List: Personal names

When I was researching names for my persona, Ursula George's page and her associated St. Gabriel Report 3315 were the biggest source (all but two from Zgusta's book). Almost all of the names I've read are listed there, but I've come across a few others and wanted to include them in a list here for anyone looking. I've put everything in alphabetical order based on our alphabet rather than the Greek. Read the original report (or Zgusta) if you want to know what the Greek letters were.

As is said in the report, last names often indicate relation to someone else (husband or father). Males simply use the genitive form of their father's name while females use words meaning "wife of" and "daughter of" in addition to the genitive form of their mother or husband's name.

It's also conceivable that if your persona spent a lot of time or was well known among another culture or tribe, they might be known locatively as "Sarmatian/of the Sarmatians" or "<insert tribe name>/of the <insert tribe name> (The former was indicated in the St. Gabriel's report, the latter is my own assertion. EDIT: I've found uses of "So-and-so of the Alans/of Alania in regards to Alanian women married to Georgian kings, so it's definitely an option for a persona in medieval Alania.). 

The third naming option available to much of the SCA is a descriptive last name (job, prominent physical attribute, etc...). I haven't found any precedent for this specifically among Sarmatians, but it's something to think about. EDIT: I've found a use of "the Great" as an epithet for a medieval Alanian king, so that is an option for a medieval Alanian persona (assuming it isn't considered presumptuous).

Most known Sarmatian names were transcribed into Greek (they didn't have a written language of their own), so their naming convention is used. This means they probably aren't exactly the same as what the Sarmatians themselves would have used, but it's what's available to us. Any not recorded in Greek (probably Latin) have an asterisk next to them. Make sure your naming convention for the last name follows the appropriate language or give it in the English form if you aren't sure.

If a name is from a source other than Zgusta, I'll give as much information about it as I can. If you want information on a name from that book (like when the person lived/died) and can't get a copy of it, contact me and I'll check it out from the library as soon as possible. I really wish I could find a copy for sale...

Along with the names themselves, I've listed genitive forms in order to help you with the last name. This list will be updated as I find genitive forms for all the endings. Anyone knowledgeable about Ancient Greek genitives?

Another thing I should note is the intermarriage of Georgians and Alanians in medieval Alania. I've included some names you can find as belonging to Alanians here- only those which cannot trace their male lineage to a source other than the Alans. I haven't included any which are blatantly biblical as opposed to ethnic Alanian (as in Mary of Alania and David Soslan). These seem to pop up when the paternal line is traced back to a male Georgian. I also did not include David's descendants, At'on and Jadaron  of the Osi, or his father, Demetrius, because of their patrilineal origin.  Although they lived among the Ossetians, but I don't know if their names are Ossetian. The names in this paragraph are a viable option for a persona of mixed heritage, the list below is intended for someone who wants to be sure their name is Sarmatian in origin.

Greek genitives

Name endings (original ending first, genitive form second)

-a: 

-as: -a 

-ê: 

-ês:

-is: -ios

-ôn: ônos

-os:  -ou

-us: 

Of the Sarmatians

Male- Saurmatês

Female- Sauromatis

Female-specific

gunê: "wife of"; precedes husband's name

thugatêr: "daughter of"; precedes father's name

Personal names

Female

*Ababa: Recorded by Jordanes. Possibly the Alanic mother of Maximinus Thrax (he was born 172 or 173). His Gothic heritage is disputed (Jordanes thinks the Goths and Getae are the same people and Maximinus was more likely from Thrace). I haven’t found anymore information regarding this name. I’m not sure Jordanes’ information would be considered reliable documentation for passing the name.
*Alda, Alde, Aldi: Recorded by John Skylitzes. Early 11th-century Alanian princess, wife of a Georgian king. Definitely alive from 1027-1033. Info in Alemany (2000) and Tourmanoff (1976).

Amagê: A Sarmatian Queen near the Black Sea in the 4th century BC. Recorded by Polyaenus. Info in Harmatta (1970). Sulimirski records a Queen Amage of the Roxolani in 165-140 BC. I need to get a copy of Harmatta to look into this temporal disparity because he was definitely talking about the same person.

Aritê
*Borena: Alanian princess, wife of a Georgian king.  Definitely alive from 1030-1072. Info in Garland (2006).

*Burdukhan: Alanian mother of Tamar of Georgia. Late 10th century, definitely alive in 1160. Info in Eastmond (1998).

Leimeiê

Mada

Maiôsara

Sarukê

Storanê

Tamura

Tirgataô: Queen of the Ixomatae in the 4th century BC. Recorded by Polyaenus.

Male

Abaziôn

Abdarakos *Abeacus: In Sulimirski. King of the Siraces in the Kuban valley and steppe north of the northwest Caucasus in 66-63 BC.

Aboagos

Abragos

Abrozeos

Adoês

Akasas, Akkas

Aldis

Alexarthos

Amaiakos,Amaeiakos

Amôspados

Andra[n]akos

Aphtheimakos,Aphthaimakos

Apsachos

Araouê[g]os

Ardagdakos

Ardaros,Ardarakos,Ardariskos

Argamênos

Argouanagos

Aroasios

Arsaliôn

Arsêouachos,Arsêoachos,Arsêochos

Arttham[ma]nos, Arthiemmanos

*Asander: From coins Husband of Dynamis. King of Bosporus from 37-17 BC. Asanos

Asaros

Aspakos

Aspamitharês

Asphôrougos

Aspourgos, *Aspurgus: First spelling from Zgusta, second from coins. Second was King of Bosporus from 8 BC-38 AD. *Attaces:  King of the Alans in Hispania. Successor of Respendial. Died in 426 AD (Alemany, 2000) or 418 AD (Bury, 1923).

Auasis

Aubadag[-?]

Aunamos

Aurazakos

Azariôn

Azos, Aziagos

Badagos, Badakês, Padagos

Badas

Bagdochos

Bagdosauos

Bagês, Bagios

Baioraspos

Baiormaios

Banas

Bastakas

Baxagos

Bida[k]ês

Bistês

Bôrakos

Boraspos

Bôrnôn

Bôropsazos

Bradakos

Chanakês

Chardeis

Chodainos

Chôdarzos

Chodekios

Chodiakios, Chozi[a]kos

Chodios

Chôdonakos

Chopharnos

Chophrasmos, Chophrazmos

Choroathos, Choroua[thos]

Chouarsazos

Chounaros

Dadagos, Dadakos

Danarasmakos

Dandaxarthos

Didumoxarthos *Durgolel, Dorgolel: King of medieval Alania in the 11th century. Info in Garland (2006).

Dosumoxarthos

Eisgoudios

Êlmanos

*Eochar: A king of the Alans in 446. May or may not be the same person as Goar. If he isn't a different person, "Eochar" may be an erroneous recording of "Gochar". Info in Alemany (2000). Êrakas

Eubarnakos

*Eunones: From Sulimirski. King of the Aorsi in the Don-Volga region in 49 AD. Ally of the Romans and of Cotys, the new Bosporan ruler. *Eupator: Bosporan king on coins from 155-166 AD. Gadas

Gadikios, Gadikeios

*Galatus:  In Sulimirski. King of the Roxolani in 179 BC Gaos

Gasteis, Gastein *Goar, Gochar: A king of the Alans in Gaul. Born before 390 and died sometie between 446 and 450. Info in Alemany (2000).

Gôdigasos

Godosauos

Gôsakos

Gosôn

Iaphagos

Iauakos

Iazad[agos], Iezdagos, Iezdrados *Ininthimeus: From coins. A king of Bosporus from 235-240 AD.

Insazagos

Iôdas

Iôdesmagos

Iramboustos

Irauadis

Irbis

Irganos

Kainaxarthos, Kênexarthos

Kamorsazês, Kamarsazês

Karaxstos, Karaxtos, Karastos

Karsas

Karzoazos, Karzouazos

Kasagos, Kasakos

Kasais

Katokas, Kattas, Katiôn *Khuddan: Alanian king in the 10th century. Info in Eastmond (1998).

Kopharnos

Kossas,Kosous,Kossous,Kousous,Kos[sô]n

[K]ouridatês (-os)

Kouzaios

Madakos, Madôis

Maiakos

Maipharnos

Maisês

Maniagos

Mardauos

Masas

Mastas, Mastous, Mastounos, Mastarous

Mazis, Mazous Medosaccus: Husband of Amagê. King of Sarmatians near the Black Sea in the 4th century BC. Recorded by Polyaenus.

Megis

Mêthakos, Mêsakos

Meuakos

Mordos

Mourdagos

Nabazos

Namgênos

Namouchos

Nauakos, Nauagos

Oaroz[b]alakos

Ocho[a]rzanês

Olgasus

Omrasmakos

Orsiomichos

Ossi[gas?]os

Ouachôza[k]os, Ochôdiakos, Ochôziakos

Ouag[a]sis

Ouaras

Ouarazakos

Ouarzbalos

Ouastobalos

Ourbazos

Ourgios

Ousigasos, Ousigos

Oustanos

Ouzia[g]os

Oxardôzis

Pagos

Parspanakos

Pateiros

Pateis, Patias

Pêrakos

Phadinamos, Phazinamos

Phadious, Phazious

Phaldaranos

Phandarazos

Pharnagos, Pharnakês, Pharnakiôn

Pharnarnos

Pharnês

Pharnoxarthos *Pharsanzes: From coins. A king of Bosporus from 253-254 AD.

Phidas,Phidanous,Phêdanakos,Pidos,Pideis,Pidanos

Phleimnagos,Phlimanakos,Leimanos,Limnakos

Phlianos

Phodakos

Phorêranos

Phorgabakos

Phoriauos

Phoros

Phosakos

Phourtas

Pitopharnakês, Pitpharnakês, Phitopar[nakês?]

Pourthaios, Pourthais, Pourthakês

Radamasis

[R]adameistos

Radamophourtos

Radamphôn

Radampsôn, Radanpsôn

Radamsadios, Radamps[adios]

Raodmêos

Rapakês

Rass[o]gos

Rathagôsos *Respendial: A king of the Alans in Gaul. Birth and death dates unknown, but definitely alive between 406 and 409 AD. Had been succeeded by 426 AD (Alemany, 2000) or 418 AD (Bury, 1923). *Rhadamsades: From coins. A king of Bosporus from 308-323 AD.

*Rhescuporis: From coins. Several kings of Bosporus bore this name from 68-342 AD. Sadimanos

Saitapharnês

*Sambida: A king of the Alans in Valentia in 440. Recorded in Chronica Galla of 452. Sanagos *Sangiban : Jordanes records this as the name of the king of the Alani at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (451 AD).

Sarakos

Saratos

Saraxazos

Sasas, Sasôn

Sattiôn

Sauagaskos, Sauagas

Sauaiôsos

Sauanôn *Sauromates: Name born by several members of the Sarmato-Thracian Bosporan dynasty, which ruled from about 33BC to the 4th century AD. Coins with busts of Sauromates I were minted sometime from 90-124 AD. Coins with Sauromates II were minted sometime from 174-211 AD.

Seauagos

Seimeikos

Sênêkas

Siauakos

Siauask[is]

Siauos

Siômachos

Siranos

Sôchoubazos

Sorchakos

Sozirsauos

Sp[a]kos

Spadakos *Spaldines: From Sulimirski. A king of the Aorsi in 64 BC. Raised an army of 200,000 horsemen to fight in the Bosporan Kingdom's civil war.

Sparophotos

Spharobais

Spithamês

Stormais

Stosarakos

Sturanos

Suarobais *Synges: From coins. A king of Bosporus from 258-276 AD.

*Tasius: In Sulimirski. King of the Roxolani in 110 BC. *Teiranes: From coins. A king of Bosporus from 275-279 AD. *Theothorses/Thothorses: From coins. A king of Bosporus from 275-279 AD. Coins minted sometime from 279-309 AD. Thirthagos

Thuloganos

Tibês

Tillês

Tiranês, Teiranês, Tiranios

Toumbagos, Toumibagos

Xaiorsazês

Xartamos, Xarthanos

Xêgodis

Xiamphôkanos

Xobas

Zabagios

Zabandos

Zabargos *Zosines: In Sulimirski. King of the Siraces in 49 AD. Supported Mithradates VIII against his half-brother Cotys. To save his kingdom, he later sought peace and became a tributary of Rome.

 

Agustí Alemany, 2000, Sources on the Alans: A Critical Compilation, Brill Academic Publishers

Bury, J.B. 1923, History of the Later Roman Empire. Macmillan & Co. Ltd.

Chronica Galla of 452

Eastmond, Antony (1998), Royal Imagery in Medieval Georgia, Penn State Press.

Garland (ed., 2006), Byzantine Women: Varieties of Experience, 800-1200. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Harmatta, J, 1970, Studies in the History and Language of the Sarmatians, Acta antique et archaeologica Tomus XIII.

Herodian, The History of the Roman Empire from the Death of Marcus Aurelius to the Ascension of  Gordian III

Jordanes, The Origins and Deeds of the Goths.

Polyaenus, Stratagems of War. 

Sulimirski, T., 1970,  The Sarmatians, vol. 73 of Ancient Peoples and Places, Praeger Publishers, Inc.

Zgusta, L, 1955, Die Personennamen griechischer Städte der nördlichen Schwarzmeerküste: Die ethnischen Verhältnisse, namentlich das Verhältnis der Skythen und Sarmaten, im Lichte der Namenforschung (Československá akademie ved. Monografie orientálního ústavu 16 ). Praha : Nakladatelstvi československé Akademie Ved.

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