Language/Breton/Vocabulary/Family
Breton Family Names History
Demat, Breton Learners! 😃
In today's lesson you will learn how to write and pronounce some useful words related to "the family" in the Breton language spoken in Brittany (France). You will also learn some information about the famous Breton Family Names. Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany, a region in northwestern France. It is closely related to Cornish and Welsh, and it has a rich cultural heritage that includes traditional music, dance, and festivals.
In this lesson, we will learn vocabulary related to family members in Breton language and also explore some cultural insights related to family and kinship in Breton culture.
Close Family Members in Breton[edit | edit source]
- Tad - father
- Mam - mother
- Breur - brother
- C'hoar - sister
- Mab - son
- Merc'h - daughter
- Meurzhin - uncle
- Tantez - aunt
- Kuzin - cousin
- Gwaz - husband
- Mamm-gozh - grandmother
- Tad-kozh - grandfather
More Family Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
- The family = ar familh
| Brezhoneg (Breton) | English |
|---|---|
| ar gourdad / gourdadoù | ancestor(s) |
| an dud-kozh | grandparents |
| an tad-kozh
ar vamm-gozh (mamm-gozh) |
grandfather
grandmother |
| ma zud | my parents |
| an tad, ma zad | father |
| tadig | dad |
| ar vamm (mamm), ma mamm | mother |
| mammig | mom |
| ar pried, ar gwaz
ar pried, ar wreg |
husband
wife, spouse |
| an den | man |
| ar wreg (gwreg) | woman |
| an aotrou
an itron |
mister
madam |
| ar gerent (kerent) | relatives |
| an eontr | uncle |
| ar voereb (moereb) | aunt |
| an niz
an nizez |
nephew
niece |
| ar c'henderv (kenderv)
ar geniterv (keniterv) |
cousin |
| ar gendirvi (kendirvi) | cousins |
| ar paotr / baotred | boy(s) |
| ar plac'h / plac'hed | girl(s) |
| ar mab / vibien (mibien) | son(s) |
| ar verc'h (merc'h) / merc'hed | daughter(s) |
| ar breur / vreudeur (breudeur) | brother(s) |
| ar c'hoar / c'hoarezed (c'hoarezed) | sister(s) |
| ar gevell / ar c'hevelloù (gevelloù) | twin(s) |
| ar bugel / ar vugale (bugale) | child / children |
| ar babig / ar babigoù | baby / babies |
| an dous | boyfriend
girlfriend |
| ar mignon / ar vignoned (mignoned)
ar vignonez (mignonez) / ar mignonezed |
friend(s) |
| an enebour / enebourien | enemy / enemies |
| ar gweladennour / weladennourien
ar weladennourez |
visitor(s) |
| ar c'houviad (kouviad) | guest |
| ar gouvidi (kouvidi),
an dud pedet |
guests |
| an amezeg / an amezeged, amezeien
an amezegez / an amezegezed |
neighbour |
| ar c'heneil (keneil) / ar c'heneiled (keneiled) | colleague(s) |
| an dud | people |
Cultural insights[edit | edit source]
In Breton culture, family and kinship are highly valued.
In Breton tradition, the eldest son inherits the family farm, and the youngest son usually enters the priesthood. Daughters are also important in the family, and they are expected to take care of their parents in their old age.
Breton people also have a strong sense of regional identity, and many families can trace their ancestry back several generations in the same area. The Breton language is an important part of this cultural heritage, and many families pass down their knowledge of the language and traditions to younger generations.
Family Names in Breton[edit | edit source]
A LONG HISTORY[edit | edit source]
Many current Breton surnames and first names are personal or male names inherited from the past. It is estimated that two out of three place names in Brittany have a male name within them. However, there is a significant difference between a first name and a surname. The former is chosen by the parents, while the latter is passed down through generations.
Some anthroponyms are ancient, while others are recent borrowings. Many refer to the warrior (Gwezhenneg/Guézennec), civil (Mevel), or religious (Manac'h) society of early medieval Brittany. They can be found in old cartularies, such as the Redon Cartulary (8th-12th centuries). Other names correspond to descriptors of human qualities, defects (physical or moral), or nicknames. Some come from names of professions or activities. Some anthroponyms are specific to Brittany, while others are common to many languages in different forms (e.g. Yann/Jean). Some nouns have a feminine form (Prijant, feminine: ur Brijantez or ur Brijantenn) or a plural form (ar Foll, pl. ar Follijen). Some names are very common (ar Gall), while others are very rare and endangered.
A NEGLECTED HERITAGE[edit | edit source]
Like toponymy, this anthroponymic heritage is often neglected. Most surnames were fixed in writing before the 17th century, following the rules of Latin and then French (edict of Villers-Cotterêts, 1539). The written forms often present different variants for the same name, more or less altered. The use of the definite article at the beginning of a surname in French is emblematic (Le Bihan, Le Goff, Labat instead of ar Bihan, ar Gov, an Abad, etc.).
The current pronunciation of the name in Breton may also deviate from the archaic written forms. To respect these anthroponyms, it is important to write them correctly according to the spelling rules of modern Breton, just as for place names.
COMMON SURNAMES[edit | edit source]
The list that we are providing includes 300 common surnames in their standardized form. It does not include names of toponymic origin (see KerOfis for research on names in Kêr, Roz, Mez, etc.), nor possible historical or dialectal variants. The definite article is indicated in parentheses for the nouns for which it may be used.
Sources[edit | edit source]
Videos[edit | edit source]
Les noms de famille en breton - Brezhoneg[edit | edit source]
Les noms de famille de métiers en breton[edit | edit source]
L'ORIGINE des BRETONS[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]