Save the date: Warren Blatt, Maryland, June 8

Now the managing director of Jewishgen, Warren Blatt has been at the forefront of Jewish genealogy for more than 25 years.

He will present "An Introduction to Jewish Names" at the JGS of Greater Washington's member-only event at 1.30pm, Sunday, June 8, at the Clara Barton Community Center in Cabin John, Maryland. Mark your calendars now.

Learn why "Mordechai Yehuda" is also "Mortka Leib" is also "Max," as Warren provides an introduction to Jewish given names (first names), focusing on practical issues for genealogical research.

Our ancestors each had many different given names and nicknames, in various languages and alphabets - this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult. Learn the history and patterns of Jewish first names, and how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical sources.

Topics included: religious and secular names; origins of given names; variants, nicknames and diminutives; double names (unrelated pairs, kinnui, Hebrew/Yiddish translations); patronymics; name equivalents; Ashkenazic naming traditions (naming of children); statistics on the distribution and popularity of given names in various regions and times; spelling issues; Polish and Russian declensions; interpretation of names in documents; and the Anglicization of immigrant Jewish names: adaptations and transformations.

I've heard Warren give this recommended presentation at the international conferences; even experienced researchers will learn something new. If you haven't yet joined the JGSGW, maybe now's the time?

Blatt is the author of "Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston area" and co-author (with Gary Mokotoff) of "Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy;" editor of the Kielce-Radom Special Interest Group Journal; chair, 15th International Seminar on Jewish Genealogy; IAJGS Lifetime Achievement Award, 2004; author, JewishGen FAQ and many JewishGen Infofiles.

Check the JGSGW website for more event details and directions to the meeting venue.