PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Surname: Mendys

Philip — Fri Jun 12, 2015 3:39 pm

Author: Philip

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 3:39 pm

Quote:

Adding my 2 cents from France:

Mendiant is mendicant in English, and comes from Latin mendicus according to etymology:
http://www.cnrtl.fr/etymologie/mendiant

But Mendians is also religious order whose members lived only on alms.

We have in France delicious chocolate called "mendiant", with almonds, hazelnuts, figs, grapes.

Best,
Elzbieta

Merci beaucoup Elzbieta!! I haven't thought about that!

Re: Surname: Mendys

Elzbieta Porteneuve — Fri Jun 12, 2015 12:48 pm

Author: Elzbieta Porteneuve

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 12:48 pm

Philip wrote:

dnowicki wrote:

Philip,

According to the second edition (1998) of Hoffman's "Polish Surnames: Origins & Meanings" the surname is derived either from "menda" (kind of a louse/despicable character) or "mado" (a kernel, stone). At that time 111 people with that surname resided in Poland.

Dave

Thank you Dave! It's a really interesting definition!
But still remains a very rare surname, and I wonder why it has been used!
But as you said, it suggests this surname was born, like many others, as a nickname referred to a single person, or maybe a group (profession).

Actually, I firstly thought It came from the spanish surname Mendes! But it's improbable.

Re: Surname: Mendys

Philip — Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:51 am

Author: Philip

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:51 am

dnowicki wrote:

Re: Surname: Mendys

dnowicki — Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:35 am

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:35 am

Philip,

According to the second edition (1998) of Hoffman's "Polish Surnames: Origins & Meanings" the surname is derived either from "menda" (kind of a louse/despicable character) or "mado" (a kernel, stone). At that time 111 people with that surname resided in Poland.

Dave

Surname: Mendys

Philip — Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:03 am

Author: Philip

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:03 am

Where do you think the surname Mendys could come from?

All suggestions are welcomed!!

Best regards,
Philip[/list]