PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: "vel" in surname

dnowicki — Thu Mar 07, 2019 8:56 am

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 8:56 am

marcelproust wrote:

Moni wrote:

There's an unusual name structure in my family tree, and I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand what may have brought it about. The surname is "Gołabek vel Taube." I've heard that "vel" might mean "also known as." What are the circumstances that would lead to a name addition like this? Is this a uniquely Polish name or does it come from other languages (e.g. German or Russian?)?

in german language Taube means Dove(Pigeon), in polish dove means gołąbek

so Taube=Gołąbek.

german name was polonized

Hi Moni,

Vel is a Latin conjunction which means “or”. Latin words and phrases were, and are, commonly found in documents from the various language groups of Europe, including English—not surprising since Latin was the common language of scholarship and diplomacy in Europe well into the 17th Century. In a sense, Latin functioned in European society much like English does in contemporary society as a well understood means of communication between people who spoke various vernacular languages.

As a side note...approximately 65% of modern English words are derived from Latin and another 10% are from Classical Greek.

It would not have been unusual to find a surname in both its German and Polish forms in an area where individuals who spoke either language as their first language lived in proximity to each other. This was certainly the case in the Płock/Gąbin area.

Wishing you continued success,

Dave

Re: "vel" in surname

marcelproust — Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:13 am

Author: marcelproust

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:13 am

Moni wrote:

in german language Taube means Dove(Pigeon), in polish dove means gołąbek

so Taube=Gołąbek.

german name was polonized

"vel" in surname

Moni — Wed Mar 06, 2019 9:52 pm

Author: Moni

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 9:52 pm

There's an unusual name structure in my family tree, and I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand what may have brought it about. The surname is "Gołabek vel Taube." I've heard that "vel" might mean "also known as." What are the circumstances that would lead to a name addition like this? Is this a uniquely Polish name or does it come from other languages (e.g. German or Russian?)?