Tofpik

Surnames of Baltic origins usually undergo change from their origins, sometimes logical, mostly "enforced" by dialect and political "invasion". In every respect the changes to the surnames mirror the experiences of these unfortunates countries. This particularly applies to Polish names which have been influenced by Slavonic, Russian, and German occupation, in their homelands, and further distorted when introduced "aboard". In Tofpik/Towpik we have names not apparently recorded in these spellings in the homelands of either Germany or Poland, and having no logical translateable meaning. In this case experienced conjecture suggests that it is a development of the germanic "Topf" a metonymic for a "Potter" plus the Polish suffix "ik" - a diminutive form meaning "Little Topf" or more likely "Son of Topf". Surnames commencing recorded at Konisberg in 1619, whilst christian Toeopfer was at Mildenau, Sachsen as early as 1557. A Coat of Arms was registered to the Topfers of Saxony (circa 1680), this is Red, White, and Blue, with a canton leaf, given for heroic service. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Kilian Toepferich (son of Tops), which was dated March 25 1634, married Eva Joston, at Konigsberg, Brandebburg, during the reign of Emperor Ferdinand 11 of the Holy Roman Empire, 1619 - 1634. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.