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Archiver > LITHUANIA > 2004-04 > 1081969297


From: "David Zincavage" <>
Subject: Re: [LITHUANIA-L] Vidunas
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 12:01:40 -0700
References: <002701c42244$2771b3a0$ed0f5540@scott>


I and Y are usually interchangeable in sellings of Polish and Lithuanian
surnames.

Vanagas et. al. (1989) found, however, only 19 Vidunas > 8 township of
Druskininkai, 5 Leipalingis -Lazdija region, 6 Merkine -Varenos region.
These authorities attribute the etymology to a root cognate with the verb
_is^vysti_ "to see, to perceive," followed by the common Lithuanian
language patronymic suffix -unas.

As Mr. Szemkus observed, Vydunas was used as his pen name by the
philologist, philosopher, and dramatist Wilhelm Storost (1868-1953), born in
East Prussia, who taught at the University of Berlin, and who was a
prominent figure in Lithuanian cultural life in the first half of the last
century.

In the case of an actual family using that name, I tend to think the name
may represent a one-root remnant of one of the ancient two-root noble
Lithuanian names, like Vydgailas "to see + might, power," Vydmanatas "to see
+ wisdom, sagacity," Vydminas "to see + to remember."


--- Original Message -----
From: "nscott" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 9:37 AM
Subject: [LITHUANIA-L] Vidunas


> I have a grandfather Joseph Vidunas, born PA, died WWII 1945 in Germany,
buried in Netherlands.
>
> His father came from Lithuania.
>
> I've seen the spelling Vydunas, and a prominent man with that name, and
that it means "he who sees clearly." Is my spelling a simple variant? Or
is the meaning totally different?
>
> Would like to correspond with other Vidunas'
>
> J'Anette
>
>
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