PASTERNAK

MANY JEWISH FAMILY NAMES WERE ORIGINALLY PERSONAL NICKNAMES.

THE JEWISH SURNAME PASTERNAK MEANS PARSNIP IN YIDDISH AND IN SLAVONIC
LANGUAGES. THE TERM IS DERIVED FROM THE LATIN PASTINACA.

ORIGINALLY THE FAMILY NAME WAS EITHER A PERSONAL NICKNAME OR AN
OCCUPATIONAL NAME DESIGNATING A GROWER OR SELLER OF PARSNIPS.

DISTINGUISHED 20TH-CENTURY BEARERS OF THE JEWISH SURNAME PASTERNAK
INCLUDE THE RUSSIAN POET AND NOVELIST BORIS LEONIDOVICH PASTERNAK (1890-
1960), WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN 1958.
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