This week’s category: Personal Attributes and Characteristics, that either one has, aspires to, or wants their descendants to aspire to. These [...]]]> Following along from my post two weeks ago, I am currently posting surnames that were approved and suggested by the government of Livland in the 1820s for peasants if they needed some ideas and inspiration.

This week’s category: Personal Attributes and Characteristics, that either one has, aspires to, or wants their descendants to aspire to. These names are not very common, but I have seen some in old records. As before, modern renditions in brackets. If I am not familiar with a name, I’ve made my best guess as to how it would be rendered in modern spelling.

Today we’re going to look at Latvian surnames beginning with the prefix “aiz-”. This is a prefix that can mean various things depending on the context, but most commonly it means “beyond”, “behind” or “across”.

All of these names are from surname lists found in the book “Kas jāzina [...]]]> Welcome to Surname Saturday on Discovering Latvian Roots!

Today we’re going to look at Latvian surnames beginning with the prefix “aiz-”. This is a prefix that can mean various things depending on the context, but most commonly it means “beyond”, “behind” or “across”.

All of these names are from surname lists found in the book “Kas jāzina uzvārdu mainītājiem” (“What to know if you want to change your surname”), by Alberts Kalniņš (produced by the author in Jelgava, 1940).

In the National Printing House supplement that suggests names that could be taken by Latvians changing their surnames, there are a number of “aiz-” names: Aizkalns (beyond the hill), Aizlīcis (beyond the bay), Aizpurviņš (diminutive of Aizpurvis, “beyond the swamp”, Aizsils (beyond the pine forest), Aizupietis (one from across the river) and Aizvalks (beyond the portage point). There are two more “aiz-” names in this list which are outside of the typical context, Aizkrauklis (related to the town name Aizkraukle which is from the German Ascheraden) and Aizsalnieks (possible occupational name related to “aizsalt”, meaning “to freeze”).

The “new Latvian surnames” list provided by Kalniņš adds even more “aiz-” names, such as Aizāre (possibly beyond the open space”), Aizbars (beyond the crowd), Aizgalietis (one from beyond the edge), Aizietis (one who went away), Aizlaidnis (one who has been let go), Aizleja (beyond the valley), Aizlinājs (beyond the flax field), Aizmežs (beyond the forest), Aizpliens (beyond the hardened clay) and Aizstrauts (beyond the stream). Outside of the “beyond/behind/across” context we have Aiza (ravine), Aizdars (liaison), Aizdeglis (wick), Aizkurs (kindling), Aiztece (related to “aiztecēt”, meaning “to flow away”) and Aizvars (gate/seal).

From my Latvian Surname Project, we have even more “aiz-” names (with an attested location), some related to ones mentioned above: Aizgals (one from beyond the corner; Plāņi), Aizpurvis (one from beyond the swamp; Meirāni), Aizupe (beyond the river; Sinole) and Aizvakars (day before yesterday; Skaņkalne).

Do you have more “aiz-” surnames to add to the list? Let me know in comments!

Today we’re going to look at names relating to three similar-sounding Latvian names and names derived from them. All three appear on the list of common [...]]]> Welcome back to Surname Saturday on Discovering Latvian Roots! Sorry I’ve been quite busy recently, but now I’m starting to be able to get back to genealogy and genealogy blogging.

Today we’re going to look at names relating to three similar-sounding Latvian names and names derived from them. All three appear on the list of common Latvian surnames that I provided in my last post. All source references are described therein.

Ābele means “apple tree”. So far in my research I have found this name in the parishes of Lāde, Lēdurga, Sidgunda, Stiene and Suntaži, though it certainly appears in more. In the list of names recommended by the National Printing House for people changing their name, there is one name related to “Ābele” – “Ābeļzieds”, meaning “apple tree blossom”. In the listing of “new Latvian surnames” in the Kalniņš book, there is one more related name – “Ābelnieks”, which is an occupational surname relating to apple trees.

Ābols means “apple”. Thus far I have seen it in the parishes of Lēdurga, Limbaži, Skrudaliena, Vidriži and Vijciems. The National Printing House supplement provides two related names – “Ābolkalns”, meaning “apple hill”, and “Ābolnieks”, an occupational surname relating to apples. The “new Latvian surnames” list also adds “Ābolītis”, which is a diminutive form.

Āboliņš means “clover” – a departure from apples, but it looks like a potential diminutive of “ābols”, which is why I have included it here. It is a separate word from “ābols”. “Āboliņš” has been found in Durbe, Kastrāne, Krimulda, Mazsalaca, Stalbe, Suntaži and Turaida parishes. A related name from the “new Latvian surnames” list is “Ābolājs”, which means “clover field”.

Do you have more parishes of origin to add for these surnames? Let me know in comments!

But not all Latvians were peasants. Some were merchants, craftsmen and traders, and [...]]]> As I’ve mentioned before, most Latvians didn’t have surnames prior to the early 19th century. They were peasants, and until serfdom was abolished, surnames were not a necessity since they were tied to the land. It was only afterwards that surnames became necessary.

But not all Latvians were peasants. Some were merchants, craftsmen and traders, and lived in the cities. They acquired surnames much earlier. While many who aspired to greater social status assimilated to Baltic German culture and took on German names, some Latvian-language surnames do survive from this earlier time period, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

These names are known to us through guild records, as mentioned by Kristaps Upelnieks in his 1936 book Uzvārdu došana Vidzemes un Kurzemes zemniekiem (The giving of surnames to peasants in Vidzeme and Kurzeme).

Among these early Latvian surnames (German renderings in brackets) are: Kāpostgalviņa (Kapustgallyn, “cabbage head”), Platkājis (Platkays, “the one with the wide leg/foot”), Kažokpoga (Kasockepoge, “(fur) coat button”), Kunkuls (Kunkull, “lump”) and Podkāja (Podekaje, “pot leg/foot”).

None of these names appear particularly flattering, and could reflect the societal biases of the time. Some of them are still in use today, though if it is unknown if their bearers are descended from the early bearers of these names, or whether their names were acquired separately at the time of emancipation from serfdom.

There are, however, worse names to have than “cabbage head” – but that’s for another week! Stay tuned!

This week I’m going to talk about compound surnames – that is, a surname formed from two words, rather than one. These are a relative rarity in Latvian surnames when it comes to names of Latvian language origin (German language origin compound surnames are more common when [...]]]> Welcome back to Surname Saturday on Discovering Latvian Roots!

This week I’m going to talk about compound surnames – that is, a surname formed from two words, rather than one. These are a relative rarity in Latvian surnames when it comes to names of Latvian language origin (German language origin compound surnames are more common when it comes to surnames held by Latvians). Some compound forms that are more common than others. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some that I have seen that make me think “Boy, do I want to know the story behind this one!”

The most common first elements in compound surnames that I’ve encountered are “jauns” and “vecs” – “young/new” and “old”, respectively. As name elements, they typically drop the terminal “s”. Names in this category include Jaunkalns (new hill – Liepupe, Limbaži), Jaunozoliņš (young oak [diminutive] – Suntaži), Veckalns (old hill – Limbaži, Stiene) and Vecvanags (old hawk – Vidriži). Based on the number of farm names that have similar elements, it is likely than many of these surnames originate from farm names. Additionally, as I mentioned in my post Importance of Farm Names, if two farms that are “Jaun-something” and “Vec-something” are close together, they could have common familial origins.

The most common second element I’ve seen is “kalns”, meaning “hill” or “mountain”. Being as Latvia’s tallest “mountain”, Gaiziņkalns, is only 312m above sea level, it does not qualify as a mountain according to most definitions I’ve found. As such, for Latvian names, I translate “kalns” as “hill”. Examples of this name element can be found in Baltaiskalns (white hill – Skrunda), Briežkalns (stag hill – Rūjiena), Rožukalns (rose hill – Bīriņi, Limbaži, Sēļi, Turaida) and Smilškalns (sand hill – Ķoņi, Valmiera).

Sometimes given names appear as part of compound names – the most common ones I have seen are Pēteris and Brencis. Examples: Jūspēteris (your Peter – Trikāta), Vecpēteris (old Peter – Jaunjelgava) and Tiltabrencis (Brencis from the bridge – Bilska).

Now to some of the more unusual ones, that really leave me wondering! Here we have Aizvakars (yesterday – Skaņkalne), Pelēkzirnis (grey pea – Mazsalaca) and Trīstiltiņš (three bridges [diminutive] – Katvari). But the one that I really want to know the story behind is Bezbiksis (Rīga). Unless I’m interpreting it incorrectly (though I’m not sure how else it could be interpreted!), this name would mean “one without pants”. My guess as to the story would be that he must have been late getting to the surname-assigning meeting in his parish and in his haste forgotten his trousers, and the estate lord would not let him forget this incident!

Do you have any unusual compound surnames to share, in any language? Or maybe a long Latvian name that you suspect might be a compound name that you would like to have looked at? Let me know in comments!

While not all obeyed this directive and chose German names (or had German names assigned to them [...]]]> When Latvian peasants were choosing surnames after emancipation from serfdom, they were strongly encouraged by the German and Russian rulers to choose names in their own language, and were forbidden to choose names of local nobles or famous people.

While not all obeyed this directive and chose German names (or had German names assigned to them by clerks), many did choose names from the Latvian language. Predictably, most of these names were drawn from elements important to the everyday life of peasants.

Which brings us to today’s Surname Saturday – Latvian surnames that have roots in food or food production! I’m going to tell a story of preparing dinner. Surnames I’ve come across appear in bold, the English translation and in what parish records I’ve seen them in brackets.

Before you can even start to prepare dinner, unless you are a Mednieks (hunter; Liepāja) or a Zvejnieks (fisherman; Skulte, Sece), you will need to pay a visit to the Miesnieks (butcher; Brenguļi). You should also thank the Arājs (ploughman; Sece) and Gaitnieks (farmhand; Lugaži) for the work they’ve done in the fields. And, of course, the Pavārs (cook; Kastrāne, Limbaži, Suntaži)!

Protein is important. At the moment, on the menu you will find Zaķis (rabbit; Limbaži, Kastrāne, Vidriži) and Līdaka (pike; Limbaži, Smiltene). I’m not sure how common Lasis (salmon; Bīriņi) was in Latvia in the nineteenth century, but you will find it on today’s menu. If you are a vegetarian, you will need to settle for an Oliņa (diminutive of egg; Lēdurga).

No meal is complete without grains. But what grain? You can have auzas (singular Auza, diminutive Auziņš – oats; Straupe, Limbaži, Suntaži), mieži (singular Miezis, diminutive Miezītis – barley; Limbaži, Suntaži, Vidriži) or rudzi (singular Rudzis, diminutive Rudzītis – rye; Lēdurga, Limbaži, Nabe, Sidgunda). From these grains we can make a Maizīte (diminutive of bread, refers to sandwich in modern Latvian; Sece, Lēdurga) or a Sausiņš (rusk; Limbaži).

You can’t forget the vegetables! Before the arrival of the Kartupelis (potato; Ikšķile) in Europe, the Rācenis (turnip; Limbaži, Rauna) was a staple peasant food. These can be supplemented with kāposti (singular Kāposts – cabbage; Aloja), sēnes (singular Sēne – mushroom; Trikāta) and zirņi (singular Zirnis – pea; Mangaļi). Maybe later you can also have some other saknes (singular Sakne – vegetable; Dunte).

Perhaps this all seems quite bland. Not to worry – spices to the rescue! Would you prefer Kanēlis (cinnamon; Limbaži), or perhaps Ķimenes (caraway; Skulte, Vidriži)? Or maybe just Ķiploks (garlic; Smiltene) would be to your taste?

What would dinner be without dessert? You could have an Auglis (fruit; Sece) like an Ābols (apple; Limbaži) or a Plūme (plum; Kastrāne, Lēdurga, Limbaži, Nabe). Other than just Cukurs (sugar; Trikāta, Vijciems), I’m afraid we’re limited in other saldumi (singular Saldums – sweet treat; Limbaži) at the moment.

To drink, unless you are a Vīndzērājs (wine drinker; Rīga), you will be drinking Ūdens (water; Lugaži) today.

When you’ve finished your meal, be sure to push in your Krēsliņš (diminutive of chair; Rauna) when you leave the Galdiņš (diminutive of table; Ludza).

I hope you enjoyed your time in this Latvian peasant kitchen, and I hope to see you again next Saturday when we talk about the local wildlife!