The -ova ending (spelled -owa in Polish) is used for married women, normally attached to surnames, but in Jewish records often attached to her husband's first name (just as her maiden name "z Chemiow" was based on her father's first name instead of surname). Whether the father was living or deceased wouldn't really affect whether her maiden name was given. The priest just left it out here, but he could have given her name as Ester Gitla z Chaimow Lejbowa Krzewin. Joe > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:poland-roots- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Rizzotti > Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 12:46 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [POLAND] Names Especially Patronymics > > A big thanks to all of you that responded. I will have to study the > information you have all provided in more depth but I think that it > has all been very helpful and informative. I do have one more > question. I received a translation of a Cyrillic/Polish death record > for my gggrandmother Ester (z Chemiow). In that record her name is > Ester Gitla Lejbova Krzewin. I knew about the middle name Gitla but I > am confused about Lejbova. Her father was Chemia and her husband was > Leib, or Leybko etc. If her father predeceased her would there be a > precedent to use her husband's name in place of the patronymic in > Jewish Polish records? > Thank you all in advance. > Meryl Rizzotti