LL-L "Etymology" 2009.07.31 (05) [EN]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 31 July 2009 - Volume 05
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Names

Hi again, Pablo and other Lowlanders!

Here's just a postscript to my earlier post suggesting that the name Degetow
~ Degetau may well be of Slavic origin. (See below.)

In German, the ending *-ow* in Slavic-derived surnames and place names of
Germany is always pronounced as though written simply *-o*.

In Low Saxon dialects of the *ou* type, this ending is pronounced *-ou* as
in Southern England English in "no" and "load". In Low Saxon dialects of the
*au* type, it is pronounced *-au* as in English "now" and "loud".* The name
Degetow would therefore become Degetau in an *au* dialect.

* Most *ou* dialects are also *ei* dialects (usually written *oo* and *ee*,
but *ee* is pronounced as in English "day"). Most *au* dialects are also *ai
* dialects (where the latter is spelled *ei* and is pronounced as in English
"die"). My Elbe Estuary dialect has *ou* and *ei*; Hannelore's Mecklenburg
dialect has *au* and *ai*; e.g. *(bloum**) **Bloom **~ Blaum**
*'flower', *(schoul)
School* *~ Schaul *'school', *(ik dou) ik do ~ ik dau* 'I do', *(steyn)
Steen ~ Stein* 'stone', *(deyl) Deel ~ Deil* 'deal', 'part', *(drey) dree ~
drei* 'three'.

My educated guess is that Degetau is a West Slavic name rendered in an
*au*type dialect of Low Saxon.

I am wondering if the name has anything to do with "tar", perhaps with
someone that produced tar or worked with it; cf. "tar": Polish *dziegieć*,
Czech *dehet*, Russian *деготь* (*degot'*); "tar ...": Czech *dehtový*.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA


[...]

When you get "German" names (personal or place names) from Eastern Holstein
and east of there chances are that they are of Slavic origin. In that case,
trying to etymologize them from a Germanic angle is a waste of time.

Pablo, many people, especially those outside Europe, are not aware of the
fact that just about the eastern half of what is now Germany (also areas in
Austria) used to be populated predominantly by people with West Slavic
language and culture. Most of those in Germany were Polabs and Sorbs, and
only some speakers of Sorbian remain in Lusatia, an area where Germany meets
Poland and the Czech Republic.

Polabs lived as far west as around the borders of Hamburg. In the early
days, some Polabian tribes (and also Viking tribes) periodically attacked
and sacked Hamburg which was used as a Christian stronghold to conquer Slavs
and Vikings and make them Christians. This started pretty much right after
Charlemagne and his Franks beat down the Saxons and forced them to become
Christians.

As you have your eyes wander across a map into Holstein, especially Eastern
Holstein, you find many place names that were originally Slavic, such as
Eutin (< Utin), Preetz (< Poretzie < Porecie), Mözen (< Mozinke < Mocinka),
Grömitz (< *Gromice) and Lübeck (< Lubice). Most places east of there used
to be Slavic, also some villages on the Danish island of Fyn. As Germanic
colonization progressed, Germanic-speaking settlements came to be built next
to Slavic ones, and eventually Slavic ones ended up "eaten up" by Germanic
ones. Germanic and Slavic cultures came to mix. Where Slavic culture
predominated (especially farther east), traces of it may still be found
nowadays, even though Slavic dialects became extinct and first Low Saxon and
finally German took over.

Especially since the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, people from
surrounding areas and even quite far away moved to Hamburg in search of
work. Also, many went there to try their luck in seafaring. Furthermore,
lots and lots of Europeans, including East Europeans, emigrated to the
Americas and other overseas destinations via Hamburg. Some did not make it
onto ships and got stuck in Hamburg.

Interestingly, there seems to have been a tradition among the (Degetows >)
Degetaus to move to Latin America, particularly to Mexico and Puerto Rico,
where some of them became quite prominent members of society.

•

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