This monograph focuses on contemporary surnames of
people from Podlasie region formed from forenames of Christian motivation.
Anthroponyms identifying people living in three towns: Bielsk Podlaski,
Hajnówka and Siemiatycze were analysed.
The aim of this study is to emphasize the pronounced
effect of Christian forenames in the creation of contemporary surnames, and
thus to pinpoint the influence of Christian heritage on the anthroponymy of
today’s Podlasie.
Forenames associated with the Christian religion
constitute a fundamental part of the local anthroponymic system in the
Polish-Ruthenian borderland. The large diversity of forename variants is also
remarkable. The reasons for this go beyond the aim of achieving nominative and
differentiative functions. Their diversity is primarily the result of
ethno-onomastic processes that have taken place in Podlasie over the centuries.
Local systems for the formation of forenames and surnames have been established
on the foundation of coexisting and interacting cultures and languages.
Nevertheless, Polish and East Slavic components were dominant and they stemmed
from two traditions – that of the Latin West and the Byzantine East, both
influenced by Christianity.
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