Proper Names of Lithuanian Origin in Dysna Region Cover Image

Dysnos apskrities lietuviškos kilmės tikriniai vardai
Proper Names of Lithuanian Origin in Dysna Region

Author(s): Kazimieras Garšva, Aleksandras Adamkavičius
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Instytut Slawistyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Dysna region; ethnogenesis; hydronyms; oikonyms; surnames

Summary/Abstract: From 1500 gathered oikonyms in Dysna region there about 100 (6.6%) place names of Lithuanian origin. Really there are more of them: part of them became more Slavonic, they were translated so it is more difficult to recognize them. In the areas nearer to the Republic of Lithuania and Breslav there are more Lithuanianisms, e.g. in the parish of Ikazne (District of Teterkovka) and among the names of present villages the Lithuanianisms make a quarter (25%) more: Aukšlys (Uklia), Bijeikiai (Bijeiki), Dervaniškiai (Dervanishki), Kamša (Kumsha), Kliausai (Kliavsy), Pasiutiškės (Posiutishki), Pažardžiai (Pozhardje), Petkūnai (Petkuny), Sparūnai (Sporuny), Šakalynė (Shokoleushchina), Šiaulėnai (Shauliany), Varai (Vary), etc. According to the data of the visitation of Breslav deanery there was written in Polish that there were in Druja these clearer oikonyms of Lithuanian origin: Arshele “Aršeliai”, Druja, Jaja “Jauja”, Jodkovshchyna “Juodkynė”, Obolonie, Poviacie “Pavietė”, Pupinovo, Pushkele “Puškeliai”, Raksniovo, Rovbie “Raubiai”, Stashule “Stačiuliai”, Svilkovo, Shalcinovo, Sharkele “Šarkeliai”, Vaise “Vaisiai”, Viata “Vieta”, Zubry “Zubrai”. Between Verchnedvinsk and Polock there could be such Lithuanian place names: Kaziulynė (Kozulino), Žiaunava (Zhevnovo), Raštava (Rashtovo), Ežynė (Azino), Daugnoriai (Dochnary). In the eastern part of Belarus among Polock, Vitebsk and the border of Russia and Belarus there are also some hydronyms and oikonyms of Lithuanian origin (namely Lithuanian, not Baltic) that are found in the territory of Russia as well: Šerkšniai (Shershni), Ūdvietė (Udviaty), Usviečiai (Usviaty), etc. In the district of Sharkovshchina there are more than 20 oikonyms that have a Lithuanian root or suffix: Abalojn (cf. obuolys), Biarnaty (cf. bernas), Gernuty (<Gernučiai), Girsy (cf. girdėti), Jody (<Juodžiai), Kausheleva (cf. kaušas), Kaukli (cf. kaukti), Labuti (<Labučiai), Svily (Svilai, 3 places), Sharkovshchina (cf. šarka, Slavonic soroka). Oikonyms Bialiany (<Bielėnai), Galava (cf. Galas), Pramiany (cf. piemenė) have suffixes -any (<-ėnai), -ava, -eik- (<-eikiai), -uk, -ut. There are more than 20 family names in the district: Kukut’ (<Kukutis), Labut’ (<Labutis), Protas, Vazgird (<Vosgirdas), Zhingel’ (<Žingelis), etc. Some villages were named after the family names. It is an interesting fact that the family name Protas (oikonym Protasy) has retained the ending -as.

  • Issue Year: 2006
  • Issue No: 30
  • Page Range: 301-310
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Lithuanian