Different associations arise when a person hears the word "Austria". This alpine country is famous for its green meadows, ski resorts, and well-being. This is the birthplace of Strauss and Mozart. Austrian surnames and names, male and female, also have a powerful emotional charge. Many peoples of the world use them for their children. Well, let's dive into the Austrian names and surnames in more detail, analyze the history of their occurrence. We will also offer you a list of the most popular onyms in Austria.
From history
Male onyms assigned at birth to boys in Austria have not only a concise sound, but also a thousand-year history. In the modern name-book there are many onyms with different origins. But the most popular names are of German origin. Their formation was influenced by various ethnocultural traditions.
Austrians identify themselves asnationalities of the Germanic language group, which was formed by the merger of various tribes. This population lives not only in Austria, but also in Germany, Canada, Argentina, England, Argentina, Brazil, Switzerland, Australia. Most often, Austrian Germans profess Catholicism. Only the inhabitants of the southern part of the country are Lutherans. There are also many Adventists, Protestants, Pentecostals, Jehovah's Witnesses among the inhabitants of Austria.
Austrian names arose under the influence of historical events. There are many national and cultural customs, significant events, social and political processes in Austria. In the name-book of this country there are German, borrowed and canonical (Christian) ones. Personal Austrian names began to appear as early as the 4th-3rd centuries BC, when the Celtic-Illyrian kingdom of Norik still existed. Then Berengard, Berinhart, Benno, Petz, Hardy appeared. After some phonetic changes, the onyms Wulfrik, Sigmar, Badwin appeared.
When the Alpine territory entered the Roman Empire, the following names took root: Julius, Mark, Lucius, Innocenz, Ignatius. Now they are no longer popular. But the following ancient Romans are used today: Herbert, Christian, Peter, Marcus, Alois, Friedrich. Christianity supplemented this list with such names: Robert, Harold, Georg (Russian George), Ernst, Stefan, Andreas. The Austro-Hungarian monarchy named its kings and generals as follows: Karl, Leopold, Wirich, Eugen, Ludwig, Albrecht.
Austrian male names
For many years Austria has been part ofGermany. Today, 50% of the names in this country are German: Kurt, Hans, Rudolf, Helmut. Today, cinema and show business have a great influence on the choice of young parents. And here is a list of the most popular names for boys today, which are found everywhere:
- Adelmar;
- Alois;
- Abraham;
- Arnold;
- Daniel;
- Gabriel;
- Vlado;
- Victor;
- Benjamin;
- Maximilian;
- Hilar;
- Isidore;
- Leonidas;
- Lucas;
- Jacob;
- Leon;
- Matthias;
- Samuel;
- Niko.
How did female Austrian names come about?
Even the Celts gave their daughters such onyms that would protect their lives or indicate certain signs and qualities: Iris, Breda, Ginerva, Kassady. Some are descended from mythical characters: Enya, Shayla, Mevy, Epona, Etna.
During the reign of the Roman Empire, Latin names were borrowed: Joquesta, Angelina, Rufina, Titiana, Estela. Many of them have already been forgotten. Helena, Anna, Evelina, Helga, Sabina and others did not have time to lose their importance and popularity.
The Austro-Hungarian monarchs named their girls like this: Monica, Victoria, Elizabeth, Brigitte, Bianca, Clara. And the following names are of German origin: Gretchen, Gertrude, Anika, Adelinda, Bridget, Christine. After ten years under the occupation of Soviet troops, after the Second World War, many emigrants in Austria gave Russian names to girls: Tatiana, Natasha, Nina, Laura.
Changeable fashion for personal names in Austria
They are all of German, Austrian or foreign origin. Quite often, onyms are given here, consisting of two words: Anika-Katarina, Anna-Velhelmina. The legislation does not prohibit giving girls an unlimited number of such nominal forms at birth.
The fashion for names in the Alpine country is constantly changing. Here are the most popular female names in Austria given to many newborns today:
- Emma;
- Anna;
- Laura;
- Emilia;
- Johanna;
- Louise;
- Magdalena;
- Lara;
- Katarina.
Features of Austrian surnames
All surnames in the Alpine Republic are divided into long and short. They sound very categorical and reflect the peculiarities of the Austrian character. Short ones have one syllable and end with "l": Etl, Krainl, Lidl. Long surnames are derived from locality names and end in -er. The most common surnames are Steiner, Mayer, Gruber, Wagner, Huber. Such surnames do not decline and do not change by birth. Muller, Pichner, Moser, Berger, Hofer, Eder, Schmidt, Bauer always sound the same.
The most famous surnames
And now let's characterize three very famous Austrian surnames: Schwarzenegger, Bach and Haydn. Everyone knows the famous Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although he lives in America today, he is of Austrian origin. Both partshis last name translates as "black negro". His last name comes from one of the Alpine mountain range Schwarzenegger.
No less familiar to all Austrian composites Johann Sebastian Bach. His last name means "brook". Probably, his ancestors lived near a small lake or river.
The famous Austrian Haydn has been named King of Symphonies. This surname went to the composer from the ancestors who participated in the crusades against Israel. Haydn means "pagan", "idolater".
