By Steven Matthew Hahn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

On 20 July 1808, by Imperial Decree, Napoléon I ordered all Jews living in the French Empire to adopt a stable family name and to register their new names at the Town Hall in the place where they lived. From 1797 to 1814, Worms was under French rule, and the Jews there were subject to the decree.

The register records in French the adopted name of each Jew living in Worms, totaling 511 adults and children. The first 504 entries were recorded during an 18-day period from 20 October 1808 to 7 November 1808. Three additional entries were made from 1809 to 1812, and the final four entries were made (in German) from 1821 to 1826. Members of a single family are grouped together beginning with the male head of household, followed by the wife, and then the children from the oldest to the youngest. Each name change entry is signed by the one making the declaration, if able to write, and by the mayor.

A partial transcription of the register is shown below in the original French text and its translation in English. Only entries 493 through 497 are shown, corresponding to widow Rosalie BLOCH and her five daughters. To see all 511 entries, visit Worms - Name Adoption Document of 1808.

In 1808, the city of Worms was located in the Canton (District) of Worms, Arrondissement (Division) of Speyer, and Dêpartément (County) of Mont Tonnérre (Mount Thunder).

FRENCH:

L’Rêgistre

déstiné à servir à l'inscription des noms de famille et prénoms fixed des juifs, domicilié dans la ville de Worms, Arrondissement de Spire, Département du Mont Tonnèrre, tenu en conformité du Décret Imperial en date du 20 Juillet 1808, et de l'arrêt subséquent du Préfet du Département du Mont Tonnèrre du 15 Septembre nêuve année.

Le présent Registre contenant seize feuillets a été document coté et parapté? par Nous Président du Tribunal civil fiant à Spire. Spire le 1 Octobre 1808.

Eoproeiglen?

ENGLISH:

The Register

destined to serve as the inscription of the family names and first names fixed of the Jews, situated in the city of Worms, District of Speyer, Department of the Mount Thunder, held in conformity with the Imperial Decree dating back to 20 July 1808, and subsequent stop of the Prefect of the Department of the Mount Thunder of 15 September year nine.

The present Register containing sixteen pages has been documented quoted and prepared? by Me President of the civil Court trusting Speyer. Speyer 1 October 1808.

Eoproeiglen?

FRENCH:

_____A____ Devant nous Maire de Worms est comparuë _____B____, [femme du dit _____C____] [veuve du feu _____D____], qui a déclare vouloir [prendre pour] [donner à son/sa fils/fille mineure, née _____E____, le] prênom [celui] de _____F____ et [conserver] pour nom de famille celui de _____G____, et a [signe avec nous][le/la père /mère] [déclare ne savoir pas écrire], a _____H____.

[_____I____] _____J____

ENGLISH:

_____A____ Before me Mayor of Worms is appeared _____B____, [wife of _____C____] [widow of the late _____D____], who declares being willing [to take for a] [to give to his/her minor son/daughter, born _____E____, the] first name [the one] of _____F____ and [preserve] for a family name the one of _____G____, and [the father/mother] has [signed with me] [declared not to know how to write], _____H____.

[_____I____] _____J____

LEGEND:

A - Entry Number

B - Name of Declarant

C - Name of Husband

D - Name of Deceased Husband

E - Birthdate of Child

F - Registered First Name

G - Registered Family Name

H - Date of Recording

I - Signature of Declarant

J - Signature of Mayor

[…] - Text varying between entries, or text that is added as needed

(…) - Closest English equivalent

Entries in the Register of Name Changes of the Jews in Worms

No.	Family Name	First Name	Name of Declarant	Relation	Birthdate of Minor
No.	Family Name	First Name	Name of Declarant	Relation	Day	Month	Year
492.	Bloch	Rosalie	Roesge née Bloch	Widow of the late Liebmann Loeb
493.	Loeb	Francoise	Rosalie Bloch widow Loeb	Minor daughter of Rosalie Bloch	13	July	1791
494.		Antoinette			15	April	1793
495.		Claire			21	May	1795
496.		Julie			14	February	1801
497.		Jeannette	Feilge	Major daughter of the late Liebmann Loeb

The date each entry was made.

Entry Nos.	Date Recorded
Entry Nos.	Day	Month	Year
1 - 61	20	Oct	1808
62 - 177	21	Oct	1808
178 - 268	24	Oct	1808
269 - 357	25	Oct	1808
358 - 438	4	Nov	1808
439 - 504	7	Nov	1808
505	16	Mar	1809
506	14	Oct	1809
507	20	Aug	1812
508	18	Sep	1821
509	23	Jan	1823
510	4	May	1824
511	14	Aug	1826