16th century masculine names and locative bynames from Hiiu County, Estonia.

by Rebecca Lucas (ffride wlffsdotter)

© 2013; all rights reserved
last updated 8th November 2013

Introduction

These names are all taken from the place-name dictionary Hiiumaa Kohanimed [Hiiu County Place Names] by Marja Kallasmaa.

Only names with 16th century dates have been selected, names with a range of multiple centuries and decades are not included. Due to the nature of this source - it focuses on place names, and only mentions individuals when they have a locative byname - it is difficult to give any idea of naming patterns. Of the 177 records extracted, the vast majority were of men, and the same individual was often mentioned multiple times with variant spellings. Only two 16th century names I am uncertain as to gender, and two individuals were listed without a personal name at all. Where Kallasmaa had partially printed a name within brackets, I removed them, and where an abbreviated form as included (such as Pett. for Petter) these were also expanded.
The modern, Estonian form of these placenames can be searched and mapped at the Estonian National Geoportal site (Estonian Land Board, 2013). Where the form in Hiiumaa Kohanimed is different to the Land Board's spelling, this has been noted.

A Brief History of Hiiu County

In the West-Estonian Archipelago lies the island of Hiiumaa (Swedish and German Dagö), which is the largest landmass in Hiiu county, along with the smaller islands and islets surrounding it. Many of the smaller islets of Hiiumaa are now uninhabited by people, but their names appear in locative bynames from the 16th century on.

Up until the 16th century, Hiiumaa had been divided, between the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek and the Teutonic Order. In 1563, along with northern Estonia, it became a part of the Swedish empire. Very typical Swedish names appear in records after this date, such as Knudt, Lars, and Oluff, along with bynames using Swedish prepositions such as i Pardas. For this reason, I have split the names into a pre-1563 list, and a post-1563 list.

Please Note: I do not know any Estonian, any mistakes or misunderstandings in the lists below are entirely my own.

Raw Data

The extracted names, including page numbers and the entry it is listed under, can be downloaded as a comma-separated values (.csv) file. (So it can be opened by your spreadsheet application, whatever your particular software brand/operating system of choice. You may need to specify when opening the file that the cells are separated by commas for it to display correctly.)

Personal Names

Normalised header forms are often not the form recorded. Headers were taken from Kairit (2003) and Tiik (1977). Names are listed in alphabetical order.

Masculine Names, 1525-1562
Masculine Names, 1563-1599
(Swedish Estonia)
Uncertain Names, 1563-1599
  • Andreas
    • Andreas (1549)
  • Georgius
    • Jurghen (1525)
  • Johannes
    • Jan (1541)
  • Mattheus
    • Mattis (1543)
  • Petrus
    • Peter (1539)
  • Stefanus
    • Steffan (1532)
  • Ambrosius
    • Broos (1599)
    • Broß (1584)
  • Andreas
    • Anders (1564)
    • Andreiß (1576)
    • Andreß (1583)
  • Antonius
    • Thonius (1565)
    • Thonnis (1576)
    • Tönies (1564)
    • Tonnis (1592)
  • Benedictus
    • Bencht (1564)
    • Bengt (1589, 1595)
    • Bengtt (1565)
    • Bent (1583)
    • Benth (1576)
    • Benth (1577)
  • Berthold
    • Bertel (1587)
    • Berth (1583)
    • Berttel (1587)
    • Berttell (1576)
  • Clemens
    • Clementh (1577)
    • Clemett (1599)
  • Dietrich
    • Dirich (1565)
  • Eirich
    • Errick (1576)
  • Elogius
    Note: Kallasmaa considers Loe and Loia to be locative bynames for the village of Loja, while Tiik (1977) considers them dimutives of Elogius. It is possible that they are all the same individual, from the village of Tärkma.
    • Loe (1584)
    • Loia (1599)
    • Loya (1577)
  • Franciscus
    • Frans (1564)
  • Georgius
    • Jurgen (1564, 1565, 1576)
    • Jürgen (1564, 1565, 1577, 1583)
  • Gregorius
    • Gregis (1565)
    • Greiß (1577)
    • Greß (1583)
    • Greys (1587)
  • Heinrich
    • Häcke (1564)
    • Heike (1599)
    • Heinrich (1587)
    • Henrich (1576)
    • Hinrich (1565, 1577, 1583)
    • Hint (1574)
    • Hinze (1564)
  • Jakob
    • Jacke (1576)
    • Jaco (1564)
    • Jacob (1565, 1563)
    • Jake (1576)
  • Johannes
    • Hannus (1564, 1565)
    • Hans (1564, 1565)
    • Jane (1582-3)
  • Kasper
    • Jesper (1571, 1577)
  • Knut
    • Knudt (1587)
    • Knutt (1583)
  • Kristofor
    • Stoffer (1587)
  • Laurentius
    • Larens (1587)
    • Lars (1584, 1599)
    • Larß (1577, 1583)
    • Laur (1576)
    • Lawr (1565)
  • Lullius
    • Lylle (1598, 1599)
  • Martin
    • Marth (1576)
  • Mattheus
    • Matte (1595)
    • Matthias (1564)
    • Matz (1564, 1565, 1576, 1583, 1591, 1595, 1599)
  • Michael
    • Miche (1577)
    • Michel (1564)
    • Michell (1576, 1583)
    • Michill (1565)
    • Mick (1576)
    • Micke (1576)
    • Micko (1587)
  • Nicolaus
    • Laße (1576, 1583)
    • Laßy (1587)
    • Nicla(?) (1583)
    • Nißcupias (1564)
  • Olav
    • Oluff (1565)
  • Paulus
    • Pavel (1565)
  • Petrus
    • Peep (1564)
    • Peter (1577)
    • Pethe (1576)
    • Pether (1576)
    • Petter (1564, 1565, 1576, 1583, 1599)
    • Piep (1599)
  • Simeon
    • Simon (1564, 1565, 1576, 1583, 1587, 1589, 1590, 1595, 1598)
  • Stefanus
    • Steffan (1576, 1577)
  • Thomas
    • Thomas (1564, 1565, 1583, 1584, 1589, 1598)
  • Urbanus
    • Urbas (1564)
    • Wrbanus (1565)
  • Allune
    • Allune (1582-3)
  • Stark
    • Stark (1564-5)

Bynames

The bynames below have been grouped into five broad types (skewed by the focus of the source on placenames). Entries marked with a hash (#) date prior Estonia becoming a part of the Swedish Empire (1563):

  1. Personal Name + Patronymic + Locative Byname
  2. Locative Byname + Patronymic (with no personal name recorded, according to Kallasmaa.)
  3. Locative Byname + Personal Name + Locative Byname and
    Personal Name + Locative Byname + Village Name
  4. A "Patronymic" Locative Byname
  5. Personal Name + Locative Byname
  6. Locative Byname + Personal Name

1. Personal Name + Patronymic + Locative Byname is recorded twice:

Name Notes
Martson i Sickaleth (1576) Swedish patronymic "Mart's son" + Swedish locative byname "of Sigala"
# Mattiszon van Melis (1525) Middle Low German patronymic "Mattis' son" + Middle Low German locative byname "from Meelste"

2. Locative Byname + Patronymic (with no personal name) is recorded thrice. Explanations of locative bynames are from Kallasmaa:

Name Notes
Wiger Larsohn (1576) Locative byname "Viiri" + German? patronymic "Lars' son"
Hinrich Larson (1565) Locative byname "Hindu" + Swedish patronymic "Lars' son"
Hinrich Påffvelson (1565) Locative byname "Hindre-Laasi" + Swedish patronymic Påffvel's son

3. Locative Byname + Personal Name + Locative Byname and Personal Name + Locative Byname + Village Name is recorded thrice.
This form of name seems to occur when the scribe wants to be more specific, referring to an islet, or local area and then the farm from that area. They are in a mixture of Old Swedish farm names, and what may be an Estonian-language place name, recorded by a Swedish scribe.

Name Notes
[Personal name] Roszhah in Koppo by (1565) [Personal name] + Locative byname Roosaku + in Kõpu farm, where Old Swedish by is byr, or farm.
Note: The Estonian Land Board identifies this place as Roosagu.
Kaiatze [Personal name] up Swinholm (1576) Locative byname Kaevatsi Islet + [Personal name], + Swedish locative up Swinholm farm
Sarnack [Personal name] up Buggenholm (1576) Saarnaki Islet + [Personal name] + Swedish locative up Buggenholm farm

4. A "Patronymic" Locative Byname
This byname type is difficult to succinctly explain. It is a locative byname that seems to indicate the origin of the individual, making him a 'son' of the village. There are examples using variants of Estonian 'poeg', but also has examples that seem to have been translated into Swedish, using 'son'. Modern place names come from Kallasmaa These names are always written after the personal name:

Byname Notes
Emmapoke (1592) Emmaste + Estonian poeg (son).
Harmanson (1565) Hirmuste + Swedish son.
# Kulpepoick (1539) Kulbi + Estonian poeg (son).
Lassepeueke (1583) Lassi + Estonian poeg (son).
Lelopoik (1589) Lelu + Estonian poeg (son).
Turepeucke (1583) Tuuru + Estonian poeg (son).
Tursohn (1577) Tuuru + German sohn (son).

5. Personal Name + Locative Byname and
6. Locative Byname + Personal Name have been organised slightly differently.
Like in the personal names table above, these bynames are grouped under their header form, taken from Kallasmaa:

Personal Name + Locative Byname Locative Byname + Personal Name
  • Aavalauka
    • Habeloyka (1565)
    • Hapuluka (1576)
  • Ekumägi
    • Eckedels (1564)
  • Harapääksi
    • Harupex (1565)
  • Hindu
    • Hint (1564)
    • Hinte (1583)
    • Hintho (1576)
    • Hintto (1587)
  • Kaleste
    • Kalystha (1565)
  • Kalgi
    • Kalcke (1582-3)
  • Kiivera
    • Kiffuiwara (1565)
    • Kiwiuar (1565)
    • Kyvviwarre (1564)
  • Kilgi
    • Kilih (1565)
    • Kilke (1565)
  • Kitsa
    • Kyttsas (1565)
  • Kulbi
    • # Kulp (1541)
  • Kura
    • Skorra (1565)
  • Kurisu
    • Kwrisw (1565)
  • Lelu
    • Lello (1565, 1583)
  • Lõbembe
    • i Löppenpell (1565)
  • Määvli
    • i Memmels (1564)
  • Metsalauka
    • Meselach (1565)
    • Messelack (1576)
  • Moka
    • # Mock (1543)
  • Mootspelaugas
    • # Mooz (1532)
  • Palade
    • i Palada (1565)
    • i Pola (1564)
  • Partsi
    • i Pardas (1564)
  • Pikkpääks
    • Pykepäx (1564)
  • Prassi
    • Brasz (1565)
  • Puski
    • Pusk (1565)
    • Pwsk (1564)
  • Sakla
    • i Sakalä (1564)
  • Tammela
    • Tamisell (1564)
  • Tilga
    • Tilcknena (1589)
    • Tilkenena (1589)
  • Timri
    • Thimberman (1565)
  • Tülli
    • Thill (1565)
    • Thyll (1565)
  • Tuuru
    • Ture (1583)
  • Vanaselja
    • Wana Sylcke (1565)
  • Viiri
    • Wiker (1565)
  • Vilivalla
    • Villewall (1564)
    • Welhelma (1564)
  • Aarmemägi
    • Arnäs (1565)
    • Arnne (1576)
    • Arnt (1577)
  • Agape
    • Hagge Pehesche (1577)
    • Hakapeckso (1571)
  • Ekumägi
    • # Ecke (1549)
    • Eke (1564-5)
    • Ekus (1582-3)
  • Emmaste
    • Emeste (1564)
    • Emesth (1565)
  • Haldi
    • Halt (1564)
    • Halte (1564)
    • Haltti (1576)
  • Härma
    • Harman (1565)
    • Herman (1587)
    • Hermen (1576)
  • Hausma
    • Hackalas (1584)
    • Hackelasz (1583)
  • Hirmuste
    • Hermeste (1576)
  • Jäbuse
    • Busche (1584)
    • Buscky (1576)
    • Buske (1587)
    • Buske (1577)
  • Kaevatsi laid
    • Caesthe (1565)
    • Kwiste (1564)
  • Kaleste
    • Gollist (1576)
    • Kallaste (1576)
    • Kalleste (1583)
    • Kolista (1599)
  • Kiduspe
    • Kyttus (1565)
  • Kitsa
    • Kitz (1576)
    • Kitze (1577)
    • Kitzo (1587)
    • Kyβe (1564)
  • Kodeste
    • Quottista (1599)
  • Kõlunõmmee
    • Kollo (1599)
  • Kotri
    • Kottere (1583)
  • Külama
    • Kulleme (1583)
    • Kylama (1598)
  • Kurisu
    • Curiaß (1583)
    • Kurris (1576)
    • Kwrwese (1564)
  • Lassi
    • Laße (1595)
    • Lasse (1577)
  • Leisu
    • Cleis (1577)
    • Clese (1564)
    • Cleso (1565)
    • Layse (1587)
    • Leso (1583)
  • Lelu
    • Lello (1565)
    • Lelo (1576)
  • Ligema
    • Lickama (1576)
    • Lickeme (1587)
    • Licoma (1583)
  • Mänspe
    • Menspa (1587)
  • Metsalauka
    • Meßalauche (1598)
  • Mootspelaugas
    • Mocz (1599)
  • Mudaste
    • Mutas (1565)
  • Muhulase
    • Moa (1564)
  • Mustmägi
    • Muste Pehe (1576)
    • Swarte Huffud (1564)
  • Nurste
    • Normyste (1583)
    • Nurmiste (1587)
  • Ole
    • Hollo (1583, 1587)
  • Olima
    • Olle (1576, 1595)
    • Olli (1583)
  • Oliste
    • Olleste (1564)
  • Õngu
    • Ennige (1583, 1584)
  • Partsi
    • Pardas (1564)
    • Pardeste (1576, 1583)
  • Prähnu
    • Bre (1583)
    • Broihelan (1576)
    • Brose (1587)
    • Broye (1577)
  • Puski
    • Busche (1599)
    • Buske (1565)
    • Buski (1576)
  • Reheselja
    • Resola (1583)
    • Resel (1577)
  • Risti
    • Haltti Risti (1591)
    • Risti (1576)
  • Saarnaki laid
    • Sarnake (1564)
  • Sakla
    • Sackala (1576)
  • Sigala
    • Siekla (1565)
  • Suurepsi
    • Surpex (1564)
  • Taala
    • Dalberg (1565)
  • Tammela
    • Tammeselke (1599)
  • Tareste
    • Tharis (1565)
  • Tärkma
    • Tarckma (1577, 1583, 1599)
    • Terckma (1564)
    • Torckman (1584)
  • Tilga
    • Tilke (1576)
    • Tilkne (1595)
    • Tillknena (1598)
  • Tubala
    • Tuppasellke (1599)
  • Tülli
    • Tyle (1564)
  • Vanaselja
    • Wanasene (1564)
    • Wanna Silda (1576)
    • Wanna Silde (1577)
  • Viiri
    • Wiger (1564)
    • Wigra (1583)
    • Wykri (1595)
  • Vilivalla
    • Willam (1576)
    • Willama (1599)

References