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ArchivesRe: Javert
in reply to a message by Matthew J Boudreau
I like Nicholas Peters' suggestion that it is derived from "Javier/Xavier" from Spanish. If it is indeed correct that the character is of Asturian origin, that would make sense! Incidentally, Xavier comes from the Basque name meaning "new house" (etxea barria). I have absolutely no evidence of this, and it is probably wrong, but it just occurred to me that it might be a French adaptation of the Arabic name Jafar.
"Ja'far (Arabic: جَعْفَر), meaning in Arabic "small stream/rivulet/creek"
If he is Asturian, I would bet more strongly on Javier, since Asturias is quite close to Pais Vasco (Basque Country), but if his Spanish origins are considered in the context of "Fortune-tellers' son," as in the musical, I get a little bit of a sense of Gitano (Spanish Gypsies), which could have a much stronger connection to Moorish names. I don't know, but I am excited to see this conversation evolve!
"Ja'far (Arabic: جَعْفَر), meaning in Arabic "small stream/rivulet/creek"
If he is Asturian, I would bet more strongly on Javier, since Asturias is quite close to Pais Vasco (Basque Country), but if his Spanish origins are considered in the context of "Fortune-tellers' son," as in the musical, I get a little bit of a sense of Gitano (Spanish Gypsies), which could have a much stronger connection to Moorish names. I don't know, but I am excited to see this conversation evolve!
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