Šafrans) have practically translated the name by saffron, but spell it Saffran. Between Kozel and Williams there seems to be a wide gulf until it is remembered that a kozel is a billy-goat, and that Billy is the pet name for William. Consequently, no great amount of mental gymnastics on the part of Mr. Kozel was required for his evolution as Williams. A Kuřátko who became Henson evidently thought this was close enough to “Hen’s son”.
Quite frequently the new name is taken solely because of a real or fancied resemblance to the sound or the spelling of the original: e. g., Bunch for Buneš or Bochňák; Birch, Berry or Barry for Bareš (Baresh) or Bureš; Katrina (!) for Krtina; Cover for Kovář; Winslow (through Wenzel) for Věnec or Vaněk (for this there is also Van Eck); Hutchins, Hutchinson, for Chudáček (Hudáček); Roberts for Robot or Robota; Loosen, Lawson or Lawton for Lučina; Carney or Cutter (through Cotterney or Cudderny) for Kudrna; Lance for Lonec; Lank for Laník; Burns and Burnett for Bronec and Hrnek (also translated Potts or Potter); Leech for Liška; Malone for Maloun or Malina; Knott or Knox for Hnát; Garmer (Garner) for Jarmara; Hammock for Hamous or Hamata; Lucky, Luckett, for Lakota, Lakoma; Molly, Marley, for Malý, Malíček, Moláček; Mock, Mocker, Markley, Mockley, Makins, Michaels and Mitchell, indiscriminately, for such names as Mach, Machar, Machan and Máchal. Among the classics is McHan for Machan.
Transliteration of the Czech spelling by English characters is seldom satisfactory and therefore not attempted to any great extent. I have seen recently, howeer, Cherf for Červ, and Chapek for Kapek, in addition to Whala for Čapek, in addition to Whala Šonka, as far as I know, has done more than transliterate by Shonka, though there are American families named Ham. Translation here evidently appeared as the greater of two evils! Wodiska is a German-American attempt at Vodička. Cukr has been re-Germanized, in America, to Zucker. Jocosely, the bearer was called “Sucker”. I am unable to learn whether or not he chose it in preference to Sugar.
Nicknames, or plays upon Czech surnames, have resulted in their being adopted as such or with only slight change. A Janeček, for instance, was popularly known as “Johnnie-Crack” or “Johnnie-Jack”, and frequently used either himself in answering the telephone. In a recent number of “Student Life” (June 1927) I note among the nicknames bestowed upon the graduates of St. Procopius College “Hooch” for Hudáček and “Pants” for Nohava. Whether these will stick in
