Name of Croatia

The name of Croatia ( hr, Hrvatska) derives from Medieval Latin ''Croātia'', itself a derivation of the native ethnonym ''of Croats'', earlier ''*Xъrvate'' and modern-day hr, Hrvati.

Earliest record

In 2005, it was archaeologically confirmed that the ethnonym ''Croatorum'' is mentioned in a church inscription found in Bijaći near Trogir dated to the end of the 8th or early 9th century.

The oldest known preserved stone inscription with the ethnonym "Cruatorum" is the 9th-century Branimir inscription found in Šopot near Benkovac, in reference to Duke Branimir, dated between 879 and 892, during his rule. The inscription mentions:

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The Latin charter of Duke Trpimir, dated to 852, has been generally considered the first attestation of the ethnonym "Chroatorum". However, the original of this document has been lost, and copy has been preserved in a 1568 transcript. Lujo Margetić proposed in 2002 that the document is in fact of legislative character, dating to 840. Ivan Mužić noted in 2007 that analyses of the copy indicate it is not certain if the original was indeed older than the Branimir inscription.

In the Trpimir charter, it is mentioned:

:''Dux Chroatorum iuvatus munere divino ��Regnum Chroatorum''

The monument with the earliest writing in Croatian containing the ethnonym ''xъrvatъ'' () is the Baška tablet from 1100, which reads: ''zvъnъmirъ kralъ xrъvatъskъ'' ("Zvonimir, king of Croats").

Etymology

The exact origin and meaning of the ethnonym ''Hr̀vāt'' (Proto-Slavic *Xъrvátъ, or *Xurwātu) is still subject to scientific disagreement. The first etymological thesis about the name of the Croats stems from Constantine Porphyrogennetos (tenth century), who connected the different names of the Croats, Βελοχρωβάτοι and Χρωβάτοι (''Belokhrobatoi'' and ''Khrobatoi''), with the Greek word χώρα (''khṓra'', "land"): "Croats in Slavic language means those who have many lands". In the 13th century, Thomas the Archdeacon considered that it was connected with the name of inhabitants of the Krk isle, which he gave as ''Curetes, Curibantes''. In the 17th century, Juraj Ratkaj found a reflexion of the verb ''hrvati (se)'' "to wrestle" in the name. A more contemporary theory believes that it might not be of native Slavic lexical stock, but a borrowing from an Iranian language. Common theories from the 20th and 21st centuries derive it from an Iranian origin, the root word being a third-century Scytho-Sarmatian form attested in the Tanais Tablets as Χοροάθος (''Khoroáthos'', alternate forms comprise ''Khoróatos'' and ''Khoroúathos'').

In the 19th century, many different derivations were proposed for the Croatian ethnonym:
* Josef Dobrovský believed it to be linked to the root *''hrev'' "tree", whereas Johann Kaspar Zeuss linked it to *''haru'' "sword";
* Sylwiusz Mikucki connected it with Old-Indian ''šarv-'' "strike";
* Pavel Jozef Šafárik derived it from ''xrъbъtъ, xribъtъ, xribъ'' "ridge, highlanders", whereas Franz Miklosich said it derived from ''hrъv'' (''hrŭv'') "dance";
* Đuro Daničić considered its root to be *''sar-'' "guard, protect";
* Fyodor Braun saw the German ''Harfada'' (''Harvaða fjöllum'' from Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks), which would be the German name of the Carpathian Mountains, as the origin of an intermediate form ''Harvata'';
* Rudolf Much connected it to a Proto-Germanic word ''hruvat-'' "horned", or – as Z. Gołąb later proposed  common noun ''*xъrvъ''//''*xorvъ'' "armor" as a prehistorical loanword from Germanic ''*hurwa-''//''*harwa-'' "horn-armor"; derivatives *''xъrvati sę''//*''xъrviti sę'' "get armored, defend oneself" – "warriors clad with horn-armor", as a self-designation or exonym;
* Henry Hoyle Howorth, J. B. Bury, Henri Grégoire, considered that it derives from the personal name of Kubrat, the leader of the Bulgars and founder of Old Great Bulgaria.

The 20th century gave rise to many new theories regarding the origin of the name of the Croats:
* A. I. Sobolevski derived it from the Iranian words ''hu-'' "good", ''ravah-'' "space, freedom" and suffix ''-at-'';
* Grigoriĭ Andreevich Ilʹinskiĭ derived it from *''kher-'' "cut", as seen in the Greek word ''kárkharos'' "sharp", ''kharah'' "tough, sharp", and ''xorbrъ'' "brave";
* Hermann Hirt saw a connection with the name of a Germanic tribe Harudes (''Χαροῦδες'');
* Leopold Geitler, Josef Perwolf, Aleksander Brückner, Tadeusz Lehr-Spławiński and Heinz Schuster-Šewc linked the root ''hrv-'' to Slovak ''charviti sa'' "to oppose, defend" or via ''skъrv-/xъrv-'' to the Lithuanian ''šárvas'' "armor" and ''šarvúotas'' "armed, cuirassier", with suffix ''-at'' emphasizing the characteristic, giving the meaning of a "well armed man, soldier";
* Karel Oštir considered valid a connection with an unspecified Thraco-Illyrian word ''xъrvata-'' "hill";
* Max Vasmer first considered it as a loanword from Old-Iranian, ''*(fšu-)haurvatā-'' "shepherd, cattle guardian" (formed of Avestan ''pasu-'' "cattle" and verb ''haurvaiti'' "guard"), later also from Old-Iranian ''hu-urvatha-'' "friend" (also accepted by N. Zupanič).
* Niko Zupanič additionally proposed Lezgian origin from ''Xhurava'' (community) and plural suffix ''-th'', meaning "municipalities, communities".
* M. Budimir saw in the name a reflexion of Indo-European ''*skwos'' "gray, grayish", which in Lithuanian gives ''širvas'';
* S. K. Sakač linked it with the Avestan name ''Harahvaitī'', which once signified the southwestern part of modern Afghanistan, the province Arachosia. "Arachosia" is the Latinized form of Ancient Greek Ἀραχωσία (''Arachosíā''), in Old Persian inscriptions, the region is referred to as ' ()."The same region appears in the Avestan '' Vidēvdāt'' (1.12) under the indigenous dialect form - (whose ''-ax^va-'' is typical non-Avestan)." In Indo-Iranian it actually means "one that pours into ponds", which derives from the name of the Sarasvati River of Rigveda. However, although the somewhat suggestive similarity, the connection to the name of Arachosia is etymologically incorrect;
* G. Vernadsky considered a connection to the ''Chorasmí'' from Khwarezm, while F. Dvornik a link to the ''Krevatades'' or ''Krevatas'' located in the Caucasus mentioned in the ''De Ceremoniis'' (tenth century).
* V. Miller saw in the Croatian name the Iranian ''hvar-'' "sun" and ''va-'' "bed", P. Tedesco had a similar interpretation from Iranian ''huravant'' "sunny", while others from the Slavic god Khors;
* Otto Kronsteiner suggested it might be derived from Tatar-Bashkir ''*chr'' "free" and ''*vata'' "to fight, to wage war";
* Stanisław Rospond derived it from Proto-Slavic *''chorb-'' + suffix ''-rъ'' in the meaning of "brave";
* Oleg Trubachyov derived it from ''*xar-va(n)t'' (feminine, rich in women, ruled by women), which derived from the etymology of Sarmatians name, the Indo-Aryan ''*sar-ma(n)t'' "feminine", in both Indo-Iranian adjective suffix ''-ma(n)t/wa(n)t'', and Indo-Aryan and the Indo-Iranian ''*sar-'' "woman", which in Iranian gives ''*har-''.

Among them were most taken into account (1) the Germanic derivation from the Carpathian Mountains which is by now considered as obsolete; (2) the Slavic and Germanic derivations about "well armed man"/"warriors clad with horn-armor" indicating that they stood out from the other Slavs in terms of weapons and armour, but it is not convincing because no other Slavic tribe is named after the objects of material culture. Etymologically the first was a Lithuanian borrowing from much younger Middle High German ''sarwes'', while the second with hypothetical ''*hurwa-''//''*harwa-'' argues a borrowing from Proto-Germanic dialect of the Bastarnae in the sub-Carpathian or Eastern Carpathian region which isn't preserved in any Slavic or Germanic language; (3) and the prevailing Iranian derivations, Vasmer's ''*(fšu-)haurvatā-'' ("cattle guardian") and Trubachyov's ''*xar-va(n)t'' (feminine, rich in women, ruled by women).

While linguists and historians agreed or with Vasmer's or Trubachyov's derivation, according to Tadeusz Lehr-Spławiński and Radoslav Katičić the Iranian theses doesn't entirely fit with the Croatian ethnonym, as according to them, the original plural form was ''Hrъvate'' not ''Hъrvate'', and the vowel "a" in the Iranian ''harvat-'' is short, while in the Slavic ''Hrъvate'' it is long among others. Katičić concluded that of all the etymological considerations the Iranian is the least unlikely. Ranko Matasović also considered it of Iranian origin, but besides confirming original forms as ''*Xъrvátъ'' (sl.) and ''*Xъrvate'' (pl.), dismissed Trubachyov's derivation because was semantically and historically completely unfounded, and concluded that the only derivation which met the criteria of adaptation of Iranian language forms to Proto-Slavic, as well as historical and semantical plausibility, it is the Vasmer's assumption but with some changes, as the Proto-Slavic ''*Xъrvat-'' < *''Xurwāt-'' comes from Proto-Ossetian / Alanian *''xurvæt-'' or *''xurvāt-'', in the meaning of "one who guards" ("guardian, protector"), which was borrowed before the 7th century, and possibly was preserved as a noun in Old Polish ''charwat'' (guard).

The Medieval Latin ''C(h)roatae'' and Greek form ''Khrōbátoi'' are adaptations of Western South Slavic plural pronunciation ''*Xərwate'' from late 8th and early 9th century, and came to Greek via Frankish source. To the Proto-Slavic singular form are closest Old Russian ''xorvaty'' (''*xъrvaty'') and German-Lusatian ''Curuuadi'' from 11th and 12th century sources, while the old plural form ''*Xъrvate'' is correctly reflected in Old Russian ''Xrovate'', ''Xrvate'', Church Slavonic ''xarьvate'' and Old Croatian ''Hrvate''. The form ''Charvát'' in Old Czech came from Croatian-Chakavian or Old Polish (''Charwaty''). The Croatian ethnonym ''Hr̀vāt'' (sl.) and ''Hrváti'' (pl.) in the Kajkavian dialect also appear in the form ''Horvat'' and ''Horvati'', while in the Chakavian dialect in the form ''Harvat'' and ''Harvati''.

Distribution

Croatian place names can be found in northern Slavic regions such as Moravia (Czech Republic) and Slovakia, Poland, along the river Saale in Germany, in Austria and Slovenia, and in the south in Greece, Albania among others.

In Germany along Saale river there were ''Chruuati'' near Halle in 901 AD, ''Chruuati'' in 981 AD, ''Chruazis'' in 1012 AD, ''Churbate'' in 1055 AD, ''Grawat'' in 1086 AD, ''Curewate'' (now ''Korbetha''), ''Großkorbetha'' (''Curuvadi'' and ''Curuuuati'' 881-899 AD) and ''Kleinkorbetha'', and ''Korbetha'' west of Leipzig; In Moravia are ''Charwath'', or ''Charvaty'' near Olomouc, in Slovakia are ''Chorvaty'' and ''Chrovátice'' near Varadka. The ''Charwatynia'' near Kashubians in district Wejherowo, and Сhаrwаtу or Klwaty near Radom in Poland among others.

Thus in the Duchy of Carinthia one can find ''pagus Crouuati'' (954), ''Crauuati'' (961), ''Chrouuat'' (979) and ''Croudi'' (993) along upper Mura; in Middle Ages the following place names have been recorded: ''Krobathen'', ''Krottendorf'', ''Krautkogel''; ''Kraut'' (before ''Chrowat'' and ''Croat'') near Spittal. In the Duchy of Styria there are toponyms such as ''Chraberstorf'' and ''Krawerspach'' near Murau, ''Chrawat'' near Laas in Judendorf, ''Chrowat'', ''Kchrawathof'' and ''Krawabten'' near Leoben. Along middle Mura ''Krawerseck'', ''Krowot'' near Weiz, ''Krobothen'' near Stainz and ''Krobathen'' near Straganz. In Slovenia there are also ''Hrovate'', ''Hrovača'', and Hrvatini.

In the Southeastern Balkans, oeconyms Rvatska Stubica, Rvaši, Rvat(i) in Montenegro; several villages Hrvati and Gornji/Donji Hrvati in Bosnia and Herzegovina including Horvaćani (Hrvaćani Hristjanski) and Hrvatovići; Rvatsko Selo, Hrvatska, and hamlet Hrvatske Mohve in Serbia; North Macedonia has a place named ''Arvati'' (Арвати) situated near lower Prespa; in Greece there is a ''Charváti'' or ''Kharbáti'' () in Attica and ''Harvation'' or ''Kharbátion'' in Argolis, as well as ''Charváta'' () on Crete; and ''Hirvati'' in Albania, among others in other countries.

Anthroponyms

The ethnonym also inspired many anthroponyms which can be found in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. They are recorded at least since the 11th century in Croatia in the form of a personal name ''Hrvatin''. Since the 14th century they can be found in area of the Croatian capital city of Zagreb, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and especially in the area of East Herzegovina, as well Dečani chrysobulls of Serbia, while since the 15th century in Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. The surnames in Poland - Karwat, Carwad, Charwat, Carwath, Horwat, Horwath, Horwatowie - are recorded since the 14th century in Kraków, Przemyśl and else, generally among Polish native nobility, peasants, and local residents, but not among the foreigners. They used it as a nickname, but probably due to the influence of immigration from the Kingdom of Hungary. Since the 16th century surname Harvat is recorded in Romania.

It is mentioned in the form of surnames Horvat, Horvatin, Hrvatin, Hrvatinić, Hrvatić, Hrvatović, Hrvet, Hervatić, H(e)rvatinčić, H(e)rvojević, Horvatinić, Horvačević, Horvatinović, Hrvović, Hrvoj, Rvat, and Rvatović. Today the surname Horvat is most numerous surname in Croatia, second most numerous in Slovenia (where's also in the form Hrovat, Hrovatin, Hrvatin), while Horváth is the most numerous surname in Slovakia and one of the most numerous in Hungary. In Czech Republic there's surname Charvat.

In the form of male personal names exist Hrvoje, Hrvoj, Hrvoja, Horvoja, Hrvojhna, Hrvatin, Hrvajin, Hrvo, Hrvojin, Hrvojica, Hrvonja, Hrvat, Hrvad, Hrvadin, Hrviša, Hrvoslav, Rvoje, as well as female Hrvatica, Hrvojka, Hrvatina, and Hrvoja. Today personal name Hrvoje is one of the most common in Croatia.

See also

*White Croats
*White Croatia
* Origin hypotheses of the Croats

References

Notes

Sources

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Further reading

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Name Of Croatia
Croatia, names for
History of Croatia
Ethnonyms