Squeaking in for Surname Saturday (in somebody else’s timezone…)…
Today, I bring you the launch of the Latvian Surname Project!
The most common search term that brings people to my blog is “Latvian surnames”. Therefore, I thought starting a resource on Latvian surnames and their meanings could be helpful to a lot of people.
So far, there are only 207 names, but this is a work in progress, and new names will be uploaded regularly. If you have any submissions, do share them! Guidelines are on the main page.
Any questions or comments, do let me know! If you have any other ideas for answers I should add to the FAQs on the main page, please mention them too. I’m not an expert (yet), but since there is a lack of information out there on Latvian surnames, especially information accessible to people who don’t speak Latvian, I thought this could be a good way for me to help people looking to get a start on learning about their Latvian ancestors.
Have fun! More project launches and updates to come – stay tuned!
Great idea Antra! I wish this around when i first started searching!
Submissions:
Dzerve = “Crane”, attested in Purmsati Pagast
Veisbergs = “White Hills”
Ziverts = Latvianized version of Danish/Norwegian/Swedish “Sieverts”, originally old German first name Siegwarts – Sieg meaning “victory” and wards meaning “guardian” – attested in Nikrace Pagast
Ooh, also:
Melderis = “Miller”
Zvejs/Zveja = “fish”
Zvers/Zvera = “beast” (“Bear”?)
Mednieks = “Hunter” From around Liepaja
Now it is time for the unveiling of my most ambitious project – the Latvian Record Project!
That’s right, I’m working on transcribing and indexing all of the Latvian records that I can. I’m starting with Lutheran church records, and will move on to the Latvian portions of the All-Russia Census at some point.
The only records [...]
Antra, where is the rest of [...]???????????????
Ilze,
Are you looking at the posts in “category” view? That is, the web address is http://www.celmina.com/genealogy/category/somethingelse? If so, then just click on the title of the post and you can view the full post.
Runcis. I have no idea what this surname means and where it’s from.
crex,
“Runcis” means “tomcat”. I haven’t seen it anywhere, but I can let you know if I do!
Thnx Antra, no need. I’m not related to Runcis. Stumbled across it in Sweden and just wanted to know what it meant.
My family name in Sindlin. I don’t know what it means, but I’d love to find out. I know my family immigrated from Dvinsk, Latvia (Or Daugavpils I suppose). Anyway, I’ve also seen similar names like Sidlin, Sidline, Sindelin, Sindelin. We are of jewish descent. Any help is greatly appreciated!
zrk,
Sindlin or those similar names are not names I’m familiar with, but I’ll keep an eye out. If it is a Jewish name it is most likely Hebrew, German or Russian in origin, since it was not that common for Jewish people to take Latvian surnames (though it did sometimes happen). The name doesn’t appear in my book of German surnames though. It does however bear a resemblance to the Latvian word “sedliene”, which means “anticline, saddleback, saddle” (according to letonika.lv).
This book might help you – I have not used it myself, but I think it could have the answers you’re looking for. It appears to be widely available in libraries. There has been a lot of work done out there on Jewish surnames, so those books would have the expertise you’re seeking (most work that I do is with Lutheran records, so I have not had the opportunity to explore other records as much). Good luck!
Jurikas: Limbazi (I don’t know what it means)
Tukums: Limbazi
Freibergs: Malpils
Indriksons: Malpils
Hey hunny! You should add mine. Kampars. I know that there is a male and a female version. Apparently the female version is Kampare.
My grandfather was from either in or around Liepaja, as was his family.
My father (Jekabs Paura).He was born on 23 March 1924.the province closest province I have knowledge of is Kalnezeri, Bozzitten, Latvia, he went to school there in 1937. Does anyone know of any Latvians with the surname Paura?
Hello Inta,
I’m not familiar with the name “Paura”. I’ve never heard of a place called “Bozzitten” – are you sure that is the correct spelling? I’ve been looking for a “Bozzitten” for the past two days with no results. It is probably the German name for a place in Latvia, could it possibly be “Rositten” or “Rozitten” instead? That would be the German name for Rēzekne.
Having the farm name, Kalnezeri, is good, since that will help pinpoint a specific place when the region is figured out. In the modern day there seem to be numerous farms called Kalnezeri in Latvia. I’m working on formulating a database of farm names in the inter-war period, so I can let you know if I come across a Kalnezeri while doing so. Best of luck!
My husbands last name was Saulgozis. Any idea what this names means and perhaps where it’s from. I’m trying to find his family and so far no luck.
Thank you
Carol
Carol,
Saulgozis is not a name I’m familiar with, unfortunately. I have not seen it anywhere yet. However, the word does mean “sunshine” in Latvian. When did your husband’s family leave Latvia? If they left during or after the Second World War, which is when most Latvians left, their naturalization documents in their new country should say where they were born.
My late father’s surname was Sels, he was born in Leipaja on May 4 1924. I have had no luck with his surname when searching Latvian records, but it does pop up continually in Holland & Belgium. I do know his father had 3 brothers who all married but had no children.
Also my mother’s grandparents were Albert Alphons Buhgin born in Griwa 5/5/1875 and Berta Natalie Palei born in Zohden 16/8/1882, married in Dubbeln on 30/5/1904. They had 2 children, my grandmother Erna born in Riga 3/5/1905 & Karl born in Riga 7/12/1907.
I haven’t researched them as yet, as I only just located a church document dated 27/9/1943 with all the above details. The church is Sv. Gertrudes 1. Draudze, and the document is in German. What can you make of this?
Regards
Ingrid Hickman
Ingrid,
“Sels” is most likely a variant of “Sēlis”. It is likely influenced by the Livonian dialect spoken in parts of Kurzeme (not the part that Liepāja is in, but people/dialect influences move about). “Sēlis” would mean “Selonian person” – the Selonians were one of the Baltic tribes that are the ancestors of modern-day Latvians.
The rest I will answer via email.
My submissions:
Scheema (original as in a church record in German), attested in Kaucminde, Bauske parish. It is a surname (maiden) of my grand grand mother. There was also a farm in Kaucminde with that name.
Tehrsen (original as in a church record in German), attested in Pommusch, Bauske parish. It is a surname of my grand grand father. There was a farm in Pommusch with that name. And still is, my grandmother lives there.
Hi, My surname is Latvian and not included, please feel free to add – Vizulis = Tinsel, and my father was orginally from Baltinava,
Regards
Alison
My last name is paura and my family is from gomez palacios Durango. Everyone tells me they’ve never heard of my last name, which got me to wondering where the name comes from. Ur help would be greatly appriciated.
Hi, my surname is Ozolins (not particularly interesting) however my grandmother’s maiden name was Vinkmanis and we (my family) don’t know as much about her side of the family – she was born in, or near, Jūrmala in 1913. I have a distant memory of a conversation with her when she said her name was Swedish in origin but I don’t know if this is correct or not.
Thanks for a wonderful site – it’s been so difficult to find Latvian genealogical information, particularly for those of us who are have a Latvian background but don’t speak or read the language.