Interesting read
https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/refadv/1913/02/01/01/article/8...
Jewish Nobility in Hungary .
Before 1849 no Jews were admitted to the nobility in Hungary , as according to the old Hungarian laws the Parliament had to confirm and consent to the grant of the patent of nobility . As the Parliament at that period consisted exclusively of the old landed aristocracy , the so-called gentry , it can readily be understood that no proposition to ennoble a Jew ever was made to that body nor would have found sufficient support therein . During the period between 1849 and 1867 , when no Hungarian Parliament was allowed to exist , a few Jews obtained the patent of nobility . In 1867 the Crown decreed that it alone should thereafter have the right to grant patents of nobility . The first Jew to obtain the title of Baron was Schossberger v . Tornya in 1886 . and this nomination caused a serious interpellation in Parliament on the part of the old landed nobility . Up to the advent of the Banffy ministry the granting of nobility titles to Jews had been exceedingly limited and only since the days of that liberal ministry have such nominations become of more common occurrence . No country in the world can show as large a number of Jewish nobles as Hungary to-day . In Austria the Jewish nobility is not very scarce either , but the title of Freiherr is not near as plentiful as it is in Hungary . Recently another Jew has been added to the numerous fewish Barons in Hungary , the most celebrated surgeon , Professor Emanuel v . Herczel . It might not be amiss on this occasion to devote a little time to the study of the present Hungarian Jewish nobility . Oftentimes families that have long ago ceased to consider themselves as lews are still counted as among the Jewish nobility . ( These will be marked * . ) Thus the families of * v . Harkanyi and * v . Koranyi can no longer be considered Jews , as they are practicing Christianity in the second and third generations . The Barons Flarkanyi are members of the upper house of the Legislature , the Koranyi family is at present represented in that body only through Professor Frederic Koranyi . The two sons—Alexander , a renowned physician , like his father , and Frederic , councillor in the Ministry of Finance , are likely to follow their father at an early day and take seats in the upper Chamber of the Legislature , to which they are entitled by reason of their birth . Of more recent date is the Christianity of the Barons ::: ( Jrosdy , * Levay , * Dirstztay and : \\ odianer . The Wodianer v . Capriora are an old family of bankers . The last living descendant , the old Baron Albert Wodianer , is a bachelor . With his death the family will die in the male line , and this family wdll be the first among the Hungarian Jewish Barons to have its coat of arms reversed upon the family vault , as a sign of its extinction . The . Barons Levay have inherited their titles from their uncle Henry , who died a bachelor , and who was the founder of the First Hungarian General Insurance Company . The Dirsztay s ( original family name Fisch ) are finance barons and live in Vienna . Baron Philipp Orosdy , whose father was the head of the great export house of Orosdy , Back & Co ., is the son-in-law of Baron Peter Herzog . Of those who have remained Jewish we can mention the following among the Hungarian Baronial families : The Kornfelds : Siegmund Kornfeld . father of the present Barons , Director of the General Hungarian Credit Bank , who died a few years ago , was the original recipient of the Baronial title , that at the same time gave him a life seat in the House of Magnates ( Upper Chamber ) . The three children of Siegmund are : Baron Paul , succeeding as director of the banking institution , which the father had raised to financial importance . Baron Moritz , director of the machine factory and shipping company , Danubius . Their sister . Baroness Mizzi , is married to Knight v . Domony , director of the Royal River and Ocean Ship Co . The Madarassy-Beck family belong to the financial Hungarian nobility . Baron Max is President of the Board of Directors of the Hungarian Discount and Exchange Bank . His son , Baron Marcel , is Director General of the same institution . Baron Julius , son of the late Baron Ferdinand , is Director General of Hungarian Mortgage Bank , and is a member of the Lower House of the Legislature . The Kohners are industrial magnates , exceedingly wealthy and very charitable . Baron Adolf is a patron of music and art , himself a trained musician and collector of paintings of merit . His art gallery has a wide reputation . Baron Eugen is well known in the best society , and at the same time he is one of the most strenuous workers in mercantile affairs . Baron Alfred is associated with Eugen in their large ventures . Baron Willy is passionately devoted to horse racing and the owner of a large stable of thoroughbreds . The Hatvanys : Also industrial magnates , are among the largest producers and refiners of sugar in Europe . They control untold wealth . Baron Alexander is a member of the Upper House . Of the sons of Baron Joseph , Ludwig is the well known esthetic writer , and Franz , a painter of considerable merit . Their uncle . Baron Karl , has recently embraced Christianity and severed his connection with the business ( Ig . Deutsch & Sons ) . The Schosbergers : Now in the second and third generations . The founder of the family was created Baron as one of the Merchant Princes of Hungary . Of the two sons the elder , Baron Ferdinand , died many years ago , leaving only two daughters . Baroness Klara married the son of Singer , the editor-in-chief of the Pe sther Lloyd . The nephews . Siegmund , Ludwig and Rudolph ,
were created barons after the death of their uncle without male heirs . , Guttmann v . Gelse : Great wealth acquired in the lumber business . The daughters of old Baron Wilhelm , Lilly and Steffi , are well known among the 400 of Budapesth . Baroness Steffi married her cousin , Baron Arthur Guttmann ; Baroness Lilly is the widowed Baroness Madarassy-Beck . The Groedels : Like the Guttmanns they acquired wealth and titles in the lumber trade . The Barons Herrman , Bernhard and Albert are the proprietors of the business of world-wide reputation of Groedel Brothers . f The He rzogs : One of the older Baron titles , owing this distinction to the millions acquired in the tobacco trade . The old Baron Peter has often been the guest of the Emperor during the latter s hunting trips in Goedoelloe . Notwithstanding his advanced age of 76 years . Baron Peter is still an ardent mountain climber , and the highest peaks of the Tatra offer him no insurmountable difficulties . He is better known as a patron of classical music and has not missed a Philharmonic concert for fifty-three years . His son , Moritz Leopold , is known as a devoted sportsman . The Poppers are also lumber Barons . Baron E . Armin has retired from the business and lives in Budapesth . The Kuftners : Nothing is known much here of this Austrian family beyond the fact , that Baron Karl was raised to the Hungarian barony in acknowledgment of his merits in the development of the Hungarian sugar industry . The Ohrensteins v . Beocsin ; In the cement trade : exceedingly wealthy ; recent creation as Barons , but of much older date as nobles , i Herr v . i The Herczels ; In the male line the only representatives are Baron Emanuel and his son . Baron Paul . Baron Emanuel is the court physician of Emperor Francis Joseph , and his practice is mostly among the aristocratic families . He is one of the most celebrated surgeons in Europe , chief surgeon of the Saint Rochus Hospital , and he maintains a private hospital . His services are in constant demand , and he considers himself as exceptionally fortunate when his manyfold engagements allow him to take dinner without interruption . The Doczys : Baron Ludwig needs no introduction to the Vienna public . Whoever might not know him as the celebrated author of the Kiss . should , at least , be aware that during many years he had been the confidant of the great Andrassy and occupied a most important position as head of bureau in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . He is the son of a small trader in Deutsohkreutz , named pux : his son is modernized , called Baron Pierre , and holds a responsible position as Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . The youngest Hungarian Baron , who belongs to the class of the Harkanyis and Koranyis , is the present Minister for Home Defenses , Baron Samuel Hazai * . Of the numerous tribes of lower grade Hungarian Jewish nobility it is impossible to give so much detailed information without exceeding the proper limits of this article . As against some twenty Jewish baronial families there are some two hundred and fifty to three hundred Jewish families possessing some of the lower orders of nobility and titles . To give a detailed accounting of these families would require a large folio and this chronicle is not intended as a Semi-Gotha . Among the oldest Hungarian Jewish nobility are the
families of l / llmann , ( Knight of Prenyl , the Domonys de eadem , the Goldbergers v . Buda , the Posners , tne Fischer v . Farkashaza , the Krauss \ . Magyer , the Moskovitz v . Zemplen , and the Ullmanns v . Baranyavar . The * teleszky and ; : d uerkoery v . Algyest have long ago ceased to be Jews . The * Biros v . Hamor and the * Pajzs v . Racalmas belong to the same class , although their conversion is of more recent date . The same applies to the president of the Pesth Plungarian Commercial Bank and a member of the upper Chamber , ** V . Lanczv , and of the General Director of the Home Bank , I . dmund v . Szitanyi . The two most prominent Ullmanns are Adolph v . Ullmaun , Director General of the Hungarian Credit Bank and member of the Upper Chamber and Julius \ . U . The latter is one of the leading architects of the country , a prizewinner in National shooting festivals , who in spite of his strenuous occupation and his numerous business engagements , still finds time to appear in society . Fie is a student and takes pleasure in reading Homer in the original . He also devotes much time and money to private charity and does more good without taking the public into his confidence than do some twenty organized Charity Societies . The best known representative of the Domony family , Dr . Moritz , Knight v . Domony , has been mentioned in the earlier part in connection with the Barons v . Kornfeld . Of the Krauss v . Megyer there are now only living : [ sidor Megverv v . Megyer and his daughter Lola by his first wife Frau Renee , nee Wahrmann . Geza v . Moskovitz-. the only member of the Xational Casino , is the father of the former deputy Dr . Ivan v . Moskovitz , who , however , hasrecently allowed himself to be baptized . Of other noble families we might mention the following as of more or less prominence , regardless of the rank of the titles or of the date of their acquisition ; Jellineck v . Haraszti . The Senior of the family , Henry * v . Jellineck was formerly Director General of the Street Railway System . As he is a bachelor it is most likely that Ins brother Ludwig , Councilor in the Ministry of Trade and Commerce , and his son , Aurel . will someday inherit both the title and the millions of I lenrv . — Klek v . Malomszeg . Paul v . Elek , Vice-President of the Hungarian Bank , was himself the recipient of the title : he nas no male heirs , only two daughters , one of whom is married to Mr . Paul v . Luczenbacher . —Grosz v . Gattav and Szecheny . The sons of the late Siegmund Grosz , Andor , Eugene and Franz , received their titles in quite recent times . Another branch of the Grosz family living in Ueszoeg ( Baranya ) has simply the title of H . v . This family is exceedingly rich . —Mandy v . Kantorjanosi is a large landed proprietor in the Baranya . Samuel v . Mandy is the nephew of the late well known deputy Paul Mandel . He is a multi-millionaire . —Eisenstaedter v . Buzias is of older nobility . The family resides in emesvar and Szeged . —The late Ministerial Councilor Lukas Enyedi was a member of the Eisenstaedter family . -Bach v . Begavar , also of older Jewish nobility , millowners m Gyoer and Szeged . -Latzko v . Vahujhely . Karl v . Latzko . recently demised , was the head of the bank latzko & Popper . His son , Dr . Willy v . Latzko , succeeds him as head of the firm . The author , Andor Latzko , in Berne , and the country magnate Gustav v . Latzko are the other sons of the deceased and his two daughters are married , Clara to Baron v . Herczel , Irene to Dr . Schnudl . -Fuerst v . Maroth ; the title of the late Jacob Fuerst has descended to his sons , the Court Councilors Bertold and Ladislaw v . Fuerst . —Egyedy v . Egyed . Distillers on a large scale and wellknown
sportsmen . There are two brothers , Louis and Arthur . —Linczer v . Jelenczfalva ; also distillers . The senior of this family is Emmerich v . Linczer . —Goldberger v . Buda . Important textile and dye industrials . This is a large family and intermarried with a number of other prominent families . —Vecsey v . Fenyve s . Personal title granted to Arthur v . Vecsey , Director General of the Translyvanian Lumber Co . He is related by marriage to the Barons Groedel . Luckacs v . Szeged , Director of the Hungarian Credit Bank . As a financial power Josef v . Lukacs was granted his title . Successors , Jean and ( ieorges v . Lukacs , the latter a writer of great merit . — Palotay v . Varpalato . Rudolph , Edmund and Andor are the owners of the St . Lukas bath resort ; Edmund is Consul for Japan . —Huevoes v . Botfa . Joseph v . Huevoes is President of the City Electric Railway Co . His son is a musical composer and Director General of the City R . R . Co ., and Ladislaw is a sculptor . —Deutsch v . Ke menes Mihaly , Fa . Anton v . Deutsch was ennobled in recognition of his work of many years in the editorial chair of the political economic department of the Pester Lloyd . The son , Dr . Oskar v . Deutsch , is lieutenant , in a Hussar regiment . —Baruch v . Felsoevany . The original title was granted to the grandfather of the present generation . One branch of the family is baptized and resides in Vienna . —Bischitz v . Heves . Large family with numerous connections by intermarriage . One branch is called Hevesey v . Heves . —Vadja v . Bajmok . Financial nobility . Panmerich v . Vadja , formerly Director of the Hungarian Bank , now is retired and immensely wealthy . —Neumann v . Vegvar . The brothers v . Neumann in Arad , one of whom died recently , are the largest distillers in the Monarchy . One of the daughters married the Baron Tibor v . Daniel . —Rosa v . Varhely . Isidor v . Rosa , one of the most prominent attorneys in Szegedin , is President of the Jewish congregation of that city . Their nobility dates back about 30 years . —Posner . Karl Louis v . Posner was knighted before the year 1867 . His son is Alfred Knight v . Posner . Ruszt v . Ruszt . Court Councilor Joseph v . Ruszt and his brother Oskar are the heads of the wellknown wholesale firm Bernhard Ruszt & Sons . Joseph is a friend and protector of the Arts and he has gained the reputation of being a princely host , whose invitations to dinners are welcome in the best circles . —Zilahy v . Gyurgyoka . Simon v . Zilahy was ennobled for his services as Director of the Budapesti Hirlap . Of his sons , Desider is also on the staff of that paper ; Eugen is a physician , Emmerich a merchant and Stephan is still at the University preparing for a career . —Wodianer v . Vasarhely . Publishers . Court Councilor Hugo v . Wodianer is the sole owner of the firm R . Lampel , which has now been made part of the firm Ph . Wodianer & Sons . —Wohl v . Losoncz . Aladar v . Wohl is the head of the millions and the title of his late uncle Adolph . His cousin Ludwig , who lives in Berlin , was disinherited . —Weisz v . Csepel . Manfred v . Weisz received the nobility patent for the family in his capacity of chief of . the arms and ammunition factory of Berthold & Manfred Weisz . He is one of the wealthy . —Wolfner v . Uypest . Large leather industry : Karl v . Bachruch , Court Jeweler and manufacturer of silverware , received the title long ago ; he is immensely wealthy . —Molfner v . Uypest . Large leather industry ; Theodor v . Wolfner was a member of the legislature for many years . —Loebl v . Telecska ( Vienna ) . —Translated from the German by J . H .
