In previous posts I mentioned it's exciting for the family historian or genealogist to find out there is nobility in the blood line, not because you want to Put On The Ritz, but because it means you may keep going further back in your research. (After all, becoming American Citizens your noble immigrant ancestor gave up their titles.) You may be able to link to census, patents of nobility, information in the Urbarium or in the archives of the National Archives of Hungary!
It's exciting to think that your ancestors were contemporaries of George Washington, our first President of the United States. I always wonder how much news they received in Hungarian villages, how much they knew about revolutions in other countries such as the United States or France.
One thing I've become sensitive to is that pre-1848 the BAPTISMAL records are recording professions and status, and you'll see notations of nobility.
The word IGNOBLE means "not a noble."
N. No. or Nos. is an abbreviation for Noble/ Nobilis.
NEMES means NOBLE but NEMET simply means German.
B. abbreviation for BARON. Though Barons usually own land and are nobles, a person can be a Baron and not be noble.
D. in Latin DOMINUS is related to the English word dominating or in charge - the boss - be that Noble or Baron. Sometimes a government official.
You may also see notes that the person is a TISZT meaning Officer in Hungarian - meaning in the Military or a Governmental person. Other resources may confirm their rank or roles.
In Latin a PLEBE is someone who is a Commoner.
In Latin an OPIFEX is a person who has a Trade or Business. (This word does not mean "Officer" as in the military.)
In Latin a JUDEX is not a Jewish Person. They are a Judge. (Or in some way working within legal professions or legalities.) If a person is Jewish, they will likely be noted as "Moses" / Mos. or "Izraelite" / Izr.
IPAROS in Hungarian translates to Industrialist - currently. Pre the Industrial revolution though I believe it simply relates to being a craftsman or manufacturer, perhaps someone who is a "maker." IPARI TANULO (but you'll see IPARI) is a craftsman's apprentice. Crafts include a wide variety of professions, some within the arts today. Look for more information on what they do.
A "BAN" suggests a person in possession of a castle, or local ruler. BANYASZ is a miner. (Banya means mine.) A Ban may or may not also be a Baron.
A "FAMILIARES" is usually a lesser noble (or a broke one) who works for a higher noble. Careful! This word does not mean the person is FAMILY.
A "Burger Noble," is an English term but based on the German word "burger" is an Urban - City or Town - Noble, who may also have country or agricultural possessions locally or in many counties but indicates a choice of city life. City life is sometimes associated with higher education. (Since "towns" had far less population in previous centuries than they do today, you might still find this person in what we consider to be a "village.")
In Hungarian the term "UJMAGYAR" meaning New Magyar - or New Hungarian - means gypsy. When progressive Queen Marie Theresa decided that the gypsies would be accepted as Hungarians she decreed them UJMAGYAR. They were the outsiders unlike the various ethnic groups settled and mixing.
Nobility was abolished after 1848 in Hungary. So in some cases you may note that the same couple having more children after 1848, who with previous children were listed as nobilis on church and other records, no longer are so listed. That goes for the Godparents too.
By building the family as previously suggested, you will likely find the same couple pre 1848 mentioned as nobles which, as stated before, can lead you to records further back. Sometimes the priest will write in something that translates to "This man is a Big Shot." (Gubas Mester) which can be a clue. I understand that basically the slang refer to the Big Coat worn by men. Think Big Man on Campus/ in Village. (Like the man pictured on the background of this blog!)
When the Godparents are nobles or one of the parents is listed as a noble but the children are not mentioned as such what's going on? Often employment. The man or women may come from a family of Familiares. The employee asks the wealthy boss or high status person to honor him and his wife by being Godparents to the child or children. Such a man who asks his employer to be a Godparent was likely a "Major Domo" or Estate or Business Manager to the Noble. It is also possible that because the Wife/Mother was noble but married someone who was not, the nobility is not transferred to her children. If it's a remarriage for her, her previous set of children with her first noble husband may still be nobles while the next set is not. Because of this tradition, a woman probably felt great pressure to maintain status by not marrying "beneath" her but I think women preferred marrying a commoner with money than a broke noble.
Other records to check include Land Ownership, Wills, Charters (which often explain how land is being given, taken away, because of death, military victory or failure, etc.) Definitely check the HUNGARICANA site, associated with THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF HUNGARY, for CHARTERS. Run the name of the village, town, or family surnames and see what comes up.
HUNGARICANA link here. A great resource!
Personally, I have a line that I'm trying to link to that is quite represented in what is now Slovakia on the Urbarium. I may have to sell my soul for a translation from Latin in really terrible handwriting though. By running the name in the Hungaricana website database, the surname is mentioned in the 1300 - 1400 era!
One more thing: Unlike the Craftsman Apprentice - IPARI TANULO - who generally married at about age 20 while working under a boss to learn a trade and married a village girl about 18 - wealthy nobles didn't have to work for a living and often married YOUNGER. It was assumed that the husband would provide the income and support of a wife and children, in the 19th century and earlier financially capable teenagers married. There goes your math.
Should you notice your immigrant ancestor (usually a woman) married at 14 or 16, very likely her father - or her parent(s), considered that she was marrying a man who could afford to take care of her (financially and otherwise) and any children they would have. Forget our present-day notions of "teenage" years because you were either a child or an adult back in the day. It's not for nothing that both Jewish people and Christians marked the age of 13 as adulthood with ceremonies such as Bar Mitzvah's and Confirmation. Gypsies also considered 13 old enough to be adult.
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Note: This post has been edited slightly and recolored as the first and second tries were not holding! I hope it's more readable now! August 18, 2019 Additional information added August 27, 2019 and August 29, 2019.
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