Volume 38, 2014, Pages 1-39
Latvian Language Institute, Riga, Latvia
Abstract
The information of
the counting of souls containing both house names and names of
individuals is an essential aspect of historical onomastics. The first
counting of souls in Vidzeme took place in 1782 and coincided with the
4th analogous census of the provinces of Russia. Subsequently these took place at irregular intervals, the 5th in 1795, the 6th in 1811, the 7th in 1816, the 8th in 1834, the 9th in 1850, and the final, 10th
in 1858. The number of house names entered in the 1826 counting of
souls in Vidzeme province (guberna) is 14,500, including those of
peasant homes that had been separated from another property whilst
retaining the same name. House names based on flora (incl. names of
mushrooms) semantics are listed for 574 dwellings, which represent just
about 4% of all house names listed for Vidzeme, providing that repeated
house names are counted separately. In case of several manors data is
missing (lost) for the 1826 census, information for these manors is
taken from previous and subsequent censuses. In many instances (279
cases registered) house names were based on the names of deciduous trees
found in their immediate vicinity: such names comprise 48.6% of all
house names of flora semantic origin, i. e., ozols 'oak-tree', berzs
'birch-tree', karkls 'osier', liepa 'linden tree', klava 'maple tree',
apses 'aspen', osis 'ash tree', alksnis 'alder', lazda 'hazel-tree',
vitols 'willow', ieva 'bird cherry'. Names based on names of conifers
are found (35 instances were recorded, or 6.1% of all house names based
on flora semantics), i. e., egle 'spruce tree', paeglis, kadikis
'juniper', priede 'pine-tree'. House names based on names of fruit trees
and bushes are only occasionally found in Vidzeme, with 8 recorded
instances, or 1.4% of all house names based on flora semantics, i. e.,
abele 'apple tree', and upene 'black-currant'. The next sub-group of
house names based on flora semantics comprises those based on names of
cereals. This is one of the most widely occurring flora semantics
sub-groups and contains 58 entries, or 10,1% of all house names based on
flora semantics, i. e., auzas 'oats', rudzi 'rye', mieži 'barley',
kvieši 'wheat', griki 'buckwheat'. House names have been found based on
terms of 6 legumes, which represents 1% of all house names based on
flora semantics, i. e., zirnis 'pea', pupa, 'bean'. Names of common
vegetables are the basis for a considerable number of house names. i. e.
53 instances are recorded, representing 9.2% of all house names derived
from flora semantics, i. e., rutks, ruduks 'radish', kaposts 'cabbage',
racenis 'turnip', sipols 'onion', kiploks 'garlic', kalis 'swede',
gurkis 'cucumber'. House names also derive from terms of
widely-cultivated plants such as kanepes 'hemp', apini 'hops' and lini
'flax'. These have been the basis for 40 house names, which represent 7%
of all hose names based on flora semantics. House names are also based
on the names of cultivated and wild herbal
plants, and of garden weeds. 47 such cases have been recorded,
corresponding to 8.2% of all house names based on flora semantics, i.
e., dadzis 'thistle', abolinš 'clover', and amolinš 'sweet clover',
dille 'dill', grislis 'sedge', smilga 'bent grass', usne 'creeping
thistle', pienene 'dandelion', perkones 'charlocks', niedre 'reed',
skosta 'horse-tail', vibotne 'mugwart'. A total of 32 house names based
on three flower terms, roze 'rose', magone 'poppy' and astere 'aster'
have been recorded; this represents 5.6% of all house names based on
flora semantics. The majority (26) of these house names are based on
terms of roses. A number of house names in Vidzeme appear to be based on
names of mushrooms. 6 such names have been recorded, which represent 1%
of all house names based on flora semantics, i. e., bekas 'boletus',
krimilde, and rudmiese 'Loctarius'. House names listed in the 1826
counting of souls are based on a wide range of flora semantics, with a
clear preference for lexemes associated with names of trees. It is
possible that this reflects landscape elements close to these homes, as
well as the place that these features have in the relationship of home
owners with nature, and their work. In order to draw any deeper
conclusions about the presence of flora semantics in house names it
would be necessary to examine all relevant historical records up to the
present time. © The Author(s) 2014.
Author keywords
Counting of souls in 19th century; Flora semantic; House names; Onomastics
ISSN: 00651044Source Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.11649/abs.2014.008Document Type: Article
Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk
