, among them Baruch. One of the Hebrew votive names personal to a child in order to bring him good fortune in life, Baruch is widespread as a personal name throughout the Diaspora. In medieval Spanish documents, the name is found as Baruch, Abenbaruch, Avinbruch, Avenbruch and Baru. Jewish families in North Africa are called Barouche, Barouck, Barouh, Barouk, Barroch, Barruk, Baruk, Bourack, with variants including the suffix "El-" (such as Beruchiel), meaning "God" in Hebrew. In Alsace, France, Baruch became Borach and Borich. In Central and Eastern Europe, Baruch was identified with Berg, "mountain" in German, or Bruck, like the German word for "bridge". Other variants were derived from the Latin equivalent Benedict, for example Bendit, Benas, Bondy and Bondo. Translations into German include Seligman(n), into Latin Felix and into Italian Benedetto. Germanized forms range from Bernhard(t), Boerne and Borchard to Borg; French variants from Benoit to Bernet. Russian Jews transformed Baruch into Barbakoff - an acronym for Ben Baruch Kohen plus the Russian suffix "-off/-ov" standing for "son of", while their English cousins became Barnet, Barry or Bennet.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Benedikt include the 18th century chief rabbi of Moravia, Markus Benedikt, also known as Mordechai Benet, and Moritz Benedikt (1835-1920), the Austrian neuropathologist who, together with Lombroso, founded the science of criminal anthropology. In the 20th century, Benedickt, another German spelling of Benedict, is recorded as a Jewish surname during World War II with Erna Benedickt of Mannheim, Germany, who perished in the German death camp at Auschwitz in September 1942.
Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People
Moritz Benedikt

Moritz Benedikt (1835-1920), neurologist, born in Eisenstadt, Austria (then part of the Austrian Empire). He was a surgeon in the Austrian army during the wars with Italy and Prussia in 1859 and 1866, respectively. He taught at the University of Vienna, where he became Professor of Neurology. He was responsible for discoveries in the fields of electrotherapeutics and neuropathology and also wrote innovative studies on magnetism and electric current. His medical contributions included works on the physiology and pathology of the circulatory system. A pioneer of criminal anthropology he wrote Anatomical Studies upon the Brains of Criminals. Benedikt was also active in liberal causes including the extension of women's suffrage.

Moritz Benedikt

Moritz Benedikt (aka Moriz Benedikt) (1849-1920), journalist, born in Holesov, Czech Republic (then part of the Austrian Empire). He studied law and economics. In 1872 he was appointed to the financial staff of the most influential paper in Austria the Neue Freie Press. He was promoted to chief financial editor and later part owner. From 1908 onwards, after the death of his partner, Eduard Bacher, Moritz Benedekt was editor-in-chief and the person who decided on the paper’s editorial policy, and from that position influenced the Austrian affairs. His editorial attacked the electoral reforms advanced by the prime minister in three different paper issues and helped them to being dropped, resulting in PM’s resignation. Benedikt was a supporter of the German Liberal Party and opposed Zionism. He did not let Theodor Herzl, who was the literary editor of the paper, to publish anything in favor of Zionism. Benedikt supported the Austro-Hungary compromise and was elected to the upper house of the Austrian parliament in 1917.