The Suhaj (Szuhaj, Šuhaj) family history (Abridged version of the site) The Suhaj name origin The surname of the Suhaj (Szuhaj, Šuhaj) family originated from the Slavic noun „suchý“ meaning the „ dry“ and transformed by time to Hungarian noun “Szuha” according to the geographical name of “Szuha” brook and village in old Gemer district (Slovak: Gemer, Hungarian: Gömör), which was an administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. In the 19th century it was united with the Kishont region to form Gömör-Kishont county (in Slovak: Gemer-Malohont). Its territory is now in southern Slovakia and northern Hungary. The oldest forms of Suhaj surname, such as de Zwha, de Zoha, de Zuha were written by Latin (from 13th century) in official documents and gradually were changed to Szuhai, Szuhay, Suhaj, Suhag, Schuhay, Šuhaj, Šohaj, etc. according to families´ residences in Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Romania, etc.
The Suhaj family origin The first written sources about Suhaj family were found from the beginning of 13th century. The Suhaj families belonged to the oldest landowners of Gemer and Malohont counties and were the members of the magnate´s families of Ajtony and Hont-Poznan.
Ajtony family line Ajtony was a ruler of Banat in present Romania and Serbia. In the earliest sources Ajtony´s name recorded as “Ohtum” or “Achtum” is from Turkish word for golden. Place names also echo his name; an abbey named Ajtony's monastery existed in Csanád county and a village and settlement named Aiton exists in Romania. Ajtony was a powerful ruler and was baptised according to the Orthodox rite. Between 1027 and 1030 Ajtony was defeated by army of King Stephen I of Hungary. King´s army was commanded by Csanád, who was Ajtony's former commander-in-chief. Ajtony's descendants owned land in the region, indicating that King Stephen had not confiscated all of his predecessor's domain. More, some of the families achieved higher social status in the country´s public life. One of them was Szuhai family. 1278-1282. King Ladislaus IV of Hungary donated the Zubogy and Ozdabugh village and estates to Demeter and Heym Szuhai (Zuhai), sons of Joannes Szuhaj, mainly for their loyal services to the king in Gemer county. Demeter and Heym were both the comes - district governors (comes – Latin title of comital rank).
1287. King court by inter mediation of Eger chapter donated Nagybarcza village to the youngest member of this family, Albert Szuhai comes and his son Joannes because of the loyal services to the King Ladislaus IV in Borsod county. During the time, part of the Szuhai family properties were lost, but Joannes Szuhai, son of Albert Szuhai, asked King Charles Robert (a member of the house of Anjou) for their return in 1315. In 1329 ownership for Szuhai family was certified and Simon Szuhai (Zohay) and Beket Szuhai were introduced into this properties in Gemer county. 1467. King Mattias Corvinus donated Noak estate in Gemer county to the nobles Joannes, Lazarus, Jacob, Georg and Bereck Szuhai. 1443. King Ladislaus the Posthumous, known also as Ladislas, donated 12 estates in Csaba to Vincent Szuhai in Borsod county. 1610. King Mattias II donated Kinis estate to Caspar and Martin Szuhay in Novoabov county. 1638. King Ferdinand III donated estates Danyád, Penyige, Kis-Szekeres and Kömörő to Caspar Szuhay and his brother Mattias and sister Anna. This Szuhay family was owner of many villages and estates like Balajton, Zubogy, Szuha a some parts of estates in Szendrő, Tarcza, Baksa, Visoly, Vilmány, Kis-Kinyis, Csontosfalva, Halmaj, Ptügy, Szent-István, Tenyő, Kürt, Csongrád, Szent-György, Bökény and Élesd in Hungary. Caspar Szuhay (Zuhay) and his son Mattias were intensively active in fight against Habsburg domination in Hungary.
Hont-Poznan family line From the 13th century the Hont-Poznan clan was divided into many branches in the Kigdom of Hungary and one of them held possessions in Hont county. The founder of the Szuhay family in Malohont region was Jacob who started lawfully use the Szuhay name in 1350. 1358. Jacob Szuhai (Iaco de Zuha) was a member of judicial council of Hont county. 1394 - 1395. Stephen Szuhai, son of Jacob Szuhaj was vicepalatine of Hungary (vicepalatinus regni Hungarie). The Palatine of Hungary was the highest-ranking official in the Kingdom of Hungary from the beginning of the 11th century to 1848. Initially, Palatines were representatives of the monarchs, later (from 1723) the viceregent (viceroy). In the early centuries of the kingdom, they were appointed by the king, and later (from 1608) were elected by the Diet of the Kingdom of Hungary (Parlamentum Publicum ). 1412. King Sigismund exempted family of Joannes Szuhai (with son Stephen and grandson Jacob) from duty payments. 1436. In Székesfehérvár King Sigismund directed the Nitra chapter to introduce Ursula, wife of Joannes de Zuha (son of Jako de Zuha) into the estate Ohay in Tekov county and estates Ondorh, Mosolch, Hymolon, Ztraso and Kyschaba in Nitra county.
1475. King Mattias arranged property legal dispute among relatives of Jacob de Zuha (grandsons Nicolaus and Paul and on the other site Stephen and Peter) in 1475
King Mattias arranged property legal dispute among relatives of Jacob de Zuha in 1475
1495. King Vladislaus II, also known as Ladislaus Jagiellon, asked Arad county to examine Catherine Zwhay´s and her son John´s entitlements to properties of Kowaz, Kewe, Gyarak, Kerezthur, Panath, Fevldwar, Peele, Sartahaza, Ponracz in Arad county. The ruler ask false owners to return this estates to Catherine Zwhay and her son.
Noble families Beginning of the 14th century, Hungarian nobility was based on a Patent of Nobility with a coat of arms issued by the monarch and constituted a legal and social class. Historiographers state the next Suhaj noblemen: ⚜ 1282. King Ladislaus IV donated Zubogy estates to Heem Szuhai comes and Demeter Szuhai comes (1. Reiszig Ede: Gömör-kishont vármegye története. 2. Zichy Ferencz, gróf: A Zichy és Vásonkeői gróf Zichy-család időseb ágának okmánytára = Codex diplomaticus domus senioris comitum Zichy de Zich et Vásonkeő : 1. kötet, Pest : Magyar Történelmi Társulat, 1871. – XV, 632 p. 3. Csoma József: Abaúj-Torna vármegye nemes családjai. Kassa, 1897). ⚜ 1287. Albert Szuhai comes (Karácsonyi János: Magyar nemzetségek a 14. század közepéig. A Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Lev. Tagja, Első kötet, Budapest, MTA, 1900). ⚜ 1295. Lucas Szuhay comes (Herpay Gábor: Debrecen szab. kir. város levéltára dip-lomagyűjteményének regesztái, Debrecen, 1916).
⚜ 1360. Noblemen Michael a Peter Szuhai (Zuhai) (Borsa Iván: A Dancs család levéltára 1232-1525. Magyar Országos Levéltár kiadványai, II. Forráskiadványok 23. Budapest, 1993, s. 51). ⚜ 1381. Nobleman Joannes Szuhay (son of Peter Szuhay) from Szuhafő in Gemer county (Nagy Iván: Magyarország családai czimerekkel és nemzékrendi táblákkal. Pest, 1863). ⚜ 1427. Szuhay de Szuhafő, old noble family in Gemer county; (Koszeghi Sándor: Pestvármegye főlevéltákosa. Nemes családok Pest vármegyében, Hungária könyvnyomda, Budapest. 1899). Coat of arms seal in: 1/Polgári Perek fasc. 149. Nr. 45., fasc. 153. Xr. 30. 2/Koszeghi Sándor, Pestvármegye fölevéltákosa. Hungária könyvnyomda Budapest. 1899. 1443. King Ladislaus the Posthumous, known also as Ladislas, donated 12 estates in Csaba to Vincent Szuhai in Borsod county (Kammerer Ernő: A zichi és vásonkeői gróf Zichy-család idősb ágának okmánytára. Codex diplomaticus domus senioris comitum Zichy de Zich et Vasonkeo. IX. (Budapest, 1899). ⚜ 1447. Georg Szuhai (Zohay) from Korothnyik was introduced to the estate in Kwthelek (Diplomatikai levéltár (Q szekció) • Kincstári levéltárból (E) • MKA, Neoregestrata acta, Q 311/14040). ⚜ 1449. In the charter of ruler Joannes Hunyadi (father of King Mattias I Corvinus) there is the mention about nobleman Ladislaus Szuhai (de Zuha), son of Egidius Szuhai (Diplomatikai Levéltár (Q szekció) • Kincstári levéltárból (E) • MKA, Acta ecclesiastica (Q 316) • 14315 ).
Nobleman Ladislav Szuhai (de Zuha) is stated in a charter of Joannes Hunyadi ruler in 1449
⚜ 1467. King Mattias I gave direction to Eger chapter for introduction of noblemen Joannes, Lazarus, Jacob, Georg and Bereck de Zuha to the estates Noak in Gemer county (Picture down) (Diplomatikai levéltár (Q szekció), Kincstári levéltárból (E), MKA, Neo-regestrata acta (Q 311), 16600).
King Mattias Corvinus give a direction to Eger chapter for introduction of noblemen Joannes, Lazarus, Jacob, Georg and Bereck de Zuha into the estates of Noak in Gemer county in 1467
⚜ 1549. Paul Szuhay from Alsószuha was registered in official list of the noble families as "Szuhay alias Harcsa" (1. List of Historical Surnames of the Hungarian Nobility (A magyar történelmi nemesség családneveinek listája). Compiled and edited by (összeállitotta és szerkesztette): Steven Tötösy de Zepetnek http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/clcweblibrary/ nobilitashungariae West Lafayette: Purdue University Press, 2010. ISSN 1923-9580 ©Purdue University. 2.Kempelen Béla: Magyar nemes családok, 4. vyd. 1912 ⚜ 1551- 1608. Stephen Szuhay, bishop of Vác (1595 - 1700), bishop of Eger (1600 - 1607), bishop of Nitra (1607 - 1608), archbishop of Kalocsa (1607 - 1608). Patent of Nobility for his family was issued by King Rudolf II with a coat of arms in Prague 1592 (F. Federmayer: Erb Štefana Szuhaya. Genealogicko heraldický hlas. Časopis SGHS MS, Martin, č.2, 1999, s. 34-35). By other source the Patent of nobility was issued by Ferdinand II in 1630 (J. Novák: Rodové erby na Slovensku: Kubínyiho zbierka pečatí, Osveta, 1980).
Stephen Szuhay family´s and archbishop´s coat of arms (1592 and 1603)
⚜ 1610. King Mattias II donated Kinis estate to Caspar and Martin Szuhay in Novoabov county (Nagy Iván: Magyarország családai czimerekkel és nemzékrendi táblákkal. Pest, 1863).
⚜ 1638. Ferdinand III donated Danyád, Penyige, Kis-Szekeres and Kömörő estates to Jasper Szuhay, his brother Mattias and sister Anna in Szatmar county (Dr. Borovszky Samu: Magyarország vármegyéi és városai, Magyarország monografiája Szatmár vármegye, Országos monografia társaság, Budapest, 1894, 990 s.). ⚜ 1646. Caspar, Mattias and Martin Szuhay were registered as noblemen in list of noble families (Korponay János: Abaujvármegye monographiája I. Seite 1 von 416. Históriaantik Könyvesház Kiadó, 2010, 772 s. ISBN: 5990000749823), similarly in the charters of coat of arms from 1564 (Dr. Czobor Alfréd. Abaujvármegyében kihirdetett cimeres nemeslevelek 1564-1711. Történelmi közlemények Abaúj-Torna vármegye és Kassa múltjából, V. évfolyam, 4. szám. 1914-1915). 1659. Seal of nobleman Mattias Szuhay from 1659 is described by Karácsonyi János (A magyar nemzetségek a 16. század középeig. Magyar tudományos akadémia, Budapest, 1901). ⚜ 1675. The nobleman Mattias Szuhay was recorded in a land registry of Heves and Szolnok counties (Benedek Gyula: Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok megye iratai 16011700. A Szolnok Megyei Levéltár Évkönyve. Szolnok, 2001, s. 195). ⚜ 1685. Nobleman Stephen Szuhay was vice-captain of castle Modrý Kameň (1. Nagy Iván: Magyarország családai czimerekkel és nemzékrendi táblákkal. Pest, 1863; 2. http: digitalisleveltar.nogradarchiv.hu)
Sketch of Stephen Shuhay´s coat of arms on seal from 1685
(Pecsét- és címergyűjtemény: Nógrád megyei levéltár)
⚜ 1689. Stephen Szuhai as nobleman was registered in Szendrő (near Alsószuha) with Patent of nobility (Borovszky Samu: Szendrő vára. Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1908, 39 s.). ⚜ 1703. Stephen and Joannes Szuhay (Szúháy) have been ennobled in Hubovo (Gemer county) (Archiválie Krajského štátneho archívu, Banská Bystrica, Fólia F 53).
⚜ 1703. Stephen and Mattias Szuhay (Szúhaÿ) proved their noble origin and they have been ennobled in Alsószuha (Szuhay család honlapja: http://szuhay.blogspot.sk/p/a-szuhafoi-ag.html; Archiválie Krajského štátneho archívu, Banská Bystrica, Fólia F 54). ⚜ 1703. Nicolaus, Martin and Joannes Szuhaÿ proved their noble origin and have been ennobled in Szuha (1. Szuhay család honlapja: http://szuhay.blogspot.sk.html; 2. Archiválie Krajského štátneho archívu, Banská Bystrica, Fólia F 56). ⚜ 1705-1716. Martin Szuhai and Anna Szuhai: Family coat of arms on seal with Patent of Nobility (Végr. Okit. 1014/XI., és Polgári Perek fasc. 76., Nr. 3. jelzetek alatt őrzőit iratokon található).
Sketch of coat of arms and seal of Martin and Anna Szuhay, 1716
(1/ Siebmacher´s Wappenbuch, J. Siebmacher's grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch; 2/Pecsét- és címer-gyűjtemény: Nógrád megyei levéltár. In: http:/digitalisleveltar. nogradarchiv.hu) ⚜ 1720. Stephen Szuhay was stated as nobleman in census of Rimavská Sobota (http://adatbazisokonline.hu/adatbazis/az-1720_-evi-orszagososszeiras /adatlap/ 2481). ⚜ 1750. Noble family of Joannes Szuhay with roots in Szuhafő was stated in Hlohovec (Nitra county, Slovakia). The coat of arms seal depicts the hand in breast armour holding a sword (Nagy Iván: Magyarország családai czimerekkel és nemzékrendi táblákkal. Pest, 1863) ⚜ 1754-1755. Francis, Stephen, Joannes, Martin and Mattias Szuhay proved their noble origin in the noblemen census in Hont and Gemer counties (Kempelen Béla, Magyar nemes családok I. Nemzeti Örökség Kiadó, 2011). Címerpecsét Pestm. lt.-ban. – Vö. NI. X/886–9. (gen.); Siebm. 646., pk. 114.; Kub. 8.; Csoma 573–580.; Kősz. 385.; Forgon II/298–302). ⚜ 1754-1755. Ladislaus Szuhay was stated as nobleman in census of Ladányi and Gyüre in 1754/55, than in the end of the 18th and start of the 19th century (In: http://www.sulinet.hu/oroksegtardata/telepulesekertekei/Mezoladany/pages/monografia/6feje zet. htm).
⚜ 1771-1777. Francis Szuhay together with his sons Stephen, Martin and Joannes were stated as noblemen in nobility records of Zemplín county (The Elenchus Actorum is an index to the nobility records for Zemplén county, ranging from the 16th to 19th century. In:http://www.hungaryexchange.com/database/ zemplen/ elenchus /s/index.html).
Francis Szuhay with his sons were stated in nobility record of Zemplín county, 1771-1777
⚜ 1794. Baron Francis Suhay, general from Marosnémet, was decorated by Order of Knighthood in 1794 (Milodánovits Simon: A franczia forradalmi háborúkban kitűnt magyar katonák, 1891. s. 397-413. /É/). ⚜ 1794. The count (gróf) Samuel Szuhay was an owner of some vineyards in Sátoraljaújhely Tokay vineyard region (A magyarországi piarista telkek története: http://archivum.piar.hu/rendtortenet/forrasok/hannig/hannigsatoraljaujhely .htm). ⚜ 1803. Nobleman Martin Szuhay was a sworn judge in Gemer count. His coat of arms: on shield is a rider on a horse holding a sword in the right hand and on crown is hand holding the sword with spiked Turk head (Karácsonyi János: A magyar nemzetségek a 16. század középeig. Magyar tudományos akadémia, Budapest, 1901). ⚜ 1805. The noble Szuhay family with Patent of nobility (armales) was registered in census of Zemplín county in 1805 (Antonium Szirmay de Szirma: Notitia Topographica, Politica, Zempleniensis. Budae. Typis Regiae Universitas Pestanae. 1805, str. 117, § 158.). ⚜ 1826. Ladislaus Szuhay was stated as nobleman in Protestant Reform Church registry in Mezőladány (http://www.sulinet.hu /oroksegtar/data/telepulesekertekei /Mezoladany /pages/ monografia/6fejezet.htm).
⚜ 1835. Paulo Suhay was ennobled by Ferdinand V, the King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia in Vienna 11.5.1835. (Nobiles armales and Coat of arms, see Picture down). He was an officer of borderline regiment in Körös and Varasdin in south Hungary (A57- Magyar kancelláriai Levéltár- Libri regii-66.zv.- s. 306.; A39Magyar kancelláriai Levéltár- Acta generalia- 1835- No. 15252). Coat of arms seal (Polgári Perek fasc. 34, Nr. 23. In: Köszeghi Sándor, Nemes családok Pestvármegyében, Hungária, 1899, 467 s.).
Nobleman Paul Suhay´s armales and coat of arms, 1835
⚜ 1883. Emmerich Suhay, nobleman, general, director of The Hungarian Royal Military Archive in Budapest, military historiographer and writer was decorated by Order of Saint Stephen in 1883.
Status of some Suhaj families Many members of the Suhaj families found the position and left the distinct traces behind in the history of Malohont and Gemer. 1394 - 1395. Stephen Szuhai, son of Jacob Szuhaj was vicepalatine of Hungary (vicepalatinus regni Hungarie). The Palatine of Hungary was the highest-ranking official in the Kingdom of Hungary from the beginning of the 11th century to 1848 (Mályusz Elemér: Zsigmondkori oklevéltár I. 1387–1399, Magyar Országos Levéltár kiadványai, II. Forráskiadványok 1. Budapest, 1951, s. 402, záznam č. 3684 z 31. okt. 1394). 1393. Joannes Szuhai was a vicepalatine tax collector (Diplomatikai levéltár (Q szekció) • Családi levéltárak (P szekcióból) • Kende család (Q 102/93) • 69736).
1407. Jacob Szuhai (Jakow de Zuha) was a royal tax collector (charter above) (Diplomatikai levéltár, Q szekció, Családi levéltárak, P szekcióból, Csoma család, devecseri Q 58/90845).
1439. Joannes Szuhai (Johannes de Zuha) in the Eger chapter´s charter (above) was stated as „King´s man” of King Albrecht II (homo regius -deputy king and executive official in judge lawsuits) (Diplomatikai levéltár, Q szekció, Kincstári levéltárból (E) MKA, Neo-regestrata acta Q 311). 1461. Joannes and Vincent de Zuha were in position of „homo regius“ of King Mattias I (Diplomatikai levéltár, Q szekció, Kincstári levéltárból (E), MKA, Neoregestrata acta Q 311, 15565, Óvári regeszták, volume 17 / page 265) 1463. Vincent Szuhai (de Zuha) was in a position of „homo regius“ at a management revision of Esztergom´s chapter in 1463 (C. Tóth Norbert: Az esztergomi székeskáptalan a 15. Században, II. Rész, A sasadi tizedper 1452–1465 közötti „krónikája”. Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, Budapest, 2015). 1462-1463. Georgius Suhay from Kőtelek (near Szolnok) and Michael Suhai were in position of the provincial judges in royal investigative
kommittees (Diplomatikai levéltár Q szekció Q 311 / 516 34 • Kincstári levéltárból (E) • MKA, Neo-regestrata acta Q 311). 1522. Peter Zuhaÿ from Zombor in Zemplín county was stated as „homo regius“ in a charter of King Louis II (Picture below) (Diplomatikai levéltár, Q szekció, Kincstári levéltárból (E), MKA, Acta Paulinorum, Q 312, DL-DF:23612).
Peter Zuhaÿ from Zombor stated as “homo regius” in charter of King Louis II in 1522
1551 -1608. Stephen Szuhay: bishop of Vác (1595 - 1700), bishop of Eger (1600 1607), bishop and district governor of Nitra (1607 - 1608), archbishop of Kalocsa (1607 - 1608), chairman of the Diet of Hungary (1597, Parlamentum Publicum was a legislative institution in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary from the 1290). In 1604 he held peace talks with sultane Ahmed to end war. He died in 1608 in Vienna. 1662. Mathias Szuhay de Szuhafő as a representative of Abov county took part in a session of Diet of Hungary scheduled in Bratislava 1662 (Gusarova, Tatâna Pavlovna: A 17. századi magyar országgyűlések résztvevői. Levéltári Közlemények 76, Magyar Országos Levéltár, Budapest, 2005, s. 93–148). 1690. Szuhay György from Szuha took part in especial session of Diet of Hungary scheduled in Transylvania (Szilágyi Sándor szerk.: Erdélyi Országgyűlési Emlékek 20. 1688-1691, Budapest, 1897, s. 412). 1871 - 1872 Dr. Mirko Šuhaj, Professor of Royal academy in Zagreb, was 26.1.1871 inaugurated into vice-premier office of Croatia. Many of the Suhaj families owned the whole villages or their parts in Hungary and Slovakia such as: 1295- Imola, 1411-Hubovo, 1414- Harmacz, 1414-Ladmovce, 1450- Nagylócz, 1463Suchá nad Parnou, Dolné Orešany and Šelpice, 1571- Csomósháza and Hubovo, 1598Sóstófalva, 1638- Czégénydányád, Kömörő, Penyige and Balajt, 1638- Szatmár, 16541675 Tiszakürt, 1689- Szendrő, 1754- Mezőladányi, etc.
