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ArchivesRe: greek last names (GERMANOS)
in reply to a message by Sean Foglai
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.
The most probable translation is "neighbour". The Celts used this name for the Teutons as well as for a tribe in northern Spain.
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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" ...
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