NORKA
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Traditions > Nicknames

Nicknames

Assigning nicknames (Spitznamen) was a part of the Volga German culture and such names were commonly used in Norka.

A relatively small number of Christian or given names were used in the colonies which often made it difficult to easily identify two or more people who had the same given names and surname. Nicknames provided a unique way to solve this problem. 

Nicknames were generally only given to men and sometimes to families, but rarely to women.

Nicknames were derived from various sources such as an occupation, family lineage, geographic location, economic status or physical traits. Below are examples of Spitznamen from Norka (some spellings represent the dialect form).
Poste Krieger - Postman Krieger
Becker Krieger - Baker Krieger
​Lechai Hannese
Reicher Schleining - Rich Schleining
Garte Krieger - A Kreiger who owned a large garden
Rote Brill - Redheaded Brill
Rote Schintler Lehl - Redheaded coat maker Lehl 
Schneider Hahn - Tailor Hahn
Schuster Helzer - Shoemaker Helzer
Endrich Krieger - Duck Krieger (known for making duck calls in his youth)
Lamp öel Lehl - Lamp oil Lehl
Karamysh Miller - A Miller who had a mill on the Karamysh River
Kerb Sauer - The annual harvest festival (Kerb) was held at his house in the Mitteldorf of Norka
Dach Grabbler Schreiber - Roof Climber Schreiber
Lehrer Weber - Teacher Weber
Kurtze Weber - Short Weber
Russe Schlidt - Russian Schlidt
Sotnik Peter Heinrich - Constable Peter Heinrich
Pretzelmenja Weber - Pretzelman Weber
Windmühle Giebelhaus - Windmill Giebelhaus
Donner Hannes Burbach - Thunder John Burbach
Georg Hucker Brill - George Brill from the village of Huck
Weisse Giebelhaus - Whitey Giebelhaus
Schwartze Giebelhaus - Blackie Giebelhaus
Stonehose Döring - Stonepants Döring
Schmier Döring - Grease Döring
Garte Hinkel - Garden Hinkel
Dicker Helzer - Rotund Helzer
Soujac Krieger - This Krieger was responsible for administering a whipping to those who broke the law
Schulmeister Lehl - Schoolmaster Lehl
Gerver Faigler - Leather Tanner Faigler
Windmühle Weidenkeller - Windmill Weidenkeller

Sources

Brill, Conrad. "Memories of Norka." Interview by George Brill. Print.

Burbach, William. "Nicknames (Spitznamen)." 

Krieger, Marie. "Nicknames."
Last updated January 2, 2023.
Copyright © 2002-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
    • About
    • Reviews
    • Contact
  • People
    • Founders
    • Personal Histories
    • Notable Norkans
    • Stories
    • Photo Identification
    • Photo Gallery
  • Community
    • Village Life
    • Entertainment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate
    • Homesites
    • Geographical Description
    • Government
    • Social Structure
    • Health
    • Education
    • A Land of Ethnic Diversity
    • Cottage Industries >
      • Sarpinka
      • Mills
    • Language
    • Population
    • Military Service
    • Crime and Punishment
  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Prayers
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Communion
    • Weddings
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johannes Baptista Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
    • Related Links