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Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim wrote:
nycram schrieb:
As you probably know full well, there are two totally unrelated types
of German names including "stein".
a) Names derived from geographical features suitable for the placement
of a medieval style defensive burg. The name of the geographical
feature is then used as a family name, either for the owners or for
wannabe owners or for locals who moved away and got called "the people
fron x-stein.
b) Names in which "stein" means jewel--like your example
Bernstein=amber, Marmelstein=marble, rubinstein=ruby, eckstein=diamond.
For historical reasons these names are usually borne by people of
Jewish origin.
No useful purpose other than obfuscation is served by mixing the two
classes of names.
I think Einstein is one of the jewel-names.
Gary
Yes; I believe this makes sense and the German: Edelstein. Do you think
most people bearing this name were of Jewish origint (the Jews traded
with Edelsteine (gems)?
Jews were heavily concentrated in the trade of gems and precious metals
(viz. all the German/Yiddish surnames with "gold", "silver", "silber")
as those were among the few occupations that were open to them.
> Does that show Einstein as a name for a jewel
meant there was only one jewel.
I'm wondering how many different ways you'll come up with to ask "What
does 'Einstein' mean?"
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