Latvian name
Encyclopedia
Latvian names, like in most Europe
an cultures, consists of two main elements: the given name
s (vārdi) followed by family name
(uzvārds or ģimenes vārds). With some exceptions, Latvian male names have masculine endings: -s, -š, -is,-as, Latvian female names have feminine endings -a, e, similar to other nouns. Latvian names (both family and given names) always follow the rules of the Latvian language
. The vocative case is used when addressing someone directly, for example, Jāni for Jānis. The diminutive form is often used to express endearment or when addressing children, for example, addressing Jānis as Jānīti (vocative diminutive).
s, who were often of German
descent, used to issue marriage and birth certificates with Germanized names: e.g., Kalns was written as Berg (both meaning "mountain
" in Latvian and German respectively). Sometimes "de-Germanization" produced a slightly different name, e.g., Daugmants was Germanized as Daugmann and then de-Germanized into Daugmanis.
Similarly, in Polish Livonia
during the times of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
(now Latgale
) the Latvian names were Polonized
, e.g., Karkliņš became Karklinski, etc.
During the times when Latvia
was part of the Russian Empire
and Soviet Union
, in official usage Latvian names were commonly russified
. In particular, it followed the three-part pattern of Russian names: given name, patronymic
, family name. Also, the masculine endings of first names were often truncated. For example, poet Imants Ziedonis
was officially called Imant Yanovich Ziedonis (Имант Янович Зиедонис ).
In 20th century, in particular in the interbellum period of Latvian national movement, there has been a tendency to change the assimilated names back to their Latvian origins.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an cultures, consists of two main elements: the given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
s (vārdi) followed by family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
(uzvārds or ģimenes vārds). With some exceptions, Latvian male names have masculine endings: -s, -š, -is,-as, Latvian female names have feminine endings -a, e, similar to other nouns. Latvian names (both family and given names) always follow the rules of the Latvian language
Latvian language
Latvian is the official state language of Latvia. It is also sometimes referred to as Lettish. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. The Latvian language has a relatively large number of non-native speakers, atypical for a small language...
. The vocative case is used when addressing someone directly, for example, Jāni for Jānis. The diminutive form is often used to express endearment or when addressing children, for example, addressing Jānis as Jānīti (vocative diminutive).
History of Latvian names
The official records of Latvian names were often variously forcibly assimilated into the foreign culture dominant at times in Latvian lands. For example, local pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s, who were often of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
descent, used to issue marriage and birth certificates with Germanized names: e.g., Kalns was written as Berg (both meaning "mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
" in Latvian and German respectively). Sometimes "de-Germanization" produced a slightly different name, e.g., Daugmants was Germanized as Daugmann and then de-Germanized into Daugmanis.
Similarly, in Polish Livonia
Polish Livonia
The Polish Livonia may refer to:*Duchy of Livonia, a dominion of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth*Inflanty Voivodeship, a district of the Duchy of Livonia that was retained by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after the Treaty of Oliva in 1660...
during the times of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
(now Latgale
Latgale
Latgale is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. It is the easternmost region north of the Daugava River...
) the Latvian names were Polonized
Polonization
Polonization was the acquisition or imposition of elements of Polish culture, in particular, Polish language, as experienced in some historic periods by non-Polish populations of territories controlled or substantially influenced by Poland...
, e.g., Karkliņš became Karklinski, etc.
During the times when Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
was part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, in official usage Latvian names were commonly russified
Russification
Russification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attributes by non-Russian communities...
. In particular, it followed the three-part pattern of Russian names: given name, patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
, family name. Also, the masculine endings of first names were often truncated. For example, poet Imants Ziedonis
Imants Ziedonis
Imants Ziedonis is a Latvian poet who first rose to fame during the Soviet occupation period of Latvia.-Early life:Ziedonis was born in the Sloka fisherman's district of Jūrmala, Latvia. He was educated at the University of Latvia in Riga where he earned a degree in philology in 1959. He earned an...
was officially called Imant Yanovich Ziedonis (Имант Янович Зиедонис ).
In 20th century, in particular in the interbellum period of Latvian national movement, there has been a tendency to change the assimilated names back to their Latvian origins.