Zarchin Name
Jay Novet did an interview for a college course years ago. He interviewed our Uncle Harry (Hillel) Zarchin. Jay had not looked at this material for years and his wife, Harriet, had to really dig it out of a closet. We await an audio tape, too. What is in parentheses, below, are my remarks.
The name ZARCH was adopted around the 1700's. As we all know, this is when
surnames were invented so the different principalities would be able to
collect taxes. The name ZARCH means "rising of the sun". In the 1850's, a
group fled the tyranny of slavery in White Russia and went to Europe.
(Maybe thye went through Odessa? Maybe this can explain why they don't
reconize us as related?) ZARCHIN came into play with the release of slaves
in Russia. Harry said that the ZARCHINS were never slaves. They alway
leased plots of land which they farmed. (This addition of the "in" to
Zarch may have been to differentiate between those who were slaves and
those who were not.)
Yehuda ZARCHIN (who is Jay's and my g-g-grandfather) had a g-g-grandfather
who was from Mikaarich. It is known today as Makarichi. Using Map Quest
and the Jewish Gen distance locator, Makarichi is 26.8 mi. from Osipovichi
and about 50 mi. from Bobruisk!
Last Update: 5/6/98
Web Author: A.S. Waldinger
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