POLLACK Origin of surname
POLLACK
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 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.
The surname Pollack is a form of Polack meaning "Polish", and one of numerous names applied to Poles. A striking example of a place name from which family names are derived is Poland, with one of the biggest and most important Jewish populations in the European Diaspora until the Holocaust. The terms Pollak (German), Polacco (Italian), Polonais (French), Polacek (Czech), were used to describe a person from that country. Polsky (the adjective in Polish) and their derivatives - including abbreviations and extensions influenced by the languages spoken by the ethnic majorities among whom Jews lived at the time - produced numerous variants of family names, all of which mean "Pole" or "Polish". The family name Pollack is documented in the 15th century in northern Bohemia, where it also appears as Polak in the 16th century. Benedikt Pollak of Prague attended the Leipzig fair in Germany in 1675, as did several Jews calling themselves Polack in 1676. The form Poll (which could be an abbreviation of Pollak or Pole) is found in the 1693 list of Jewish Leipzig fair visitors. Pohlack is documented in 1697 in Mannheim, Germany; Polacke in 1739 in Metz, France, and Pollyak in 1746 in Pressburg (Bratislava) in Slovakia. In 1751 the Jews attending the Leipzig fair included Lazarus Polazcsik, and in 1761 Enoch Polatschik. Polonais is documented in Paris in 1780 and Pollonais in 1798 in Nice, France. The variants Bolac, Bol(l)ack, Bol(l)ach and Bolackin were current in Alsace in the late 18th century. Polyakov/Poliakof(f), Polonsky and Polsky became frequent in 19th century Russia and America. Lengyel, the Hungarian term for "Pole"/"Polish" was often adopted in the 19th century. The mid 20th century witnessed the birth of new French forms Bollack; Poulain from Pollak, and Poliet from Poliakof.
Distinguished bearers of the name Pol(l)ack include the Bohemian-born Polish rabbi, creator of the study of 'Pilpul' ("dialectic"), Jacob Pollack, also spelled Pollak, (1460-1541); the English trader, adventurer and author, Joel Polack (1807-1882), expert on New Zealand and Maori folklore; the Bohemian opera conductor, EgonPollack (1879-1933); and the 20th century Canadian-born American psychiatrist, Benjamin Pollack.
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 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.
The surname Pollack is a form of Polack meaning "Polish", and one of numerous names applied to Poles. A striking example of a place name from which family names are derived is Poland, with one of the biggest and most important Jewish populations in the European Diaspora until the Holocaust. The terms Pollak (German), Polacco (Italian), Polonais (French), Polacek (Czech), were used to describe a person from that country. Polsky (the adjective in Polish) and their derivatives - including abbreviations and extensions influenced by the languages spoken by the ethnic majorities among whom Jews lived at the time - produced numerous variants of family names, all of which mean "Pole" or "Polish". The family name Pollack is documented in the 15th century in northern Bohemia, where it also appears as Polak in the 16th century. Benedikt Pollak of Prague attended the Leipzig fair in Germany in 1675, as did several Jews calling themselves Polack in 1676. The form Poll (which could be an abbreviation of Pollak or Pole) is found in the 1693 list of Jewish Leipzig fair visitors. Pohlack is documented in 1697 in Mannheim, Germany; Polacke in 1739 in Metz, France, and Pollyak in 1746 in Pressburg (Bratislava) in Slovakia. In 1751 the Jews attending the Leipzig fair included Lazarus Polazcsik, and in 1761 Enoch Polatschik. Polonais is documented in Paris in 1780 and Pollonais in 1798 in Nice, France. The variants Bolac, Bol(l)ack, Bol(l)ach and Bolackin were current in Alsace in the late 18th century. Polyakov/Poliakof(f), Polonsky and Polsky became frequent in 19th century Russia and America. Lengyel, the Hungarian term for "Pole"/"Polish" was often adopted in the 19th century. The mid 20th century witnessed the birth of new French forms Bollack; Poulain from Pollak, and Poliet from Poliakof.
Distinguished bearers of the name Pol(l)ack include the Bohemian-born Polish rabbi, creator of the study of 'Pilpul' ("dialectic"), Jacob Pollack, also spelled Pollak, (1460-1541); the English trader, adventurer and author, Joel Polack (1807-1882), expert on New Zealand and Maori folklore; the Bohemian opera conductor, EgonPollack (1879-1933); and the 20th century Canadian-born American psychiatrist, Benjamin Pollack.