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210 Anv breizhek

210 breton christian names

Introduction

Most breton christian names have a celtic origin and existed before the year 1000. So they seldom have any translation in French or English.
But a few of them have a biblical origin (hebrew or arameic), greek or latin, or even germanic as in most west european countries. The situation is even more complicated as some hebraic or germanic names were introduced into breton under their latin or french form. Although tjeir number is much smaller they also can be found in breton place names.

Toponymy

Some old breton christian names are common surnames nowadays ,as Herve, Tangi, Morvan, Konan, Prigent, while others are only known as surnames, as Brelivet, Kongar, Jaouen ...
Many of those christian names can be found in breton place names, and specially in names beginning with Plou, Tre, Lan, Lok, Gwi, Lez, Kastell, Sant. Some can even be place names without any prefixation.
  • Plou
    Ploermel, Plogoneg, Plouider, Plouyann, Plouzeniel, Plounerin, Plestin, Plouilio;
  • Tre
    Tregaranteg, Trezeniel, Triagad
  • Lan
    Lambaol, Landivizio, Landelo, Lanvaodez;
  • Lok
    Lokmazhe, Lokmaria, Lokwenole, Lokmikael, Lokmalo, Lok-Envel, Lokemo, Lokireg;
  • Gwi
    Gwiseni, Gwineventer;
  • Ker
    Kerbernez, Keryann, Kerber, Kerherve, Kermorvan;
  • Lez
    Lezneven;
  • Kastell
    Kastell-Aodren, Kastell-Paol, Kastell-Briant;
  • Sant
    Sant Jili, Sant Karadeg, Sant Brieg, Sant Malo, Sant Riwall ... ;
  • Bourc'h
    Boulvriag;
  • Krec'h
    Krec'h Elies;
  • without any prefixation
    Rieg, Brieg, Edern, Kast, Gwennou, Karanteg ...
In the list we give women's names are asterisked. Of course it is not exhaustive. You can help complete it if you wish.
210 Anv breizhek
· Introduction
· Biblical origin
· Germanic origin
· Greek, latin, or french origin
· Celtic origin