Latvia Naming Customs: Difference between revisions
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==Surnames== | ==Surnames== | ||
*Latvian names, like in most European cultures, consist of two main elements: the given name (vārds) followed by family name (uzvārds). | *Latvian names, like in most European cultures, consist of two main elements: the given name (vārds) followed by family name (uzvārds). | ||
*During the Soviet occupation (1940–1941;1944–1991) the practice of giving a middle name (otrais vārds) was discouraged, but since the restoration of Independence Latvian legislation again allows giving of up to two given names and it has become more common to give a middle name to children. | *During the Soviet occupation (1940–1941;1944–1991) the practice of giving a middle name (otrais vārds) was discouraged, but since the restoration of Independence Latvian legislation again allows giving of up to two given names and it has become more common to give a middle name to children.<ref name="lat">"Latvian name," in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_name, accessed 6 March 2021.</ref> | ||
*There are normally different endings to family names for men and women: | *There are normally different endings to family names for men and women: | ||
:*e.g. (male) KALNINŠ, (feminine) KALNINA. | :*e.g. (male) KALNINŠ, (feminine) KALNINA. | ||
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:*e.g. Jelena GALANTE. | :*e.g. Jelena GALANTE. | ||
*Married women typically take their husband’s family name with the feminine ending: | *Married women typically take their husband’s family name with the feminine ending: | ||
:*e.g. the wife of Janis KALNINŠ would be Ilga KALNINA | :*e.g. the wife of Janis KALNINŠ would be Ilga KALNINA<ref>*[https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf '''A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES, UK Names Guide''']</ref> | ||
*Most Latvian peasants received their surnames in 1826 (in Vidzeme), in 1835 (in Courland), and in 1866 (in Latgale). *Diminutives were the most common form of family names. Examples: Kalniņš/Kalniņa (small hill), Bērziņš/Bērziņa (small birch). | |||
*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) <ref name="lat"/> | |||
Revision as of 19:23, 6 March 2021
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Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names. |
Online Tools[edit | edit source]
- Behind the Name: Latvian Surnames
- Behind the Name: Latvian Given Names
- Behind the Name: Russian Surnames
- Behind the Name: Russian Given Names
Surnames[edit | edit source]
- Latvian names, like in most European cultures, consist of two main elements: the given name (vārds) followed by family name (uzvārds).
- During the Soviet occupation (1940–1941;1944–1991) the practice of giving a middle name (otrais vārds) was discouraged, but since the restoration of Independence Latvian legislation again allows giving of up to two given names and it has become more common to give a middle name to children.[1]
- There are normally different endings to family names for men and women:
- e.g. (male) KALNINŠ, (feminine) KALNINA.
- Male Latvian personal and family names typically end in -s (-š). Some may be derived from Russian names, with an -s ending:
- e.g. Vladislavs KAZANOVS.
- Female Latvian personal and family names typically end in -a or -e.
- e.g. Jelena GALANTE.
- Married women typically take their husband’s family name with the feminine ending:
- e.g. the wife of Janis KALNINŠ would be Ilga KALNINA[2]
- Most Latvian peasants received their surnames in 1826 (in Vidzeme), in 1835 (in Courland), and in 1866 (in Latgale). *Diminutives were the most common form of family names. Examples: Kalniņš/Kalniņa (small hill), Bērziņš/Bērziņa (small birch).
- 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) [1]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Latvian name," in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_name, accessed 6 March 2021.
- ↑ *A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES, UK Names Guide