with Czech knows that, colloquially, some Bohemians prefix a v to most words beginning with o. Another suggested derivation of Vondráček is onde, meaning “elsewhere”, which, however, seems less probable to me. Be that as it may, one Vondráček, alias Von Drack, shortened finally to Drake. Zubach (or Zubacher), apparently German, is discovered upon inquiry to have been formerly Zubák or Zoubek (stem zub, tooth). Wittera, I suspect, was once Věterák, though his Bohemian associates had never known him except as Vitera.
Among peculiar surnames borne by Czech families I have noted Filipi, Šotola, Raipis, Esrig, Olexa and Uxa. The first two appear to be Italian. There are, however, several native surnames derived from the Christian name Philip. Šotola certainly resembles Satolli, a well known Italian name. Raipis, which I cannot trace to any native source, has been changed to Reevis or Reeves; Esrig, which perhaps should beErsig (a corruption of the German Herzig or Herzog), has appeared as Estridge. Herzig or Herzog, I understand, has become Essary, also. Olexa turns out to be etymologically Slavic (cf. lech, olecha, olícha). It now masquerades under Oxley. The etymology of Uxa I am unable to determine. It looks foreign, but may be derived from ucho, ear, or from úcta, respect. Other things being equal, Jiggs would be a perfect disguise in hundred-percent American territory. Donato was a Spanish name professionally adopted by a familiar Czech-American of the eighties and nineties whose real surname was Zajíc. Other families named Zajíc, as I observed in my previous essays, have changed to Sites, by transliteration (first in German, Seitz), or to Hayes (through corruption of a German translation, Hase, Haase), while one, by a clever English translation, became O’Hare. Dongres, apparently a Spanish name, was, in all probability, assumed by the Bohemian who bore it. I have been unable, however, to discover what it may have replaced. A Jez stoutly denies that his ancestors were named Ježek. Though an uncommon word, jez is, of course, a perfectly good Czech noun, so we must take him at his word. To his American associates he is Mr. Yes or Mr. Jazz, but so far he simply smiles at the suggestion that one or the other be substituted for his native name. The similarity of the Czech Zálabák to an Italian surname, Sciallaba, has been called to my attention, but I have failed to unearth any connection except the resemblance in sound. A nearer resemblance exists between the Italian Blasco and a rather unusual Czech surname, Blásko, which is probably a corruption of Blažek or Bláha. I had occasion previously to remark
