Germanic names, inherited from the

Suevi The Suebi (or Suebians, also spelled Suevi, Suavi) were a large group of Germanic peoples originally from the Elbe river region in what is now Germany and the Czech Republic. In the early Roman era they included many peoples with their own names ...

(who settled in

Gallaecia Gallaecia, also known as Hispania Gallaecia, was the name of a Roman province in the north-west of Hispania, approximately present-day Galicia (Spain), Galicia, Norte, Portugal, northern Portugal, Asturias and León (province), Leon and the lat ...

: modern

Galicia Galicia may refer to: Geographic regions * Galicia (Spain), a region and autonomous community of northwestern Spain ** Gallaecia, a Roman province ** The post-Roman Kingdom of the Suebi, also called the Kingdom of Gallaecia ** The medieval King ...

and northern

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...

in 409 AD),

Visigoths The Visigoths (; la, Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, Wisi) were an early Germanic people who, along with the Ostrogoths, constituted the two major political entities of the Goths within the Roman Empire in late antiquity, or what is k ...

Vandals The Vandals were a Germanic peoples, Germanic people who first inhabited what is now southern Poland. They established Vandal Kingdom, Vandal kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, and North Africa in the fifth century. The ...

Franks The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools ...

and other Germanic peoples, were often the most common Galician- Portuguese names during the early and high

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

. This article deals with Germanic personal names recorded and used in Galicia, northern

and its adjoining regions: territories of the

kingdom of the Suebi The Kingdom of the Suebi ( la, Regnum Suevorum), also called the Kingdom of Galicia ( la, Regnum Galicia) or Suebi Kingdom of Galicia ( la, Galicia suevorum regnum), was a Germanic post-Roman kingdom that was one of the first to separate from ...

during the

early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Mi ...

from its 409 settlement to the 12th century.

Germanic names

Germanic names were the most common personal names in Galicia-Portugal during the early and

high Middle Ages The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended ...

, surpassing Christian and Roman names in number and popularity. The names, primarily of

East Germanic East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the ...

origin, were used by the

Suebi The Suebi (or Suebians, also spelled Suevi, Suavi) were a large group of Germanic peoples originally from the Elbe river region in what is now Germany and the Czech Republic. In the early Roman era they included many peoples with their own name ...

Goths The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Euro ...

and

Burgundians The Burgundians ( la, Burgundes, Burgundiōnes, Burgundī; on, Burgundar; ang, Burgendas; grc-gre, Βούργουνδοι) were an early Germanic tribe or group of tribes. They appeared in the middle Rhine region, near the Roman Empire, and ...

. With the names, the Galicians inherited the Germanic

onomastic Onomastics (or, in older texts, onomatology) is the study of the etymology, history, and use of proper names. An '' orthonym'' is the proper name of the object in question, the object of onomastic study. Onomastics can be helpful in data mining, ...

system; a person used one name (sometimes a nickname or alias), with no surname, occasionally adding a

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...

. More than 1,000 such names have been preserved in local records. and in local toponyms. Many of the Germanic names were composite, with the second element usually a noun with the same gender of the bearer. Others were

hypocorism A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek: (), from (), 'to call by pet names', sometimes also ''hypocoristic'') or pet name is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as '' Izzy'' fo ...

s formed from a composite name or deriving from it. Less frequently, a name was a noun or an adjective. These names were transmitted to the Suevi with the usual Germanic rules of inheritance, which were variations (passing one element of the name;

Rechiar Rechiar or Flavius Rechiarius (after 415 – December 456) was the third Suevic king of Gallaecia, from 448 until his death, and also the first one to be born in Gallaecia. He was one of the most innovative and belligerent of the Suevi monarch ...

was the son of

Rechila Rechila (died 448) was the Suevic king of Galicia from 438 until his death. There are few primary sources for his life, but Hydatius was a contemporary Christian (non-Arian) chronicler in Galicia. When his father, Hermeric, turned ill in 438, ...

, who was the son of

Hermeric Hermeric (died 441) was the king of the Suevi from at least 419 and possibly as early as 406 until his abdication in 438. Biography Before 419 Nothing is known for sure about Hermeric before 419, the year in which he is first mentioned; ...

) and alliteration (names beginning with the same sound;

Maldras Maldras (or Masdras) (died February 460) was the Suevic king of Galicia from 456 until his death. After the execution of Rechiar by the victorious Visigoths, the Suevi are said to have established Maldras on the throne. During his reign the Suevi ...

was the son of the nobleman Masila). Full names were later transmitted from grandfather to grandson (commemoration), following a trend common until the present in most of

western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...

Adaptations

In addition to the conversion of many Germanic endings into Romance or Latin endings, the names had phonetic adaptations such as the change of word stress from the first to the penultimate syllable, the conversion of most �into or and the conversion of into before a consonant. was initially preserved, although noted as or ybefore becoming w(or, less commonly, . These early inherited names underwent Western Romance and Galician changes from Latin, such as consonant

lenition In linguistics, lenition is a sound change that alters consonants, making them more sonorous. The word ''lenition'' itself means "softening" or "weakening" (from Latin 'weak'). Lenition can happen both synchronically (within a language at a pa ...

and palatalization. This contributed to a large number of variants in recorded names; Ostrofredus was recorded in Galicia-Portugal as Ortofredus, Ostofredo, Ostouredus, Ostrofedone, Stobredo and Strofredo.

Names used by the Suevi

The following names, used by the

during the fifth and sixth centuries, were recorded in chronicles, inscriptions and acts of local ecclesiastical councils: ''

us, Heremigarius,

ius, Agriulfum,

, Massila,

Framta Framta, Framtan or Framtane ( Latin: ''Framtanus'', Spanish: ''Frantán''; died 457) was one of the kings of the Suevi in Galicia in 457. After the death of the Suevic king Rechiar, executed by the conquering Visigoths, and the Warnic king Aiou ...

Frumar Frumar (or Frumarius) (died 464) was a Suevic warlord who succeeded Maldras (who was assassinated in February 460), as leader of the Suevic group then raiding Lusitania.Thompson, 167. Hydatius wrote: ''Inter Frumarium et Rechimundum oritur de regni ...

ius,

Rechimund Richimund or Rechimund was a Suevic leader in Galicia from 457 until about 464. He was not recorded as a king (''rex''), though Hydatius wrote that ''inter Frumarium et Rechimundum oritur de regni potestate dissensio'' ("between Frumar and Rechimund ...

us,

Remismund Remismund (or Rimismund) (died 469) was the Suevic king of Galicia from c. 464 until his death. According to Isidore of Seville, Remismund was a son of Maldras. Remismund's early career was spent as an ambassador between Galicia and Gaul, which tr ...

us, Veremundus, Chararici,

Ariamir Ariamir (died before 566) was the Suevic King of Galicia, with his capital at Bracara, from 558/9. The bishops of the First Council of Braga recorded Ariamir as the king who summoned them and under whose auspices they deliberated. Because the bis ...

us, Ildericus, Theudomirus, Miro, Nitigisius, Uittimer, Anila, Remisol, Adoric, Eboricus, Siseguntia f,

Audeca Audeca or Andeca ( la, Audacer) was the last Suevic King of Galicia from 584 until his deposition in 585. He deposed Eboric and usurped the throne by marrying the young king's mother, Siseguntia (or Sisegutia), the widow of Eboric's father and pr ...

Malaric Malaric or Amalaric was the last man to claim the kingship of the Suevi of Galicia. In 585, after the last king, Audeca, was defeated and captured by the Visigoths, Malaric, who claimed to be related to king Miro, rose in rebellion. According to ...

us, Pantardus, Neufila, Hildemirus, Commundus, Ermaricus, Sunila, Becilla, Gardingus, Argiovitus, Gomedei, Rodomiro, Ermengontia f, Remisiwera f, Thuresmuda f, Suinthiliuba f.'' Many of the names, used by kings such as Miro, Reckila and Theudemirus, were used for local toponyms: Mirón, Requián, Requiás, Requiás and Receá, Tuimil and Toimil.

Roots

The following is a list of the roots used to form Germanic personal names in Galicia-Portugal and northwestern

Iberia The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese language, Aragonese and Occitan language, Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a pe ...

. Many are related to war, victory, fame, boldness, strength and warlike qualities (''bald-, funs-, hild-, gund-, nand-, rod-, seg-, send-''),

totem A totem (from oj, ᑑᑌᒼ, italics=no or '' doodem'') is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe, such as in the Anishinaabe clan system. While ''the ...

ic animals (''ar-, wulf-, ber-, ebur-'') and weapons (''brand-, bruni-, rand-, saru-''); many others refer to knowledge, love and other peaceful qualities (''fred-, leob-, mun-, ragi-, rad-, uin-''). Some refer to the condition of ruler or master (''fro-, ric-, vald-, Froya, Theodinus, Tructinus, Hendinus''). Another group refers to the tribe, nation or country (''conia-, fulc-, teod-, leod-, man-, truct-, gavi-, gogi-, kend-''), and another appears to refer to Huns (''Hun-''), Suevi (''Sav-''), Goths (''Gut-''), Vandals (''Vandal-''), Celts (''Vala-''), Vendians/Slavs (''Venet-''), Galindians/Balths (''Galind-''), Franks (''Frank-''), Saxons (''Sax-''), Angles (''Engl-''), Danes (''Dan-'') and other peoples. Although some elements are identical to others found in Celtic

anthroponymy Anthroponymy (also anthroponymics or anthroponomastics, from Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος ''anthrōpos'' / 'human', and ὄνομα ''onoma'' / 'name') is the study of ''anthroponyms'', the proper names of human beings, both individual and ...

(''And-, Dag-, -mar, -riks''), others appear to be adaptations of Latin words and names incorporated in the

Danube The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...

region: ''Florens, Fortis, Crescens''. Forms marked with an asterisk are unrecorded and hypothetical. PGmc is an abbreviation for

Proto-Germanic Proto-Germanic (abbreviated PGmc; also called Common Germanic) is the reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. Proto-Germanic eventually developed from pre-Proto-Germanic into three Germanic br ...

Feminine roots

Elements common as the second syllable of feminine names include: Suffixes used to derive

hypocoristic A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek: (), from (), 'to call by pet names', sometimes also ''hypocoristic'') or pet name is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as '' Izzy'' for ...

feminine names include: * ''-alo'': Facalo, Trastalo * ''-ilo'' (later ''-io''): Acilo, Andilo, Anilo, Ansilo, Ardilo, Argilo, Berilo, Bitilo, Cisilo, Dadilo, Egilo, Ailo, Emilo, Esmerlo, Espallo, Fagilo, Faquilo, Frankilo, Froilo, Frunilo, Genilo, Genlo, Geodilo, Gracilo, Granilo, Guandilo, Gudilo, Gundilo, Gutilo, Itilo, Liuvilo, Nisilo, Nuillo, Nunnilo, Quintilo, Ranilo, Riquilo, Rudilo, Sindilo, Sisilu, Spanilo, Spintilo, Sunilo, Tafila, Teodilo, Tequilo, Trudilo, Vigilo, Visterlo * ''-ina'': Bagina, Baquina, Berina, Fandina, Frogina, Gavina, Gendina, Getina, Gogina, Guntina, Gutina, Lallina, Nunnina, Sendina, Sesina, Tanina, Tidina, Tetina, Trastina, Trudina, Vergina, Zanina * ''-ita'' (later ''-ida''): Acita, Cagita, Farita, Gomita, Nunnita, Sabita, Sonita * ''-ella'': Farella, Gondella, Mirella, Nunella

Masculine roots

Elements common as the second syllable of masculine names include: Suffixes used to derive hypocoristic masculine names are: * ''-eca, -ica'' (later ''-ega''): Abrecan, Adica, Audeca, Begica, Egica, Elleca, Gagica, Segika * ''-ila'' (later ''-ia''): Adila, Andila, Anila, Ansila, Attila, Audila, Azilane, Badila, Baldila, Becilla, Bergila, Berila, Blandila, Brandila, Butila, Cixila, Crizila, Cutella, Dadila, Danila, Ducila, Egila, Agila, Emila, Ermila, Fafila, Fafia, Fagila, Fandila, Favila, Fradila, Framila, Frankila, Froila, Gandila, Gaudilani, Gavila, Gladila, Gramila, Guadla, Guandila, Gudila, Gulfila, Gumila, Gundila, Ikila, Itila, Iudila, Iustila, Iuvila, Keila, Kinquila, Ledla, Lubila, Magila, Manilla, Mantila, Martila, Massila, Mellilla, Merila, Mudila, Mugila, Mumila, Mundila, Naustila, Nuilla, Neufila, Nunnila, Ofila, Oila, Opila, Ossila, Quintila, Ramila, Riquila, Romila, Rudila, Sabila, Scarcila, Sigila, Sindila, Sunila, Tancila, Tegila, Teodila, Titila, Tuntila, Unilla, Vertila, Vidila, Vigila, Vincila, Visterla, Vitila, Vizila, Zisila * ''-inus'' (later ''-ino''): Addalinus, Aldinus, Bagino, Baltino, Baquino, Batinus, Berinus, Bertinus, Blandinus, Boninus, Brandinus, Cartinus, Crescino, Dadinus, Dalinus, Eldinus, Evorinus, Fandinus, Farino, Favino, Fofino, Fonsinus, Fruginus, Frauino, Gandinus, Gaudinas, Gavinus, Gentino, Gendinus, Golinus, Guginus, Gulfinus, Gultinus, Guntinus, Gutinus, Haginus, Hamdino, Iubinus, Karinus, Lallinus, Lelino, Lubinus, Mandinus, Maninus, Matlinus, Muginus, Mundinus, Nandinus, Naninus, Nunninus, Odinus, Audinus, Pantinus, Pappinus, Pennino, Pipinus, Quizino, Randinus, Recinus, Sandinus, Scerinus, Sedino, Sendinus, Sisinus, Spintino, Suffini, Tancinus, Tanino, Tatina, Tetina, Tegino, Teodinus, Tracinus, Tradinus, Tructinus, Trudinus, Uittina, Uittinus, Vandino, Goandinus, Vitinus, Zanino * ''-linus, -llinus'': Abbelino, Adolinus, Francolino, Gundelinus, Iovellinus * ''-itus'' (later ''-ido''): Cagitus, Carito, Crescitu, Donnitus, Froritum, Ganiti, Gegitus, Gogitus, Gumito, Guncitus, Iuvitus, Magitus, Magnitus, Manitus, Marcitus, Maxitus, Nannitus, Nonnitu, Papitus, Pegito, Pinnitus, Ragito, Sabitus, Sunitus, Sonnito, Tanitus, Atanitus, Tegitus, Trasido, Uegitus, Zanitus, Zazitus, Zenzitus * ''-ellus'' (later ''-elo''): Betellus, Felellus, Francellus, Froiellus, Frumellus, Gigelus, Gumellus, Guntellus, Gutellus, Hermellus, Lubellus, Mannello, Mantellus, Mirellus, Mundellus, Nonellus, Papellus, Recelli, Sendello, Sisellus, Trastelus, Truitellus, Uistrello, Visellu, Zanellus Superlative and comparative suffixes were also used in forming personal names: ''-iza'': Boniza, Wittiza ''-istaz'': Ariastre, Belestrio, Fromesta, Remestro, Segestro Other suffixes imply origin or relationship: * ''-ingaz'': Amingus, Bellengus, Gardingus * ''-iskaz'': Vandaliscus "Vandal" (male), Huniscus "Hun" (male) * ''-iskō'': Hunisco "Hun" (female)

Toponyms

Many of these names are also

toponyms Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

(towns, parishes, villages, hamlets and fields), usually in the form of a Latin or Germanic

genitive In grammar, the genitive case ( abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can a ...

of the owner's name and sometimes preceded by the type of property (a Galician word of Latin, Germanic or pre-Latin origin) such as ''vila'' (villa, palace, estate), ''vilar'' (hamlet) ''castro'' (castle), ''casa'' (house), ''porta'' (pass, ford), ''agro'' (field), ''sa'' (Germanic ''sala''; hall, house), ''busto'' (dairy), ''cabana'' (cabin), ''lama'' (pastures), ''fonte'' (well, spring), ''pena'' (fort), ''pumar'' (orchard) and ''val'' (valley). About five percent of Galicia's 315 municipalities have this kind of name: * Allariz to Aliarici, genitive of Aliaricus * Baltar to Baltarii, genitive of Baltharius * Beariz to Viarici, genitive of Viaricus *

Calvos de Randín Calvos de Randín is a municipality in Ourense in the Galicia region of the north-west Spain. It is located to the very south of the province. It consists of the parishes of Calvos (Santiago); Castelaus (San Martiño), Feás (San Miguel), G ...

to Randini, genitive of Randinus *

Forcarei Forcarei is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. Location The municipality of Forcarei occupies the northern part of the province of Pontevedra. Bordered on the east by the municipality of Lalín, which separates the m ...

to Fulcaredi, genitive of Fulkaredus *

Friol Friol is a municipality in the Lugo province in Galicia (Spain), Galicia. It is located in northwest Spain. It is bordered on the north by Begonte and Guitiriz, to the south by Palas de Rei and Guntín, to the east by Lugo and Outeiro de Rei an ...

to Fredoaldi, genitive of Fredoaldus * Gomesende to Gumesindi, genitive of Gumesindus * Gondomar to Gundemari, genitive of Gundemarus *

Guntín Guntin () is a municipality in Lugo province in Galicia in north-west Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(Engl ...

to Guntini, genitive of Guntinus *

Guitiriz Guitiriz () is a City Council known for its spa of mineral water in the Terra Chá Region, Province of Lugo in North-western Spain. Parishes ''(also known as: "Parroquias")'' # Becín # Buriz # Labrada # Lagostelle # Mariz # As Negradas # ...

to Uitterici, genitive of Uittericus * Lalín to Lallini, genitive of Lallinus *

Mondariz Mondariz is a town and municipality in the province of Pontevedra, autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It has a population of 4,440 inhabitants. Geography Parishes The municipality of Mondariz is formed by 12 ''parroquias'' (civil paris ...

to Munderici, genitive of Mundericus *

Rairiz de Veiga Rairiz de Veiga is a municipality in Ourense in the Galicia region of north-west Spain. It is located in the centre of the province towards the south-west. A same-sex marriage between two men, Pedro Dias and Muño Vandilas, occurred on 16 April ...

to Ragerici, genitive of Ragericus * Ramirás to Ranamiranis, Germanized genitive of Ranemirus *

Sandiás Sandiás is a municipality of Galicia, Spain, next to Xinzo de Limia in the province of Ourense. Its estimated population is 1,585, distributed among 3 parishes (Couso de Limia, Piñeira de Arcos, Sandiás). Its area is 53 km², a great part ...

to Sindilanis, Germanized genitive of Sindila *

Vilasantar Vilasantar is a municipality of northwestern Spain in the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia. It belongs to the comarca of Betanzos. Geography Vilasantar is located in the south of the comarca of Betanzos. It is bo ...

to Villa Sentarii, genitive of Sentarius Several thousand such toponyms are known in Galicia, northern Portugal, western Asturias and other territories which were part of the Suebi kingdom.

Notes

Literature

Proto-Germanic reconstruction

* Orel, Vladimir (2003). ''Handbook of Germanic Etymology''. Leiden: Brill, 2003. . * Köbler, Gerhard. (2007). ''Germanisches Wörterbuch''. On-lin

* Kroonen, Guus. (2013). ''Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic''. Leiden: Brill, 2013. .

Germanic personal names

* Förstemanm, Ernst (1900)
Altdeutsches Namenbuch''
. P. Hanstein: Bonn, 1900. * Fossner, Thorvald (1916)
''Continental-Germanic personal names in England in Old and Middle English times''
Uppsala, 1916. * Redin, Mats (1919)
''Studies on uncompounded personal names in old English''
Uppsala, 1919. * Schönfeld, M. (1911)
''Wörterbuch der Altgermanischen Personen und Völkernamen''
Heidelberg, 1911. * William George Searle, Searle, W. G. (1897)
''Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum''
Cambridge: 1897.

Galician Medieval onomastics

* Rivas Quintas, Elixio (1991) ''Onomástica persoal do noroeste hispano''. Alvarellos: Lugo, 1991. . * Boullón Agrelo, Ana I. (1999). ''Antroponimia medieval galega (ss. VIII-XII)''. Tübingen: Niemeyer, 1999. . * "Extramundi". In: Moralejo, Juan J. ''Callaica Nomina: Estudios de Onomástica Gallega''. Fundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza, D.L. 2007. pp. 19–23.

Germanic toponymy in Galicia and Portugal

* Sachs, Georg (1932) ''Die germanischen Ortsnamen in Spanien und Portugal''. Jena: Leipzig, 1932. * Piel, J. (1933-1940) ''Os nomes germânicos na toponímia portuguesa''. I

vol. II-VII: Lisboa. * https://minerva.usc.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10347/4870/491-500_VERBA%2019.pdf {{DEFAULTSORT:Galicia Germanic given names *