Glossary of pre-Christian Lithuanian names
A number of Lithuanian surnames evolved from the ancient pre-Christian Lithuanian personal names, such as Budrys, Girdenis, Tylenis, Vilkas, Amantas, Bukantas, Rimgaila, Vizgirda, Tarvydas.[1] Many of them are of compound type, typically consisting of two stems (dithematic names), and many are of single stem.[2][3][4] Sometimes the order of these stems may reverse, e.g., Norvaišas vs. Vaišnoras, Tautvydas vs. Vytautas.
Some two-stemmed names have a clear etymology, arising from nicknames, such as Baltakis = Balt-akys = "White eyes". Alfred Senn suggects that such transparent names are less ancient development, while those with non-evident etymology originate from the Indo-European pra-language.[5]
A two-stemmed name may be further compounded into a patronymic cognomen/surname: Algirdas—Algirdaitis (son of Algirdas; see Lithuanian names of Vladimir Olgerdovich, Andrei of Polotsk, Dmitry of Bryansk), Žygimantas—Žygimantaitis.[2]
Glossary of stems in dithematic names
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Much of this glossary of stems common in ancient Lithuanian names is based on Dictionary of Lithuanian Surnames, searchable online in the Lithuanian Surname Database (LSD).[6]
- Al-, Alg-; several suggested etymologies[3]
- bu, but (may be first or second stem), associatted with the verb "to be" (search for "Butautas" in the LSD)[6]
- Dár-: from daryti, "to do", "to make" [3]
- -dau-, most probably from daug, "much" (search for "Daubaras" in the LSD)[6]
- -gail-; from gaileti/gailus, "sorry", or gailas, "strong" (search for "Bargaila" in the LSD)[6]
- -gird-, -gerd-; from girdeti, išgirsti, "hear" (search for "Girdvainis" in the LSD)[6]
- Kęs, Kens-, connected with kễsti ( keñčia ) "endure", "suffer"[7]
- Kęsgaila, Kęsminas/Kesminas, Kęsminavičius, Kęstartas
- -mant- is thought to be associated with the word manyti, "to think, " to know", as in mantus, "clever", "cunning"
- Daumantas, lt:Mangirdas, Mantautas, Mantvila/Montvila/Mantvilas/Montvilas, Rimantas, Žygimantas (search for "Manginas" in the LSD)[6]
- -rim- from rimti, "calm down", ramus, "calm" (search for "Rimgaila" in the LSD)[6]
- -nor-: from norėti, "to want"
- -sur- (search for "Surgailis" in the LSD)[6]
- -vel-, -vil- is associated with the word viltis, "hope" (search for "Vilbutas" in the LSD)[6]
References
edit- ^ Juozas Kudirka , The Lithuanians: An Ethnic Portrait, section Lithuanian surnames (translation of the book: Juozas Kudirka, Lietuviai: etniniai bruožai, 1991)
- ^ a b K. A. GIRVILAS, PRE-CHRISTIAN NAME GIVING IN LITHUANIA, Lituanus,Volume 24, No.3 - Fall 1978
- ^ a b c Antanas Pakerys, Dvikamienių lietuvių vyrų vardų kirčiavimas: pirmųjų dėmenų tvirtapradė priegaidė [ACCENTUATION OF LITHUANIAN COMPOUND MALE NAMES: THE ACUTE OF THE FIRST COMPONENT], doi:10.15388/baltistica.44.2.1312 (somewhat different version)
- ^ Antanas Pakerys, Dvikamienių lietuvių moterų vardų kirčiavimas [Dvikamienių lietuvių moterų vardų kirčiavimas]
- ^ Alfred Senn, Lithuanian Surnames, JSTOR 2491865
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Surname database; entries based on Lietuvių pavardžių žodynas, (ats. red. A. Vanagas, autoriai A. Vanagas, V. Maciejauskienė, M. Razmukaitė). Vilnius: Mokslas, 1985, T. 1; 1989, T. 2.
- ^ KĘSMINAS
Further reading
edit- Irma Stirbaitė, DVIKAMIENĖS LIETUVIŲ PAVARDĖS, M.S. thesis based on the analysis of the Lietuvių pavardžių žodynas