Distance-Learning Lessons on Lithuanian Given Names and Surnames

On February 22 we had distance-learning lessons on Lithuanian given names and surnames.  The older and more complicated history a nation has, the more variable are the origins of names.  There are several layers of Lithuanian names. 

Many given Lithuanian names fall into one of the following categories:

• Old Lithuanian (Baltic-language) names
• Calendar given names
• New Lithuanian names
• New names “borrowed” from other languages

Lithuanian family names can be found in 15th Century records.  Under the rules of Lithuanian grammar, there are specific changes to a family name for married and unmarried women.

The students used dictionaries to determine the origins of their respective given names and surnames.