[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Saint Szczepan-Saint Stephan

[Gary Warner]

Otto,

Thanks.    Fortunately I do not need to equate 
the Stephan and Steffen names, since Legacy will 
match them up during a sounds-like merge.

Gary

At 03:08 PM 02/02/07, Otto wrote:
>Greetings Gary,
>No, I didn't duck the Szczepan question in my 
>E-letter to you this afternoon...
>I decided it was time for a beer with an old friend and placed you on hold.
>
>I just returned from a visitation with my old Polish friend Felix Wolanin.
>(great meaty homemade sausage with the beer)
>I inquired as to the frequent use of the Polish name 'Szczepan'.
>Both Felix and his wife Maria immediately agreed 
>that with them it is an ancient name.
>(they are both of the roman catholic persuasion)
>One not used in place of Steven or Steve by them.
>
>'Szczepan, pronounced by a Polish tongue as heard by my ear, is "Che'pahn".
>(kinda with a lisp at the start)(if my life 
>depended on proper Polish, I'm a goner)
>
>It is the name of the religious Saint Szczepan, or Saint Stefan [L. Stephanus]
>They stated the festival of St. Szczepan is right after Christmas in Poland.
>(or was... they both scooted as failed freedom 
>fighters in the '60's-Poland's loss.)
>
>Günther is correct in stating the German equivalent as being 'Stephan'.
>German pastors could well have translated Stephan to the Polish 'Szczepan'.
>I had an old friend from the territories, Heinrich Stephan.
>
>The Polish suffix 'ski' still appears to be confusing to some.
>Szczepan-ski simply indicates "from the estate of Szczepan."
>
>After 1806 and Napoleon sounding the death knell 
>for the feudal system, individuals could now own 
>their own acre of the good earth.  Many now 
>added the 'ski'. . . After all, they were now 
>vested landowners. A fad, similar to Berliners 
>adding 'ow' to sound more Prussian in nature years back.
>A question remained regarding use of the suffix. . .
>Did they own the estate? or did the Estate own them?
>
>. . .   Otto
>
>             " The Zen moment..." wk. of January 28, 2007
>                 ________________________________
>                           "Speak... without saying."
>