"Colored" Anthroponyms: the Black in the Family Name

Abstract

Colors, being omnipresent in our daily life, we often meet them in onomastics as well: in the names of plants and animals, toponyms and anthroponyms. Therefore, in the official anthroponymic nomenclature, we attest today the family names: Albu, Bălan, Căruntu, Laiu, Negru, Smadu, Roșu, etc. whose formation is based on the names of colors: alb, bălan, cărunt, lai, negru, smad, roșu, etc. The colors in the family names originally had the function of a nickname or surname and were assigned to people with specific characteristics. The chromatic term black (or equivalents expressing shades of this "prototype color") was often used in anthroponymy to designate persons, as an allusion to the color of their skin, hair, eyes, etc. Thus, through this study, we aim to inventory, analyse and present some surnames from this category, referring to their documentary attestations and their current records.

Keywords

• anthroponymy
• family name
• nickname
• surname
• color
• black