Vranas
Encyclopedia
Vranas or Branas is a surname attested from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine period, still used in Greece and other balkan countries.
In the Byzantine period the family of Vranas became notable from the 11th century till the end of the Empire. According to some historians the family was of Slavonic but according to others of Greek origin.
Notable people in history with this surname include the following:
The name is also common in modern Greece. Notable contempory persons bearing this surname include:
In the village of Pappados, Lesvos, there is the Museum - Olive Press Vranas, established in 1887 by Vranas Nikolaou, which has been bought over by the "Archipelagos" company, restored and it currently operates as a museum of olive oil processing.
In modern Greek literature, the name appears in "The Teacher with the Golden Eyes" by Myrivilis, as the surname of Sappho, the widowed teacher, and her late husband, amputated officer of the Greek Army.
There are many derivatives of the name produced by various prefixes and suffixes, such as Vranakis, Vranopoulos, Papavranas etc in Greek and Vranic, Vranof etc in slavonic languages. Notable Greek persons with derivatives of the name Vranas are:
I) “Quilt-maker”
The word «βρανάς» originates from «βρανιά» (vrania), a kind of traditional quilt in Thrace.
The etymology of this word is the latin brandeum or prandeum (a cloth covering the body or a kind of carpet)
ΙΙ) “Wound/Burn Scar”
The word «βρανάς» relates to a Sanskrit root and refers to “wound” or (with a second compound) to “brun scar”.
The only problem with this theory is that no similar types have been found in any other Indo-European languages, raising the question (this does not, however, constitute a reason for dismissing the theory) of how one linguistic form survived in two so distant languages. If this theory holds water, then it is most probably the oldest creation of a word that leads to the family name.
ΙΙΙ) “Black/Crow”
The word "vranas" is related to an Indo-European root that means "black bird" or "crow" (Baltic: latv: vārna and lith: varna, Celtic: wel: frân and Slavic: pol: wrona, serb: vrana, slavmac: Врана (vrana), slovak: vrana, sloven: vrana, czech: vrána and more distant cognates in the other Slavic languages)and an ancient thracian root that points to "black" – the common origin of “vranas” and “black”/”crow” was mentioned by historian Sp. Asdrahas and, leading to the explanation that then the name Vranas was attributed as a nickname in the old times to very dark-skinned people. Based on this and combining it with the theory that in words that commence with μ- (m-) plus vowel plus -λ- (-l-) produce another type where the μ- transforms into β- (v-)and the vowel drops off (μολώσκω > βλώσκω (come) and μάλαξ (!, curseword)> βλαξ (stupid)) and having as base that the word μέλας (black (male nominative), μέλανος in the genitive) is the root, as is also demonstrated by the latvian word melns/melna (black male/female), it is theorised that: In "μέλας" the μ- transforms into β- and the vowel drops off and the "intermediate" form (βλας) is obtained. However, for reasons that not easily explainable, in some words the -λ- transforms into -ρ- (-r-) into the root of the word creating a second form (e.g., αδελφός & αδερφός (brother), αλμύρα & αρμύρα (saltiness), έλθω & έρθω(come)) a phenomenon which might be explained by the fact that in the syllabographic Linear Script B the syllables 'la' & 'ra', 'le' & 're', 'li' & 'ri', 'lo' & 'ro' and 'lu' & 'ru' were spelt by a common symbol for each pair. Therefore, the "intermediate" form (βλας) could have a second form (βρας) which in its expanded variant would have the root βραν- (as demonstrated by the genitive μέλανος, the noun μελάνι ink) and the aforementioned latvian cognate. The expanded form βραν- possibly relates with bruno (ital: for brown-coloured) and brawn (germ: brown).
There is also a further hypothesis that the first intermediate type ties in with the Slavic “cerno”/“cierno” (black – consider Cerno More: Black Sea and Cernobyl: (etym) Black Leaf) through the transformation of the labial -w-/-v- to the -g-/-k-/-c- (consider the cognate pairs: who <-> qui, war <-> guerre, win <-> ganger, Wales <-> Gallia, ward <-> guard) …
IV) Historical Interpretation
A rich Byzantine nobleman by the name of Victor(as) Ouranos moved to Italy (possibly to Venice or Naples) where, with time, his name was compacted and altered (Victoras Ouranos > V.Ouranos > Vuranos > Vuran). When his descendants returned, they hellenised the name to “Vranas” in order to honour the Comneni family whom they served.
The only evidence located as yet (Oct '11) on this is the two variants of the name of Vrana Konti
or Kont Uran Altisferi (? - 1458), an Albanian counsellor and general of Skanderbeg originating from Naples, Italy and a reference to a certain κόμης Ουρανός (Ουρανοκόντης) - count Ouranos (Ouranokontis), again orinigating from Naples and attached to Skanderbeg - therefore, most probably the same person
In the Byzantine period the family of Vranas became notable from the 11th century till the end of the Empire. According to some historians the family was of Slavonic but according to others of Greek origin.
Notable people in history with this surname include the following:
- Marianos Vranas, general-rebel against Emperor Vasilios II and ProtospathariosProtospathariosPrōtospatharios was one of the highest court dignities of the middle Byzantine period , awarded to senior generals and provincial governors, as well as to foreign princes.-History:...
under Emperor Constantine IX MonomachosConstantine IX MonomachosConstantine IX Monomachos, Latinized as Constantine IX Monomachus , c. 1000 – January 11, 1055, reigned as Byzantine emperor from June 11, 1042 to January 11, 1055. He had been chosen by the Empress Zoe as a husband and co-emperor in 1042, although he had been exiled for conspiring...
(11th c.). - Michael Vranas and, byzantine general under emperor Manuel I KomnenosManuel I KomnenosManuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
(12th c.) - Alexios BranasAlexios BranasAlexios Branas or Vranas was a Byzantine nobleman and military leader of the late 12th century.Alexios Branas was doubly linked to the imperial Komnenos family. He was the son of Michael Branas and of Maria Komnene, who was the great-niece of Alexios I Komnenos...
or Vranas, son of Michael, who defeated decisively the Normands in Dimitritsi of Serres in 1185. - Theodore BranasTheodore BranasTheodore Branas or Vranas was a general under the Byzantine Empire and afterwards under the Latin Empire of Constantinople. He is called Li Vernas by western chroniclers of the Fourth Crusade, including Geoffroi de Villehardouin....
or Vranas, son of Alexios, byzantine general. - Georgios Vranas, byzantine general under emperor Manuel I KomnenosManuel I KomnenosManuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
(12th c.). Participated in the byzantine wars against the Hungarians (1164-1168). - Demetrios Vranas, byzantine admiral and and army officer, brother of Georgios Vranas (12th c.). He was injured and captured during the Hungarian wars (1164-1168).
- Nikolaos Vranas, byzantine general of the 11th c., mentioned by Anna KomneneAnna KomneneAnna Komnene, Latinized as Comnena was a Greek princess and scholar and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina...
in the AlexiadAlexiadThe Alexiad is a medieval biographical text written around the year 1148 by the Byzantine historian Anna Comnena, daughter of Emperor Alexius I....
. - Ioannes Vranas, byzantine general under emperor Andronikos I KomnenosAndronikos I KomnenosAndronikos I Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1183 to 1185). He was the son of Isaac Komnenos and grandson of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.-Early years:...
(12th c.). - Vranas or Vranillos or Brana Conte or Hamza (?-1463), balkanian army officer under sultan Murad IIMurad IIMurad II Kodja was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1451 ....
. Son of Stanisha Castrioti, was converted to muslim with the name "Hamza". In 1443 after the battle of NišNišNiš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
fled with George Kastrioti-Skanderbeg to the united christian army and converted to Christianism taking the name "Vranas". - Georgios Vranas, Athenean bishop of the 15th c., member of the famous byzantine House of Vranas. He became Bishop of DromoreBishop of DromoreThe Bishop of Dromore is an episcopal title which takes its name after the market town of Dromore in County Down, Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church the title still continues as a separate bishopric, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The...
and later Bishop of Elphin in Ireland. - Cortesios Vranas, Greek Unitan priest and author of the 16th c. He authored De Graecae et Latinae missae consensu (1603) and four epigrams to Alessandro Farnese (cardinal).
- Lamprinos Vranas, (? - 1905), he fought in the Macedonian Wars during the last years of the Ottoman Empire, against the Bulgarians.
The name is also common in modern Greece. Notable contempory persons bearing this surname include:
- Andreas Vranas (1870–1935), painter
- Speranza Vrana (1926 or 1932–2009), actress
- Russos Vranas, author and journalist.
- Giorgos Vranas, Cretan folk musician.
In the village of Pappados, Lesvos, there is the Museum - Olive Press Vranas, established in 1887 by Vranas Nikolaou, which has been bought over by the "Archipelagos" company, restored and it currently operates as a museum of olive oil processing.
In modern Greek literature, the name appears in "The Teacher with the Golden Eyes" by Myrivilis, as the surname of Sappho, the widowed teacher, and her late husband, amputated officer of the Greek Army.
There are many derivatives of the name produced by various prefixes and suffixes, such as Vranakis, Vranopoulos, Papavranas etc in Greek and Vranic, Vranof etc in slavonic languages. Notable Greek persons with derivatives of the name Vranas are:
- Demetrios Vranopoulos (1900-1980), member of the Greek Parliament and Minister
- Leandros Vranoussis (1921-1993) philologist and historian specializing in the history of Epirus, author of many history books and articles, member of the Academy of Athens.
- Epaminondas Vranopoulos, 20th century historian, archaeologist and teacher of history, author of history books.
Etymology of the surname
There are four theories about the etymology of this word and, most probably, the surname is a blend of more than one of them.I) “Quilt-maker”
The word «βρανάς» originates from «βρανιά» (vrania), a kind of traditional quilt in Thrace.
The etymology of this word is the latin brandeum or prandeum (a cloth covering the body or a kind of carpet)
ΙΙ) “Wound/Burn Scar”
The word «βρανάς» relates to a Sanskrit root and refers to “wound” or (with a second compound) to “brun scar”.
The only problem with this theory is that no similar types have been found in any other Indo-European languages, raising the question (this does not, however, constitute a reason for dismissing the theory) of how one linguistic form survived in two so distant languages. If this theory holds water, then it is most probably the oldest creation of a word that leads to the family name.
ΙΙΙ) “Black/Crow”
The word "vranas" is related to an Indo-European root that means "black bird" or "crow" (Baltic: latv: vārna and lith: varna, Celtic: wel: frân and Slavic: pol: wrona, serb: vrana, slavmac: Врана (vrana), slovak: vrana, sloven: vrana, czech: vrána and more distant cognates in the other Slavic languages)and an ancient thracian root that points to "black" – the common origin of “vranas” and “black”/”crow” was mentioned by historian Sp. Asdrahas and, leading to the explanation that then the name Vranas was attributed as a nickname in the old times to very dark-skinned people. Based on this and combining it with the theory that in words that commence with μ- (m-) plus vowel plus -λ- (-l-) produce another type where the μ- transforms into β- (v-)and the vowel drops off (μολώσκω > βλώσκω (come) and μάλαξ (!, curseword)> βλαξ (stupid)) and having as base that the word μέλας (black (male nominative), μέλανος in the genitive) is the root, as is also demonstrated by the latvian word melns/melna (black male/female), it is theorised that: In "μέλας" the μ- transforms into β- and the vowel drops off and the "intermediate" form (βλας) is obtained. However, for reasons that not easily explainable, in some words the -λ- transforms into -ρ- (-r-) into the root of the word creating a second form (e.g., αδελφός & αδερφός (brother), αλμύρα & αρμύρα (saltiness), έλθω & έρθω(come)) a phenomenon which might be explained by the fact that in the syllabographic Linear Script B the syllables 'la' & 'ra', 'le' & 're', 'li' & 'ri', 'lo' & 'ro' and 'lu' & 'ru' were spelt by a common symbol for each pair. Therefore, the "intermediate" form (βλας) could have a second form (βρας) which in its expanded variant would have the root βραν- (as demonstrated by the genitive μέλανος, the noun μελάνι ink) and the aforementioned latvian cognate. The expanded form βραν- possibly relates with bruno (ital: for brown-coloured) and brawn (germ: brown).
There is also a further hypothesis that the first intermediate type ties in with the Slavic “cerno”/“cierno” (black – consider Cerno More: Black Sea and Cernobyl: (etym) Black Leaf) through the transformation of the labial -w-/-v- to the -g-/-k-/-c- (consider the cognate pairs: who <-> qui, war <-> guerre, win <-> ganger, Wales <-> Gallia, ward <-> guard) …
IV) Historical Interpretation
A rich Byzantine nobleman by the name of Victor(as) Ouranos moved to Italy (possibly to Venice or Naples) where, with time, his name was compacted and altered (Victoras Ouranos > V.Ouranos > Vuranos > Vuran). When his descendants returned, they hellenised the name to “Vranas” in order to honour the Comneni family whom they served.
The only evidence located as yet (Oct '11) on this is the two variants of the name of Vrana Konti
Vrana Konti
Vrana Konti or Kont Uran Altisferi was a 15th century Albanian count and one of the closest collaborators of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Up to his death in 1458 he was the counselor of Skanderbeg and one of his best commanders....
or Kont Uran Altisferi (? - 1458), an Albanian counsellor and general of Skanderbeg originating from Naples, Italy and a reference to a certain κόμης Ουρανός (Ουρανοκόντης) - count Ouranos (Ouranokontis), again orinigating from Naples and attached to Skanderbeg - therefore, most probably the same person