The Wendish Research Exchange - Wenzel, Walter: References to Forest Beekeeping in Sorbian Place and Personal Names

Lětopis Abstract 2010 1: Wenzel, Walter: References to Forest Beekeeping in Sorbian Place and Personal Names

Beekeeping, which played a substantial role in the economic life of the Old Slavs, is reflected linguistically in a number of place and personal names. In Lusatia these are the place names Barzig, Denkwitz and Schwepnitz. In the area to the west of Lusatia, in the Old Sorbian language area, only Zuckelhausen is discussed here, which up to now was never connected with beekeeping. Zauckerode, which was not been previously explained clearly from a semantic point of view, could also be included here. The Lusatian surnames, Roj, together with its derivations Patok and Patoka, also refer to forest beekeeping. The attached map illustrates their spread geographically into Lower Lusatia, which also records the place names, Roitz, Lower Sorbian; Rajc, Old Lower Sorbian; Rojici ‘settlement of the people of Roj.’ Together with the rare surname, Dědic, the article also mentions the much more common Župan, which is however only very loosely connected with the topic.