Message: "Jewish feminine name CATO"

Jewish feminine name CATO

by Andy (guest)

11/4/2004, 1:37 AM

In a book I found the name CATO. It was borne by a Jewish woman in Holland during WW 2.
Of course my first thought was the Roman cognomen (of what origin btw?), but I'm not sure whether this really has to do with it. Can anyone help? Miss Claire maybe?

Andy ;—)

#Jewish

Replies

- Miss Claire +1

11/6/2004, 10:43 PM

I've found more: Cato was used as a vernacular form of the names Gittel, Chaya, Yuta, Kaila, Klara and Rivka in Holland. :)

- Andy (guest)

11/7/2004, 12:57 PM

Thank you for this! Andy ;—)

- Lucille

11/5/2004, 10:13 AM

I'm Dutch. I can tell you that it most definitely is a form of Catharine. :-)

- Miss Claire +3

11/4/2004, 2:43 PM

*tries to find an idea*
Many Jews are into Roman names, but not to the point to call a girl Cato, I think... Very strange... And the -o ending is very unusual, esp. on a girl... Could it be a pet form of Catherine, like Margot for Marguerite?

- Andy (guest) +2

11/4/2004, 3:16 PM

Jewish feminine name CATO

I have thought of this, too, but wasn't sure at all. It's the O that confuses me. A little bit helpless

Andy ;—)

- Anneza (guest) +1

11/4/2004, 11:21 PM

I knew a woman, Afrikaans speaking (and therefore ethnic Dutch!), who was always known as Cato - pronounced kaTOOe, more or less. Not like Cato the philosopher. And to my knowledge that was a form of Catherine. She was not only not Jewish, she was the daughter of an extremely Calvinist South African politician ... a long time ago.

- Andy (guest)

11/5/2004, 12:00 AM

Thanks to both of you! This makes sense! Andy ;—)

View Message

Replies