THE ORIGIN, EVOLUTION AND CONSEQUENCES OF HUNGARIAN ANTHROPONYM USAGE

Abstract

The article gives fundamental information about the origin, evolution and consequences of Hungarian personal names usage, which differs from anthroponyms of other European nations. The first data about ancient Hungarian names appears in the records of the XIII century. In XIV-XV c. it was Christian names that were popular, later foreign names came into fashion. There is an official list of recommended names in Hungary, which is always renewed. The most popular Hungarian names are cited in this article. Hungarian surnames appear in the XIV century. The lexical sources of the origin are various: father’s names, toponyms, ethnonyms, occupation and professions, exterior features and inner qualities, etc. It is mentioned in the article that Hungarian surnames are always used in front of names, and it gives the list of most widely spread surnames, and also the reasons of surnames’ change and what surnames a woman gets after her marriage.