This is a dumping ground for my general observations. Freeborn Muslim Names Name frequencies: As in contemporary Europe, a small number of names were borne by a large number of people, with a significant long tail of less common names. Name origins: The Turkish Muslim name pool was drawn from…
In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Istanbul area was home to a variety of Jewish communities: Greek-speaking Romaniote Jews, who had lived in the city since the days of Byzantium; Karaites; Ashkenazim; and Sephardim. The names of the Jewish women of Istanbul reflect this mixture: Castilian, Portuguese,…
In 1686, the Holy League retook Buda (Budapest) from the Ottomans. One document written in the aftermath lists some of the Ottoman prisoners of war, including several dozen janissaries. Although this is well after the SCA period, many of these names can be traced back to period, so I’ve listed…
These names are drawn from the Defter-i Mufassal-ı Livā-i Sivas, the 1574/1575 listing of every adult male (aged 15 and up) in Sivas Province, Turkey, and the taxes they owed. Armenian communities and Armenians living in Muslim communities were identified in the text, making it possible to tell Armenians from Muslims…
These names are drawn from the Defter-i Mufassal-ı Livā-i Sivas, the 1574/1575 listing of every adult male (aged 15 and up) in Sivas Province and the taxes they owed. Sivas had a sizable Shi’ite population, as well as an Armenian population. Updated October 23, 2024.
Updated November 12, 2024. Each source has its own transliteration method, so combining names from all the sources into one page would make it impossible to know how to pronounce each name. Therefore, each source has its own page. The first five pages are names from manuscripts written in Armenian…
These names were drawn from Catalogue of the Armenian Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library. This source uses a transcription system that is explained in the preface of the book. Updated November 12, 2024. Male Names | Female Names Male Names Female Names Source Bodleian Library, Sukias Baronian, and F. C. Conybeare. 1918. Catalogue of…
These names are drawn from Treasures from the Ark: 1700 Years of Armenian Christian Art. This book uses the International Standard ISO 9985 transcription system. Updated November 12, 2024. Male Names | Female Names Male Names Female Names Source Nersessian, Vrej, and British Library. 2001. Treasures from the Ark: 1700 Years of Armenian Christian Art. Los…
These names are drawn from The Chester Beatty Library: A Catalogue of the Armenian Manuscripts. This source uses the 1913 version of the Hübschmann-Meillet transcription system. Updated November 12, 2024. Male Names | Female Names Male Names Female Names Source Beatty, A. Chester, and Serarpie Der Nersessian. 1958. The Chester Beatty Library…
These names were drawn from Colophons of Armenian Manuscripts, 1301-1480. This source uses a variant of the 1913 version of the Hübschmann-Meillet transcription system. Everyone in this list was an Armenian-born Christian, despite the occasional presence of Muslim names like Abdǝl-Aziz. Updated November 12, 2024. Male Names | Female Names…