What do the Georgian surname endings -shvili and -dze mean?
Where a surname comes from, judging by its ending.
Short answer
The ending -shvili (შვილი) means 'child' and -dze (ძე) means 'son', both indicating descent from an ancestor or clan. Surnames ending in -shvili are more common in eastern Georgia, in Kartli and Kakheti, and -dze in the west, in Imereti and Guria. Megrelian surnames usually end in -ia, -ava or -ua, and Svan ones in -ani or -iani.
Why
- The surname root is often linked to an ancestor's name, a profession or a place.
- The ending hints at the region, but migration has made the rule less precise.
- The surname is the same for men and women, as Georgian has no gendered forms.
Details
For example, Chavchavadze and Gogichaishvili are Georgian surnames from different regions. Other endings also exist, such as -uri and -uli, often derived from place names.
People also ask
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The regional rule is approximate; every surname has its own history.
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