Czech language in the past (updated)

Michaela is preparing long post about traps of Czech spelling. I anyway decided to write short blog post about changes which are those most visible in registries. There are some changes which can complicate your research if you are not aware of them. So, let's take a look on them.

AU to OU or Ú

This is typical vowels change. You can see it in many words - names, nouns, verbs. Here are some examples:

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
s Annau, dczerau	s Annou, dcerou	with Anna, daughter
s kterau slaužil	s kterou sloužil	with whom he served
Aubienitz	Ouběnice	village name
Raudnitzky	Roudnický	from Roudnice, surname
Autiechowitz	Útěchovice	village name
auřad	úřad	office

I and Y

These two are special case. They are interchangeable and you can see one word written in two different records with both letters - for example sin/syn (son), dobitek/dobytek (cattle) and so on. So if you have a surname containing Y or I (such as Vykydal, Liška, Bílý), you can see it written both as Vikidal (Wikidal), Lysska or Byli/Byly/Bili.

IE to Ě

Another example where two letters create one. When you pronounce IE in Czech, it sound quite exactly as Ě - that's why there was this form used in old documents. Again, some examples: 

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
Mierzin	Měřín	village name
diedicz	dědic	heir
Wietrowetz	Větrovec	surname

EJ/EG to Ý 
Tough one, not so easy to understand. Desinence -ej is used in Czech slang language till nowadays, correct version is ý.

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
wegminkarz	výminkář	retired farmer
praweg	pravý	right, real
stareg	starý	old
megto	mýto	toll

J to Í, G to J
This change was caused by the fact that Latin used J for I (and also for Í) and replacement of J by letter G which is not too common in Czech language. Examples of some of words containing these letters:

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
kregczj	krejčí	tailor
Girzj	Jiří	George
Gan	Jan	John
Trztj	Třtí	village name
panstwj	panství	domain

RZ to Ř
The most difficult letter in Czech alphabet. Ligatures were used in these cases because it was the easiest way how to express hook without writing it. Examples follow: 

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
rzeczeny	řečený	so called
Rzehorz	Řehoř	Gregor
przislussenstwj	příslušenství	equipment
strzewnj	střevní	intestinal

CZ/TSCH to Č
Another case of ligatures and of German record of letter Č. 

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
Czerny	Černý	surname/black
weczer	večer	evening
Czernjcz	Černíč	village name
koczka	kočka	cat

SS/SCH to Š
Double S, sometimes written as ß, is read as Š. SCH is usually German and is read as Š in German language too. Examples:

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
ssenkyrz	šenkýř	innkeeper
Ssimon	Šimon	Simon
kossjk	košík	basket
Koschenitz	Košenice	village name

W to V
Very common one, causing problem even today because some of the surnames have both Czech and German version. Based on German language where W is read as V. 

Old Czech	Current Czech	English translation
Pawel	Pavel	Paul
wlastnj	vlastní	legitimate
wegminkarz	výminkář	retired farmer
Waczlaw	Václav	Wenceslaus