Monty Python's Guide to Polish Genealogy

Copyright 1992-1998 by Rafal T. Prinke

Episode 1

How to recognize different types of Poles from quite a long way away

Class

Sub-class

Style 16th-17th c.

Style 18th-19th c.

Description

Offices

szlachcic (nobleman)

magnat, możnowładca (magnate, lord)

wielmożny (magnificus)

jaśnie wielmożny (illustrissimus ac magnificus)

owner of a town and/or several villages

senatorial offices

 

posesjonat (landowner, gentry)

urodzony (generosus)

wielmożny (magnificus)

owner of at least one village

county offices

 

szlachcic zagrodowy, "szarak" (farm owner, "grey", low-end)

szlachetny (nobilis)

urodzony (generosus)

owner of a small part of a village, cultivating the land himself

none

 

"gołota" ("naked", landless)

szlachetny (nobilis)

urodzony (generosus)

doing some work for others

none

           

mieszczanin (burgher)

patrycjusz (patrician)

godny (spectabilis)

szlachetny (nobilis)

wealthy merchant, owner of several houses

mayor, city council

 

obywatel (citizen, civis)

zacny (honoratus)

godny (spectabilis)

owner of one house within the city walls

mayor, city council

 

rzemieślnik cechowy (guild craftsman)

sławetny (famatus, famosus)

sławetny (famatus, famosus)

Member of a guild, living within the city walls

guild offices

 

plebeusz (plebean)

opatrzny (providus, circumspectus)

sławetny (famatus, famosus)

poor craftsman working in a master's workshop

none

           
 

podmieszczanin (sub-burgher)

uczciwy (honestus)

uczciwy (honestus)

living outside the city walls

none

 

partacz (non-guild craftsman)

uczciwy (honestus)

uczciwy (honestus)

village craftsman

none

           

chłop (peasant)

kmieć (full farmer, cmetho)

pracowity (laboriosus)

pracowity (laboriosus)

working on 1 łan of land

sołtys (scultetus)

 

półkmieć (half farmer, semi-cmetho)

pracowity (laboriosus)

pracowity (laboriosus)

working on 1/2 łan of land

none

 

zagrodnik (garden farmer, hortulanus)

pracowity (laboriosus)

pracowity (laboriosus)

working on a small piece of land near the house

none

 

chałupnik (house owner)

pracowity (laboriosus)

pracowity (laboriosus)

living in his house, working for other peasants

none

 

komornik, k±tnik (living in someone else's house, inquilinus, famulus)

pracowity (laboriosus)

pracowity (laboriosus)

working for other peasants

none