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→Surnames Historical Development
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*[https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/lithuanian '''Behind the Name: Lithuanian Given Names'''] | *[https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/lithuanian '''Behind the Name: Lithuanian Given Names'''] | ||
==Surnames== | ==Surnames== | ||
=== Male and Female Lithuanian Surnames === | |||
In Lithuania, males and females have slightly different surnames - they consist of the same surname stem or root, but end with various suffixes depending upon gender, and upon marital status for females. | |||
All members of a family have the same surname root, but with different endings. Male surnames typically end in the suffixes: -as, -is, -ys, -us -ė, -a. Sons inherit their father's surname, with no changes. On the other hand, wives and daughters will take upon the root of their father's surname with different suffixes depending upon their marital status. Surnames of unmarried women end in the suffix -''tė'' while surnames of married women end in the suffix -''ienė.'' For example, if a man's surname was Degutis, his wife would have been known as Degutienė, and their unmarried daughter would have the surname of Degutytė. If the daughter married a man with the surname of Rudzevičius, her married name would become Rudzevičienė. Any male children born to the couple would take on the name Rudzevičiūtė if female, and Rudzevičius if male. | |||
'''To form married female names:''' | |||
* The suffix -''ienė'' is added to the root after the masculine suffixes -as, -is, -ys, -us, -ė, or -a is removed from the male name. In some cases, -uvienė is used instead. | |||
'''To form unmarried female names:''' | |||
* The suffix -''aitė'' is added to the root if the masculine suffix is ''-as'' or ''-a.'' | |||
* The suffixes -''utė'' or ''-iūtėare'' are added to the root if the masculine suffix is ''-us'' or ''-ius''. | |||
* The suffix -''ytė'' is added to the root if the masculine suffix is -''is'', -''ys'', or -''ė.'' | |||
===Surnames Historical Development=== | ===Surnames Historical Development=== | ||
*Before record keeping began, most people had only one name, such as | *Before record keeping began, most people had only one name, such as Jonas. | ||
*As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. | *As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. Jonas became Jonas the smith, Jonas the son of Matthew, Jonas the short, or Jonas from Heidelberg. | ||
*At first surnames applied only to one person, not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names became hereditary and were passed on from generation to generation. | *At first surnames applied only to one person, not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names became hereditary and were passed on from generation to generation. | ||
*Surnames developed from several sources. For example: | *Surnames developed from several sources. For example: | ||