I learned in Jewish history that the German/French towns of Shpyra (Spires?) and Worms were killed out by [Crusaders?] [evil prince?] [Nazis?] in the middle ages, but one man survived. He took on the name Shapir/Shapiro/Safier to memorialize the massacre, and therefore anyone with that name can trace their roots to him.
I tried wiki and google to find more facts about this, but wasn't very successful. (Full disclosure, I stopped after one unsuccessful search term.)
Does anyone know what I'm talking about and have information to share?
Please and thank you.
Shapiro
Started by
Guest_miri_*
, Mar 31 2011 09:23 PM
11 replies to this topic
#2
Sweet
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Passionately Ambivalent
Posted 31 March 2011 - 09:27 PM
I don't know much, but I can contribute a little speculation and maybe we can piece something together. Pretty sure it was the crusades, in like the 1200s. There was also Mayence. There is a kinah about it for Tisha B'av. of interest http://www.jewishenc...id=292&letter=M .I learned in Jewish history that the German/French towns of Shpyra (Spires?) and Worms were killed out by [Crusaders?] [evil prince?] [Nazis?] in the middle ages, but one man survived. He took on the name Shapir/Shapiro/Safier to memorialize the massacre, and therefore anyone with that name can trace their roots to him.
I tried wiki and google to find more facts about this, but wasn't very successful. (Full disclosure, I stopped after one unsuccessful search term.)
Does anyone know what I'm talking about and have information to share?
Please and thank you.
The world has too many stupid people who are full of confidence, and smart people who are full of self-doubt.
#3
Guest_miri_*
Guest_miri_*
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Posted 31 March 2011 - 09:35 PM
Thanks. Will have to read it when I have more time. Read the first two paragraphs and didn't see my romantic story in what I assumed would be the relevant section.
#4
Belle
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anomaly
Posted 31 March 2011 - 09:39 PM
From the little bit I remember from my medieval jewish history class, Speyer had a few survivors (more than Mainz and Worms), nothing about a story with the name Shapiro. (Unless college classes don't include the little anecdotes that BY schools include), and names of note included a lot of Kalonymus's.
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"i have come to believe that belle is closer to the truth" - Snag
"Belle is, of course, right." - Razie
#5
Guest_miri_*
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Posted 31 March 2011 - 10:19 PM
So my coworker's claim that not all Shapiros are related is actually true. Oh well. I thought I had a good story to tell her.
(Either way I will share the link above, thanks sweet.)
(Either way I will share the link above, thanks sweet.)
#6
Moshi
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Little Reb Sunshine
Posted 31 March 2011 - 10:58 PM
Shapiro does seem to be named after that town (acc. to Google), which is incredible considering that it's just one town, and Shapiro is one of the most common Jewish names.
The L-rd may not come when you call, but He's always on time. -Lemon Andersen
Kabel et ha-emet mi-mi she-omro.
"All is by the hand of Heaven, except colds and fevers" -Ketubot 30a.
~My Blog~
Kabel et ha-emet mi-mi she-omro.
"All is by the hand of Heaven, except colds and fevers" -Ketubot 30a.
~My Blog~
#7
Guest_miri_*
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Posted 31 March 2011 - 11:01 PM
Which is why it would be so cool if you could not only trace it to one town, but to one guy!!Shapiro does seem to be named after that town (acc. to Google), which is incredible considering that it's just one town, and Shapiro is one of the most common Jewish names.
#8
Tova
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Godol Hador
Posted 01 April 2011 - 08:02 AM
Speyer, Spires or Spire - as it seems to be known.I learned in Jewish history that the German/French towns of Shpyra (Spires?) and Worms were killed out by [Crusaders?] [evil prince?] [Nazis?] in the middle ages, but one man survived. He took on the name Shapir/Shapiro/Safier to memorialize the massacre, and therefore anyone with that name can trace their roots to him.
Speyer, Worms and Mayence/Mainz - known as SHUM.
According to the (old) JE - there is a family name Speyer that is derived from the locale.
link
eta: found more info:
accd. to Jewish Names and Their Origins: An Etymological Dictionary
Schaper, matr. [matronymic]of Shifra ("the beautiful" H.), Bibl. f. n. (Ex. 1:15), cf. Shapirko, patr. [patronymic] Shapery. Other forms Schapira, Schapire, Shapira, Shapera, Shappira, Schapiro, Shapero, Shapiro, in a few cases derived from the city of Speier.
accd. to A Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History
Shapiro - The city of Speyer in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, has given many name forms. The Jews first settled there at the end of the eleventh century and were compelled to leave in the middle of the fourteenth century. Large number of these Jews settled in Poland, Bohemia, Hungary, and Russia and their name variants are: Shapiro, Spira, Spire, Spier, Spiro, Spero, Chapiro, Sprai, Szpir, Shaphir and Spear.
JewishGen might have some more answers.
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#9
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Little Reb Sunshine
Posted 01 April 2011 - 08:26 AM
Which is why it would be so cool if you could not only trace it to one town, but to one guy!!
And not just to one guy, but to that guy's winky wonky!
The L-rd may not come when you call, but He's always on time. -Lemon Andersen
Kabel et ha-emet mi-mi she-omro.
"All is by the hand of Heaven, except colds and fevers" -Ketubot 30a.
~My Blog~
Kabel et ha-emet mi-mi she-omro.
"All is by the hand of Heaven, except colds and fevers" -Ketubot 30a.
~My Blog~
#10
Sweet
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Passionately Ambivalent
Posted 01 April 2011 - 08:49 AM
It's really not that farfetched, given the elapsed time and the self selecting nature of survivors.Which is why it would be so cool if you could not only trace it to one town, but to one guy!!
The world has too many stupid people who are full of confidence, and smart people who are full of self-doubt.
#11
Guest_miri_*
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Posted 01 April 2011 - 09:06 AM
I needed that laugh this morning.And not just to one guy, but to that guy's winky wonky!
#12
younglady
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Rebbe
Posted 01 April 2011 - 09:45 AM
I have also heard that about the name Shapiro, but can't give you any source, unfortunately.
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