donderdag 1 mei 2014

surnames.


Some of them are called David, Zurab, Levan, Aleksandre ('Sandro') or Irakli (men) or Tamar, Mariam, Maia, Nana or Ketevan (women), according to the Georgian Public Service Hall. Actually man could be happy that the habit of calling children 'North' (son of Kanye West, really) or 'Storm' hasn't settled here, yet. In the Netherlands the most popular names for newborns are at the moment Lucas, Levi, Bram, Finn, and Sem for boys, and Sophie, Emma, Julia, Isa and Mila for girls. Also quite some Biblical references, but not quite the Jan, Piet, Hendrik, Grietje, Janneke and Maartje anymore. This is the Public Service Hall, by the way:


It is said that Saint Nino christened the Georgians in the fourth century. She was a relative of Saint George. The story of Saint Georgia and the dragon is first mentioned in eleventh century Georgia. It's therefore no big surprise that many Georgians are called Nino or Giorgi (although few Dutchmen are called Bonifatius, as far as I'm aware). The origins of the name Nino are unclear, but in one theory it's traced back to Nineveh, via Greece from the feminine Nina to the masculine Ninos to feminine Nino again. Other common Georgian first names as Irakli (Heracles), Ilia (Elijah), Koba (Jacob), Levan (Leon), Merab (Mehrab), Sopio (Sophia), and Zurab (Sohrab) refer to the Bible and Christian Saints. The origins of Maia are unknown, but the name emerges in classical mythology as well. Tamar means 'palm tree' in Hebrew, but most Georgian Tamaras are probably called after Queen Tamar, who ruled in the 'Golden Age' of Georgia in the late twelfth century. She did this probably quite good, because Georgians sometimes call her 'King Tamar' - as a compliment. Ketevan/Keti (Katayun) has Persian origins and could mean both queen and house-wife. Khatuna is somewhat related and means 'woman'. Vahtang is also Persian and means 'wolf-bodied'. Zviad, like the first President of newly independent Georgia in the nineties, Gamsakhurdia, has purely Georgian origins, and means 'arrogant'. 

Georgian surnames doesn't seem that diverse as well. Although it might be difficult after ages of migration and intermarriage, all the ilis, nadzes and ias can be traced back to certain geographical origins. Therefore, some pictures of the regions of Georgia! 


This is near Alaverdi in Kakheti. In the East of Georgia many surnames end in 'shvili' - think about former President Mikheil  Saakashvili. 'Shvili' means 'child'. 



This is Mukhrani estate, where the royal Bagrationis resided. Many names in the West end in 'dze', however, which means 'son'. 


This is actually Adjara, but quite close to Turkey. In Lazika (Northeast Turkey) 'shi' is heard. An interesting mix is 'Abashidze' - the last name of the former ruler of Adjara. Adjara is the region inhabited by ethnic Georgian Muslims adjacent to Turkish Lazika. Many Adjarians have Muslim given names and a Georgian surname. Abashidze would mean something as 'the son of Abas', obviously. Here's the capital of Adjara, Batumi: 


 

This is Kutaisi. In Samegrelo (Mingrelia, in the Southwest) 'ia' is a common ending. 


In Svaneti you might meet quit some 'ani's. This is Ushguli.

Moreover, Somkhishvili means 'son of an Armenian'. Berdzenishvili means 'son of a Greek' and Prangishvili means 'son of a Frenchmen'. Especially in cities, coastal regions and border areas you will meet quite some minorities.

By the way, Bidzina Ivanishvili - the richest man of Georgia and former Prime Minister - would translate as 'Uncle child of Ivan'. Just that you know. 

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