View Message

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

[Surname] Re: greek last names (GERMANOS)
It looks like nobody really knows, what "German" means. "Spear man" is not likely, because the older form of "ger" is "gaiza" (in those times, when the "Germans" were first called so (Tacitus?)).
The most probable translation is "neighbour". The Celts used this name for the Teutons as well as for a tribe in northern Spain.
vote up1vote down

Replies

A good point ...I've also heard of the "neighbor" translation ...it just seems that so often the 'ger' in names like "Gerald" gets translated in most books as "spear" ...
vote up1vote down