ANTHROPONYMS OF JEWISH WOMEN IN THE 16TH CENTURY GRAND DUCHY OF LITHUANIA Cover Image

XVI AMŽIAUS LIETUVOS DIDŽIOSIOS KUNIGAIKŠTYSTĖS ŽYDŽIŲ MOTERŲ VARDYNAS
ANTHROPONYMS OF JEWISH WOMEN IN THE 16TH CENTURY GRAND DUCHY OF LITHUANIA

Author(s): Jūratė Čirūnaitė
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla
Keywords:  Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės žydai1; asmenvardis2; įvardijimas3; prievardis4;

Summary/Abstract: The most popular names among Jewish women in 16th century Lithuania were Simcha, Marjam, Anna, Debora. The names were most frequently recorded as diminutives (63.3%), with only 36.4% appearing in canonical forms. The smallest group comprises names formed using only anthroponyms that were derived from those of (male) family members (29.6%). 35.2% of the namings are recorded as mixed type. The same number of women are recorded using only names in the documents. Personal names are included in 70.4% of recorded women’s namings. Andronyms (anthroponyms formed from the spouse’s name) were found in 64.8% of all the records. 9.3% of women’s namings include anthroponyms formed using the spouse’s patronymic. Only 1.9% of namings had a female patronymic (the derivative of the suffix -owna/-ewna). One-member female namings prevail (59.3%). Two-member namings comprise 33.3%. Three members are found in 5.6% of the namings, while four-membered ones comprise 1.9%. The average length of the namings is 1.5 times that of the anthroponyms. Common words explaining anthroponyms were found in 68.5% of the namings. Common words related to religion prevail (51.4%). 29.7% of the common words characterize relationships or family status, and only 10.8% describe occupation, post or trade (vocation). Common words describing descent (social origin) comprise only 8.1% of all the women’s namings. Namings consisting only of anthroponyms of family members can be subdivided into the following subgroups: 1) derivatives of the suffix -owaja/-ewaja; 2) derivatives of the suffix owaja/-ewaja; 3) derivatives of the suffix -owaja/-ewaja + the genitive of a male patronymic; 4) derivatives of the suffix -owaja/-ewaja + a male patronymic + the genitive of a male patronymic. Namings without anthroponyms consisting of family members included names and names with common words. Mixed namings consisted of: 1) a name + a deriva¬tive of the suffix -owaja/-ewaja; 2) a derivative of the suffix -owaja/-ewaja + the genitive of a male patronymic + a name; 3) a derivative of the suffix -owaja/-ewaja + the genitive of a male patronymic + a name + a female patronymic. The most popular type of naming is a recorded name. KEY WORDS: onomastics, name, patronymic.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 21 (26)
  • Page Range: 200-207
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Lithuanian