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Name Origins

Frayed Knot Sep 19 2015 06:57 PM

From another thread: "Céspedes", by the way, is the Spanish word for "lawns". I've come around to thinking Yoenis is a variant of Johannes. And I'll add that the Yeonis/Joannes theory seems to agree with a story I related here a few weeks back about Latin Americans, and Cubans in particular, inventing unique names, first a statement of individuality in a country where they had little other opportunity for it, and then often starting them with a Y* as a nod to Russian names that they knew through Cuba's communist connections (the Yuris and Yegevnys, etc.). * Yonder Alonso, Yunel Escobar, Yasiel Puig, Yasmani Grandal, Yasmany Tomas. And then there's the whole thing where eastern European names seem unusually popular in Latin America: Johan Santana, Vlad Geurrero, Ivan Rodriguez, etc., so Johannes to Yeonis makes sense on several levels. So with all that in mind comes an article in Saturday's NYTimes about Noah Syndergaard's Danish (and possible Viking) roots. The upshot is that Syndergaard, before being Anglicized by immigration and years, was originally Sondergaard, Danish for: South Farm I believe we previously pretty much established (or at least assumed) Nieuwenhuis as simply: New House, and then there's always our much more easily translatable SS: Billy Flowers Feel free to add onto this riff or to ignore it completely at your leisure.

Edgy MD Sep 19 2015 08:34 PM Re: Name Origins

"Murphy" means "Seabattle" or "Seabattler," if you go back enough years. Fascinating enough, considering the Irish have almost no history as sea battlers, despite being an island nation. If he signs with the Mariners he won't just be fulfilling his nominal calling, he'll be "Seabattle from Seattle." Carlos Torres is, of course, real estate mogul and dashing man-about-town Charles Towers.

Frayed Knot Sep 20 2015 10:57 AM Re: Name Origins

If we are to assume that the name Duda is of Polish origins, a book of Polish surnames translates it to 'One who makes needless noise', possibly referring more specifically to 'bad musician' or even 'bagpiper'. Doesn't seem to fit very well with our notoriously taciturn Lucas.

MFS62 Sep 20 2015 03:08 PM Re: Name Origins

Frayed Knot wrote: If we are to assume that the name Duda is of Polish origins, a book of Polish surnames translates it to 'One who makes needless noise', possibly referring more specifically to 'bad musician' or even 'bagpiper'. Doesn't seem to fit very well with our notoriously taciturn Lucas. How about after he eats kielbasa and sauerkraut? Later

d'Kong76 Sep 20 2015 04:56 PM Re: Name Origins

I don't know the origin of Muffy, other than I believe JCL coined the name for Moiphy. Muffy was one of my first baby sitters, her real name was Mafalda. I wanted to marry Muffy, but ya know I was like seven and she was all grown up and in high school.

Frayed Knot Sep 26 2015 07:46 AM Re: Name Origins

The translation of Gaard into farm (see the discussion of Syndergaard above) -- and likely as the root for the English word Garden -- got me thinking that the name Kierkegaard (as in Danish philosopher Soren) essentially translates to Church Garden. And despite his later in life break with, and criticism of, the church, Soren Kierkegaard was given an official church ceremony upon his death and interned at a church cemetery -- meaning that Kierkegaard was buried in a kierkegaard. That's all, you can go on with your day now.

Frayed Knot Nov 22 2015 09:35 AM Re: Name Origins Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 22 2015 10:22 AM

Frayed Knot wrote: The translation of Gaard into farm (see the discussion of Syndergaard above) -- and likely as the root for the English word Garden -- got me thinking that the name Kierkegaard (as in Danish philosopher Soren) essentially translates to Church Garden. And despite his later in life break with, and criticism of, the church, Soren Kierkegaard was given an official church ceremony upon his death and interned at a church cemetery -- meaning that Kierkegaard was buried in a kierkegaard. That's all, you can go on with your day now. Those of you who paid attention to the above advice from your Unca Frayed were rewarded with the answer to Friday's 'Final Jeopardy' which ended their 'Tournament of Champions' contest. Only one of the three contestants (not the winner) knew the correct answer/question. Category = Philosophers A: His last name means a type of burial place & in 1855 that's where he went. Q: Who is Soren Kierkegaard You're welcome.

cooby classic Nov 22 2015 10:06 AM Re: Name Origins

d'Kong76 wrote: I don't know the origin of Muffy, other than I believe JCL coined the name for Moiphy. Muffy was one of my first baby sitters, her real name was Mafalda. I wanted to marry Muffy, but ya know I was like seven and she was all grown up and in high school. I'll bet you have found her on facebook, haven't ya?

MFS62 Nov 22 2015 11:48 AM Re: Name Origins

Frayed Knot wrote: Those of you who paid attention to the above advice from your Unca Frayed were rewarded with the answer to Friday's 'Final Jeopardy' which ended their 'Tournament of Champions' contest. Only one of the three contestants (not the winner) knew the correct answer/question. Category = Philosophers A: His last name means a type of burial place & in 1855 that's where he went. Q: Who is Soren Kierkegaard You're welcome. I always pay attention to you, Unca Frayed. Later

d'Kong76 Nov 22 2015 12:04 PM Re: Name Origins

cooby wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: I don't know the origin of Muffy, other than I believe JCL coined the name for Moiphy. Muffy was one of my first baby sitters, her real name was Mafalda. I wanted to marry Muffy, but ya know I was like seven and she was all grown up and in high school. I'll bet you have found her on facebook, haven't ya? I didn't, but I'm gonna do it now!

RealityChuck Nov 23 2015 08:26 AM Re: Name Origins

Travis d'Arnaud's last name come from the French through German and originally meant "Eagle." "Arnold" is the equivalent English version. The d' is interesting. It's usually a sign of nobility, but, though there are Arnauds in France, and even a noble family, none used the form "d'Arnaud." It may have been added as an affectation when the family immigrated to America. DeGrom is Belgian, but no one really knows the etymology.

MFS62 Nov 23 2015 08:42 AM Re: Name Origins

There was a KC first round pick in 1971 named (Alan or Roger) Schmuck. In German, it means "Jewelry". In colloquial Yiddish, it means the, er, "family jewels". Later

Edgy MD Nov 24 2015 10:10 PM Re: Name Origins

Tom Seaver = Seafaring Twin. George, interestingly enough, means "earth worker." So if went by his given name, he would be a "seafaring earth-worker," which strikes me as being something less than a pro's pro.

dinosaur jesus Nov 25 2015 01:33 PM Re: Name Origins

Darrell Ceciliani means Blind Wormlike Thing from Huckleberryville. Not a Met (thank God), but Papelbon is Norman French for Nice Tits.

Frayed Knot Nov 25 2015 01:37 PM Re: Name Origins

dinosaur jesus wrote: ... Papelbon is Norman French for Nice Tits. As I've long suspected.

Chad Ochoseis Nov 25 2015 02:00 PM Re: Name Origins

FREEDOM!!!*[/bigpurple] *in many Slavic languages