Names and Surnames
Bilingual names, having variants in both Konkani and English, like Zuãuñ (John) and Mornel (Magdalene) are common among Mangalorean Catholics. Most Mangalorean Catholic names for males follow the second declension. Among women, the names follow the first declension, while among young girls, the names follow the second declension. The Mangalorean Catholic variant of many first names is the Mangalorean Catholic Konkani version of its Portuguese counterpart which was borrowed from the Portuguese language (examples include Zâbel from the Portuguese Isabel, Zuãuñ from the Portuguese João, Pedru from the Portuguese Pedro, and Zoze from the Portuguese José). Portuguese surnames like D'Souza and Pinto are abundant among Mangalorean Catholics, and generally follow the second declension. Some families use their original Goud Saraswat Brahmin surnames such as Prabhu, Kamat, Pai, and Shenoy. Other European surnames are also found.
| Mangalorean Catholic variant | English variant | Portuguese variant | Meaning | Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mâri | Mary | Maria | Beloved | Female |
| Monku | Monica | Mónica | To advise | Female |
| Motes | Matthew | Mateus | Gift from God | Male |
| Nâtu | Natalia | Natalia | Birthday | Female |
| Pedru | Peter | Pedro | Stone | Male |
| Šila | Sylvester | Silas | Wooded | Male |
| Zâbel | Elizabeth | Isabel | My God is my oath | Female |
| Zoze | Joseph | José | The Lord will add | Male |
| Sources: English-Konkani Dictionary (2001) and A Konkani Grammar (2003) | ||||
Read more about this topic: Culture Of Mangalorean Catholics
Famous quotes containing the words names and and/or names:
“At night thousands of names and slogans are outlined in neon, and searchlight beams often pierce the sky, perhaps announcing a motion picture premiere, perhaps the opening of a new hamburger stand.”
—For the State of California, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Every man who has lived for fifty years has buried a whole world or even two; he has grown used to its disappearance and accustomed to the new scenery of another act: but suddenly the names and faces of a time long dead appear more and more often on his way, calling up series of shades and pictures kept somewhere, “just in case” in the endless catacombs of the memory, making him smile or sigh, and sometimes almost weep.”
—Alexander Herzen (1812–1870)