Double-barrelled Greek naming traditions?

[jones9]

Hello,

Does anybody know anything about the use of double-barrelled surnames in Greece (specifically the Ionian Islands, Kephalonia)?

I've attached a copy of a page of births for Kephalonia in this period: first column is first names, second is surname, third is father's name, and fourth is birth date (from left to right).

If you look at the surname column then there's an unusually high number of (what looks like) double-barrelled surnames....can anyone shed more light on this? This seems quite fluid as I think I've found the record for my G-Grandfather, as there are no others that fit, but his children only have a single surnames (however, I have only been able to find his female children, so male children may have both if this matters). I've noticed this in quite a few other cases in these records and I'm not sure if the second bit is a surname, perhaps a sort of conformation name? On this register, 'Arvanitakis-Malioras' occurs 3 times which is conspicuous - could one surname be an occupation?

Many thanks if anyone can help!

[Sharon01]

Hi,,

I have lived in Greece for over 20 years now and very rarely come across double - barrelled surnames, so I did a bit of searching and found a very interest artice about surnames on Kephalonia.

Apparently it was quite common there and I have attached the link for you, if you need any help with translation, let me know if I can help.

http://eptanisiaka.blogspot.gr/2013/04/blog-post.html

Sharon

[jones9]

Sharon,

Again thank you for this, very useful! So were these surnames passed on to daughters as well as sons? I read there was a bit about paternal descnt but not sure if that's what it meant?

Also, do you know about surnames changing at all? My surname of interest is Arvanitakis, but I can find very few records of that name, but then a lot of names such as Aravantinos - are these surnames related in some way?

Thanks again!

[Sharon01]

A lot of names on the Island of Kephalonia end in atos (akis tends to be from the island of Crete). I will see what I can find out for you.

Also the name Gerasimos is very common on the island as he was there patron saint so many boys have that name.

Will keep in touch on my findings after Easter.

Sharon

[jones9]

Thank you for this!

[Lydart]

Slightly irrelevant I know, but this is an icon of St Gerasimos, the patron saint of Kefalonia.   He was a man who was known for his kindness and established a monastery especially for the women of Kefalonia.  (Yes, women live in monasteries in Greece ! )    Many widowed elderly women who have no family used to end up as nuns in monasteries.

[jones9]

Lydart,

Thank you for this pearl of knowledge! I've found quite a few Kephalonian ancestors named Gerasimos already. I haven't seen that image before - I don't suppose you know what's written on the scroll he's holding? A passage from the New Testament perhaps...thanks for this anyway!

[Lydart]

If you or Sharon can translate it, I'll tell you where it comes from !

[jones9]

Well I read it as (transliterated): "teknia ei reneuete en heantois kai me ta hupsela phroneite"

"(teknia - children, possibly?), if you (reneuete - an imperative like phroneite) unto himself and do not worry/think about the high things (literally)..."

That's my attempt at a translation! My Greek's not very good - hopefully someone can improve. I think it's koine Greek, so not really what I'm use to