Sergius
GenderMale
Origin
Word/nameLatin, possibly from Etruscan
MeaningUnknown, originally "member of the Latin Gens Sergia". "Servant (of the law)" or "Protector", in connection with the Latin praenomen Servius, has been proposed.[1]
Region of originItaly, Europe

Sergius /ˈsɜːrdʒiəs/ is a male given name of Ancient Roman origin after the name of the Latin gens Sergia or Sergii of regal and republican ages. It is a common Christian name, in honour of Saint Sergius, or in Kyivan Rus', of Sergius of the Holy Caves, one of saint Fathers of Kyiv (Ukraine), Saint Sergius of Radonezh, and has been the name of four popes. It has given rise to numerous variants, present today mainly in the Romance (Serge, Sergio, Sergi) and Slavic languages (Serhii,[2] Sergey, Serguei, Srđan). It is not common in English, although the Anglo-French name Sergeant is possibly related to it.

Etymology

The name originates from the Roman nomen (patrician family name) Sergius, after the name of the Roman gens of Latin origins Sergia or Sergii from Alba Longa, Old Latium, counted by Theodor Mommsen as one of the oldest Roman families, one of the original 100 gentes originaria.[3] It has been speculated to derive from a more ancient Etruscan name but the etymology of the nomen Sergius is problematic. Chase hesitantly suggests a connection with the praenomen Servius, probably from an old Latin root meaning "to preserve" or "keep safe".[4]

It became a personal name in Roman imperial times and spread to the Byzantine Empire in the Greek form Sergios (Σέργιος). It became popular in Christianity in honour of the fourth-century martyr and saint Sergius, especially among Roman ecclesiastics of Syrian extraction, starting in the seventh century.[5]

Sergei was the second most popular name in Russia in the 1980s. In the Middle Ages in Western Europe, it fell into disuse. It became widespread again in the 1800s through translations of Russian literature, especially French translations.[6]

Worldwide

Its form varies by language:

Given names

List of people with given name Sergius

List of notable people with given name Serge

List of people with given name Sergei or Sergey

List of people with given name Sergej

See also: Sergije

List of people with given name Sergi

List of people with given name Sergio or Sérgio

Multiple people[edit]

Individuals[edit]

List of people with given name Sergiu

Main article: Sergiu

List of people with given name Serj

Main article: Serj

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. ^ De Vaan, Michiel (2008). Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages. Brill. p. 559. ISBN 978-90-04-16797-1.
  2. ^ Table for transliteration of the Ukrainian alphabet in Latin script, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine's Official website
  3. ^ Theodor Mommsen, The History of Rome, Project Gutenberg, 2004.
  4. ^ George Davis Chase, "The Origin of Roman Praenomina", in Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, vol. VIII (1897)
  5. ^ Andrew J. Ekonomou, Byzantine Rome and the Greek Popes, 2007, ISBN 0739152750, p. 214
  6. ^ Carlo Tagliavini,Un nome al giorno: origine e storia di nomi di persona italiani, Vol. 1., 1972, p. 55
  7. ^ Table for transliteration of the Ukrainian alphabet in latin script, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine's Official website
Categories