--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Gordon Barlow" <barlow@...> wrote:
> A little while ago there was speculation on this List as to whether
the present state of the notional "reconstruction" of PIE was
sufficient to enable to allow scholars to converse (notionally) with
the original IE-speakers. The topic didn't attract much comment, which
is a pity. Ah well, pressing ahead in the face of apathy... I wonder
if there is any speculation on what personal names one might be likely
to encounter, were one to converse. I have found no relevant reference
to the topic on the Web, and if some Lister could direct me to one I
would be very grateful.
>
> The origins of personal names is a field not well served by
etymologists, professional or amateur. The vast majority of surnames-
researchers confine themselves to dredging up homonyms, and (or
therefore) their research produces little more than basic folk-
etymology. ... and surname Baker means an ancestor was a baker, and so
on and on, all announced with a certainty that is just plain irritating.
I'm not qualified to address the question of given names, but with
surnames the evidence is often sufficient to justify the certainty. For
example, in 17th century New Netherland fixed surnames had not become
established by the time the British took over in 1664. In the following
generations there are many cases of known brothers adopting different
surnames which became fixed in their lineages- one brother would adopt
either his patronymic or his father's patronymic, another might adopt
the name of his father's known occupation, while another would adopt
the name of the famiy's known place of origin in Europe. All very clear
and well-documented. The same process can be observed on many European
locations when examining their records for the appropriate period.
Ned Smith