etymology

[Charles E. Townsend]

Why is there even any debate about this? -in- is and was certainly a 
feminine formant, with -ov- a common masculine one, and both are 
ubiquitous. Czech has built its possessive entirely on this very 
contrast, and Russian and other languages have other vestigial, if not 
always as systematic oppositions. Family names, whether in -in, or in 
-ov, may blur the historical distinction, but that doesn't belie the 
history.

Charlie Townsend
On 4/2/14 12:31 AM, Robert A. Rothstein wrote:
> On 4/1/2014 3:09 PM, R. M. Cleminson wrote:
>> There is, incidentally, absolutely nothing to suggest that names in -ин are matronymic, and indeed, the commonest of them, such as Фомин, Кузьмин, indicate quite the reverse.
>>
> But there are numerous Yiddish family names with the Slavic -in that 
> *are* matronymic: Rivkin (< Rivke [Rebecca]), Sorkin (< Sorke 
> [Sarah]), Slatkin (< Zlatkin < Zlate [Goldie]), Dvorkin (< Dvoyre 
> [Deborah]), Freidin (< Freyde [Frieda]), Rochlin (<Rokhl [Rachel]), etc.
>
> Bob Rothstein
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription 
> options, and more. Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at: 
> http://seelangs.wix.com/seelangs 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                        http://seelangs.wix.com/seelangs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------